Standard Mileage vs Actual Car Expenses Calculator
Compare the IRS standard mileage rate with actual vehicle expenses for business driving.
Runs in your browser. Your files never leave your device. See how to check
…
How to do it
- 1Configure Business Structure & Billings
Select your company entity (GmbH vs UG, Auto-entrepreneur, ZZP, Autónomo), billing currency, and hourly or dividend rates.
- 2What Standard Mileage vs Actual Car Expenses Calculator does for you
Compare the IRS standard mileage rate with actual vehicle expenses for business driving.
- 3Calculate Contributions & Statutory Interest
The engine deducts social security charges, computes statutory late payment interest under EU Directive 2011/7/EU, or formats Peppol XML.
- 4Review Take-Home & Export Electronic Invoices
Identify the optimal director salary vs dividend split, preview Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 e-invoices, and download itemized calculations.
About this tool
Enter your business and total miles and your yearly vehicle costs. The calculator compares the IRS mileage rate with the business share of your actual costs, adds parking and tolls to both, and shows which gives the larger deduction.
The two methods
The standard rate is 72.5 cents a mile for 2026 (70 cents for 2025). It covers fuel, repairs, insurance, registration and depreciation, and you add parking and tolls on top. Actual expenses are the business-use percentage of your real costs, including depreciation.
Rules to remember
If you start with actual expenses and claim accelerated depreciation or Section 179, you cannot switch to the standard rate for that car later. Starting with the standard rate keeps both options open. Keep a mileage log.
Not included
Interest on a car loan, personal property tax and Section 179 or bonus depreciation on the vehicle are not modeled; add them to the costs if they apply.
Worked example
12,000 business miles out of 15,000 in 2026 (80%), $9,150 of yearly costs and $400 of parking: the standard rate gives $9,100 and actual costs $7,720, so the standard rate is $1,380 better and saves $2,184 at a 24% rate.
Tips for best results
Check every box before you rely on a result, because one wrong digit changes the whole answer. Use the exact figures from your payslip, bill, certificate or contract, and keep a note of the date you calculated. Rates, thresholds and rules change from time to time, so for tax, fees and legal matters treat the output as an estimate and confirm with the official source named on this page. You can run as many scenarios as you like; nothing is saved or sent, and refreshing the page clears the boxes.
Quick facts
- Category: UK & US
- Works in your browser, no sign-up, no upload.
- Your input stays on your device.
- Available in English.
- Content last reviewed:
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch between methods?
Sometimes. Choosing the standard rate in the first year keeps both options open; after actual expenses with accelerated depreciation you cannot go back.
Do commuting miles count?
No. Driving from home to your regular workplace is not business mileage.
Where do I keep records?
A log with date, miles and purpose for each trip, or an app. The IRS can ask for it.
Does it work for rideshare drivers?
Yes. Enter business miles including those driven while waiting for rides.