Mileage Calculator · Practical guide
Mileage Deduction for DoorDash Drivers
Dashers are self-employed — every documented business mile knocks $0.67 off taxable income (2024 rate).
At a glance
Your Biggest Deduction as a Dasher
As a DoorDash driver you are an independent contractor, so your mileage deduction is business miles x the IRS standard rate — $0.67 per mile for 2024. A driver logging 15,000 delivery miles in a year claims a $10,050 deduction on Schedule C.
Interactive tool
Mileage Calculator
Enter your own values, then compare the result with the examples below.
Results
What That Saves in Real Money
| Annual Business Miles | Deduction at $0.67 | Tax Saved at 22% Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 | $3,350 | $737 |
| 10,000 | $6,700 | $1,474 |
| 15,000 | $10,050 | $2,211 |
| 20,000 | $13,400 | $2,948 |
Self-employed drivers save even more, because the deduction also lowers the 15.3% self-employment tax — the figures above are the income-tax portion alone.
Which Miles Count
Miles driven with an order in the car clearly qualify, and driving to a hotspot or between delivery zones while online generally counts too. Driving home after you go offline does not. When in doubt, log it with a purpose and let your tax professional decide.
Track From Day One
DoorDash reports only miles driven with an active delivery, which can understate your deductible miles. Use a mileage-tracking app to capture every business mile, then enter the yearly total above — add your car's MPG and local gas price to see how the deduction compares with your actual fuel spend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I deduct mileage if I also take the standard deduction?
Yes. Business mileage is a Schedule C business expense, claimed before your adjusted gross income — it is completely separate from the standard deduction vs itemizing choice.
Should I use the standard rate or actual expenses?
Most gig drivers come out ahead with the standard mileage rate because it is simple and generous. Actual expenses can win for expensive, fuel-hungry vehicles — run both before choosing.
Do miles between home and my first pickup count?
Generally yes for gig drivers with no fixed workplace — driving while available for orders is business driving. The trip home after logging off typically is not.
What happens if I get audited without a mileage log?
The IRS can disallow the entire deduction. Reconstruct logs from app records if needed, but a real-time tracking app is far safer than after-the-fact estimates.