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Truck cost per mile calculator

Fuel is only part of what your truck costs. Add the fixed costs to see the real cost of every mile you drive to a job.

Your truck's cost per mile is its fuel cost per mile plus its fixed costs (insurance, registration, maintenance, payments and depreciation) divided by the miles you drive a year. Compare it with the IRS standard mileage rate for the year when you price travel or claim it.

Fuel a mile$0.19
Fixed costs a mile$0.50
Total cost a mile$0.69
Total a year$12,500

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How it works

Fuel a mile = price a gallon ÷ mpg

Total a mile = fuel a mile + fixed costs a year ÷ miles a year

Worked example

A truck doing 18,000 miles a year at 18 mpg, with $9,000 of fixed costs, costs $0.19 a mile in fuel and $0.69 a mile in total: $12,500 a year.

IRS standard mileage rate

For taxes you can usually deduct either your actual vehicle costs or the IRS standard mileage rate for business miles. Ask your tax preparer which gives you the bigger deduction.

Questions

What counts as a fixed cost?

Finance or depreciation, insurance, registration, inspections, servicing, tyres and parking: costs you pay whether you drive or not.

How do I use the cost a mile?

Add it to quotes for jobs further away, and use it in your call-out charge so travel is never free.

Should I count private miles?

Use your total miles for the cost a mile, then charge customers for the business miles only.

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