Mileage Deduction Calculator

Why Use the Mileage Deduction Calculator?

As a driver, courier, or gig worker, your vehicle is your most valuable business asset — and the mileage you drive is your single largest tax deduction. But here's the problem: most drivers miss 30-50% of their deductible miles because they track manually (or not at all).

This calculator shows you exactly what you're entitled to. Here's the math using US rates as an example:

• 2026 IRS Standard Mileage Rate: $0.725 per business mile
• 20,000 business miles = $14,500 deduction
• At a 20% tax rate = $2,900 in tax savings

Standard Mileage Rate vs. Actual Expenses: The standard rate is simpler and usually gives you a larger deduction. It covers fuel, maintenance, insurance, depreciation, and repairs all in one rate. You only need to track your miles — not every receipt. Actual expenses require you to track and deduct every cost separately (gas, oil changes, tires, insurance, repairs, etc.). For most drivers, the standard mileage rate is the better choice.

Use this calculator to see your exact deduction — and how much you're likely leaving on the table.

💡 Why Tracking Every Mile Matters More Than You Think

The compound effect over a year: If you drive 200 miles per week for work, that's 10,400 miles per year. At $0.725/mile, that's a $7,540 deduction — saving you $1,508 at a 20% tax rate. But if you're missing 30% of your miles (the average for manual trackers), you're leaving $452 on the table every year. Over five years, that's over $2,200.

Commuting vs. Business Miles — The Critical Distinction: Your commute from home to your first work location is NOT deductible. But once you start your first trip, order, or delivery, every mile you drive — from the pickup to the drop-off, and all the dead miles in between — IS deductible. This is the #1 confusion point for drivers. Tax authorities are very clear: business miles begin when you start your first work-related trip for the day and end when you complete your last trip.

Audit Protection: Tax authorities require contemporaneous records — logs written at the time of travel, not reconstructed at year-end. This is where most drivers fail. Without proper logs, you could lose your deduction in an audit. Automated tracking creates bulletproof audit protection — every mile is timestamped and logged automatically.

Step-by-Step: How to Maximize Your Mileage Deduction

Follow this framework to ensure you're capturing every deductible mile for your work:

• Step 1: Log your odometer — Record your starting and ending odometer reading for each shift. This creates the baseline for your business miles.
• Step 2: Note the business purpose — "Uber rideshare," "DoorDash delivery," or "work travel" is sufficient. You don't need to log every customer or address, just the purpose of the trip.
• Step 3: Track every business mile — This includes miles from trip/order acceptance to pickup, from pickup to drop-off, and all dead miles in between. Every mile counts.
• Step 4: Choose Standard vs. Actual — For most drivers, the standard mileage rate is simpler and more beneficial. Use this calculator to see your projected annual savings.
• Step 5: Keep contemporaneous records — Log your miles at the time of travel. Reconstructed logs are often rejected in audits. Use the Income Tracker to automate this step.

The result: you maximize your deduction, minimize your taxes, and have bulletproof audit protection.

Who This Mileage Calculator Is For

This tool is built for anyone who drives for work. Specifically:

• Rideshare drivers — Uber, Lyft, Bolt, Didi, Ola, and more
• Delivery drivers — Uber Eats, DoorDash, Deliveroo, Grubhub, Just Eat, and more
• Freelancers and gig workers — anyone who drives for work
• Part-time drivers — driving a few hours a week or full-time
• New drivers — just starting and want to track correctly from day one

If you drive for work, this calculator gives you a clear answer on what your mileage is worth and how much you could save.

Platform-Specific Mileage Calculators

Get a more tailored experience with our platform-specific calculators:

• Mileage Deduction Calculator for Uber — for Uber rideshare drivers
• Mileage Deduction Calculator for Uber Eats — for Uber Eats delivery drivers
• Mileage Deduction Calculator for DoorDash — for DoorDash delivery drivers
• Mileage Deduction Calculator for Deliveroo — for Deliveroo riders
• Mileage Deduction Calculator for Bolt — for Bolt drivers and delivery partners

More platform-specific calculators coming soon.

More Help for Drivers

Understanding your full earnings picture is essential. Beyond mileage deductions, platform fees and currency conversion can significantly impact your take-home pay. Here are the tools and resources you need:

• Take-Home Pay Calculator — see what you actually keep after platform fees, transaction costs, and currency conversion
• Platform Comparison Rake — compare all platforms by true net earnings. Which one pays best?
• Income Tracker — automatically track your earnings and mileage across all platforms. 7-day free trial.
• Payout Timing Calendar — see when your platform earnings actually arrive in your bank

Frequently Asked Questions