Gig Driver Cost Per Mile Calculator
Find out what every mile really costs you in fuel, maintenance, depreciation and insurance, so you know the pay per mile you need.
| Fuel or charging | |
| Maintenance and tires | |
| Depreciation | |
| Insurance (your share) |
This is what each mile costs you before taxes and before your time. Pay per mile should beat it by a good margin. Estimates only.
What is cost per mile?
Cost per mile is the total amount it costs you to drive one mile. For a gig driver it includes fuel or charging, maintenance and tires, the value your vehicle loses as you drive (depreciation), and a share of fixed costs such as extra insurance. Most drivers only think about gas, so their real cost per mile is higher than they expect.
How this calculator works
Fuel cost per mile is the fuel price divided by your fuel economy (or, in kilometres, litres per 100 km divided by 100, times the price). Maintenance, tires and depreciation are the per-mile figures you enter. Insurance is your extra monthly premium divided by the distance you drive in a month. The four parts are added together to give your total cost per mile, and multiplied by your monthly distance to give your running cost per month.
How to estimate each input
Fuel economy: fill the tank, reset your trip meter, and divide the distance by the fuel used next time you fill up. Real driving, especially stop-and-go delivery work, is often worse than the number on the sticker.
Maintenance and tires: add up last year's oil changes, repairs and tires, then divide by the distance you drove.
Depreciation: estimate how much your vehicle's value falls in a year and divide by your yearly distance. High-mileage drivers lose value faster, so don't use a low-mileage figure.
Insurance: only count the extra you pay because you drive for work, which can mean a higher premium or an added endorsement. Ask your insurer what applies to you.
How to use your number
Compare it with the pay per mile on the offers you accept. If an offer pays less per mile than your cost, you lose money before your time is counted, and you want pay per mile well above this figure to cover your time as well. To judge a specific offer, use your result in the "Is it worth it?" calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is cost per mile the same as the tax mileage rate?
No. A standard mileage rate is a per-distance figure set by a tax authority for deductions. Your actual cost per mile can be higher or lower, depending on your vehicle and how you drive.
Does this include my time?
No. It only covers the cost of operating the vehicle. Your time is accounted for in the profit per hour results of the profit calculator.
What if I drive an electric vehicle?
Enter your efficiency (miles per kWh, or kWh per 100 km) and your electricity price per kWh. The same formula applies.
Why is my result higher than I expected?
Depreciation and insurance are the parts most drivers leave out. Together they can be as large as the fuel cost.
Estimates only. Your actual costs depend on your vehicle and driving.