How to Write Off Mileage for Taxes (Step by Step)
If you drive for work and you're self-employed, those miles are money back at tax time — but only if you can show them. Here's the whole process, start to finish.
Two ways to deduct a vehicle — pick one
Standard mileage vs actual expenses
| Method | What you deduct | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Standard mileage | A set rate per business mile ($0.70/mi for 2025 in the US) | You want simple records and drive a lot of business miles. |
| Actual expenses | The business share of gas, insurance, repairs, depreciation | Your real costs are high relative to miles — needs every receipt. |
Most self-employed drivers choose the standard mileage rate: you multiply business miles by the yearly rate and skip the receipt-keeping. This guide follows that method. (Note: if you want to use standard mileage, in the US you generally have to choose it in the first year you use the car for business.)
The steps
How to write off your business mileage
- Log every business trip — date, miles, purpose and destination — as it happens.
- Sort each drive into business or personal; only business miles count.
- Add the year's business miles together.
- Multiply by the standard rate for that tax year to get your deduction.
- Report it on your business schedule (Schedule C in the US) and keep the log with your records.
Example: a rideshare driver logs 18,400 business miles in 2025. 18,400 × $0.70 = a $12,880 deduction. She keeps the log; she doesn't file it, but she can produce it if asked.
Commuting from home to a regular workplace usually isn't deductible — but trips between job sites, to clients, to pickups, or from a home office to a work location often are. When in doubt, log it and note the purpose; you can always classify later.
Milvo runs steps 1–4 for you: it captures drives in the background, you swipe each one business or personal, and it keeps a running deduction total using the official rate for your region. At tax time you export the logbook and hand it to your accountant or type the total into your tax software.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I get back per mile?
You deduct the standard rate per business mile — $0.70 for the 2025 US tax year. That reduces your taxable income, so your actual cash saving is the deduction times your tax rate: $0.70/mile at a 22% rate is about 15¢ back per mile.
Can I switch between standard mileage and actual expenses?
In the US you generally must use the standard mileage method in the first year the car is in service if you ever want the option to switch later. Once you've used actual expenses with certain depreciation, you can be locked out of standard mileage for that car. Ask your accountant for your situation.
Do I need receipts if I use the standard mileage rate?
Not for gas and maintenance — the rate already covers them. You still need your mileage log, and you may want records for items deducted separately, like tolls and parking.
Where does the mileage deduction go on my taxes?
For most self-employed people in the US it goes on Schedule C as a car/truck expense. Employees generally can't deduct unreimbursed mileage under current rules.