Guides · Checked 10 October 2026

Mileage for event crew: what you can claim

Driving to venues and warehouses adds up. Instead of working out what your car really costs, you can claim a flat rate for every business mile.

HMRC’s rates

Vehicle	First 10,000 business miles	After that
Car or van, from 6 April 2026	55p a mile	25p a mile
Car or van, before 6 April 2026	45p a mile	25p a mile
Motorbike	24p a mile	24p a mile

The 10,000 miles count from 6 April each year. Once you’ve used the flat rate for a vehicle, you have to keep using it for that vehicle.

Which trips count

If you work from home as your base and go to different venues, warehouses and client sites, those trips are usually business mileage. So is driving between two jobs, or collecting kit for a gig.

Trips that are just personal don’t count. If you end up going to the same place most days for a long stretch, it may start to look like a normal commute, so check with an accountant.

Parking and tolls on business trips can be claimed on top. Fines can’t.

A worked example

Business miles in 2026/27	You claim
8,000 miles at 55p	£4,400.00
12,000 miles: 10,000 at 55p and 2,000 at 25p	£6,000.00

That comes straight off your profit, so at the basic rate 12,000 miles saves you about £1,560 in tax and National Insurance.

Keep a log

For each trip, note the date, where from and to, the miles, and what it was for. A return trip counts both ways.

From HMRC: Simplified expenses, including vehicles, Expenses if you’re self-employed.

This guide is general information for people working for themselves in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, not tax advice. Last checked against HMRC’s guidance on 10 October 2026. If you’re unsure about your situation, check with HMRC or an accountant.