vehicle
Vehicle cost per mile for gig drivers
Every accepted trip burns fuel, tires, and resale value. The IRS standard mileage rate is a convenient tax proxy — your cash cost can be higher or lower depending on the car and market.
- Use the IRS rate ($0.76/mi in 2026) for tax estimates and quick net-pay math.
- Track actual fuel + maintenance if you claim actual expenses instead of the standard rate.
- Pair a mileage log with fuel cashback (Upside) so both tax and cash costs improve.
Standard rate vs actual expenses
Most high-mileage drivers use the IRS standard mileage rate because it is simple and often beats piecing together receipts. Once you choose a method for a vehicle in a tax year, switching mid-year is restricted — decide with your tax software or preparer.
A practical weekly check
Once a week: export miles, divide fuel spend by business miles, and compare to the IRS rate. If cash cost is far above the rate, your car or route mix may be eating the job. Run our net pay calculator with your real miles-per-hour.
Tools that help
Everlance or Gridwise capture miles automatically. Upside can claw back cents per gallon on participating stations. Found or Lili keep tax set-asides separate so a repair bill does not wipe your quarterly estimate.