Cost Per Mile Calculator
Calculate the actual cost to run your vehicle including fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation.
What Cost Per Mile Actually Includes
There is a quick version (fuel only) and a real version (fuel, insurance, road tax, depreciation, tyres, servicing, MoT). This calculator focuses on the fuel-cost-per-mile, which is the figure that reacts to pump price changes and is the easiest to compare across vehicles. At April 2026 prices: a 45 mpg petrol at £1.45 per litre costs around 14.5p per mile in fuel. A 55 mpg diesel at £1.50 per litre is around 12.4p per mile. An EV at 3.5 miles per kWh charging at home (28p) is 8p per mile; at off-peak rates of 8p per kWh it drops to 2.3p per mile.
For business mileage claimed against tax, HMRC's Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) rates are 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles and 25p per mile beyond that, regardless of fuel type. Compare that to your actual fuel cost per mile and you can see whether claiming AMAP comes out ahead of having the company reimburse actual fuel.
The HMRC AMAP Comparison
If your fuel cost per mile is below 45p (which it almost always is), claiming AMAP rather than billing actual costs gives you free margin against tax. On 8,000 business miles in a 45 mpg petrol, AMAP returns £3,600 in tax-free reimbursement; the actual fuel cost is roughly £1,160. The difference (£2,440) is yours to keep, and is meant to cover the wider running costs (insurance, depreciation, servicing) that the bare fuel figure misses.
For an EV, the gap is larger still. 8,000 miles at home charging rates of 8p per mile is £640 in fuel; AMAP is £3,600. EVs do have lower wear-and-tear and almost zero servicing, so this difference is real margin. Note the special HMRC EV reimbursement rate (currently 7p per mile for fuel-only reimbursement when an employer pays) is separate from AMAP, and is what employers use to refund EV mileage without a tax cost to the employee.
Total Cost Per Mile, Not Just Fuel
For a fuller picture, add: depreciation (£0.10 to £0.20 per mile for new cars in the first 3 years, falling to £0.03 to £0.05 for older used cars); insurance (£300 to £900 a year divided by your annual mileage); road tax (£0 to £580 depending on car age and emissions); maintenance and tyres (£300 to £600 a year for an average family car, less for an EV).
A typical petrol family car covering 10,000 miles a year ends up around 35 to 45p total cost per mile when everything is included, which is exactly why HMRC's 45p AMAP figure exists. EVs come in lower at around 25 to 35p total cost per mile if you have home charging. The fuel calculator on this page is the starting figure; layer the rest on top to find the all-in number.
Fuel Cost Per Mile by Vehicle Type (April 2026 prices)
| Vehicle | Efficiency | Fuel Price | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel saloon | 55 mpg | £1.50/L | 12.4p |
| Petrol hatchback | 45 mpg | £1.45/L | 14.6p |
| Petrol family SUV | 32 mpg | £1.45/L | 20.6p |
| Hybrid (Toyota Prius) | 65 mpg | £1.45/L | 10.1p |
| EV at home (28p/kWh) | 3.5 mi/kWh | £0.28/kWh | 8.0p |
| EV at off-peak (7.5p/kWh) | 3.5 mi/kWh | £0.075/kWh | 2.1p |
| EV at public rapid (80p/kWh) | 3.5 mi/kWh | £0.80/kWh | 22.9p |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HMRC's 45p per mile generous or stingy?
Generous for fuel-only costs (which are typically 10 to 25p per mile depending on car), but realistic when you include insurance, depreciation and servicing. The 45p rate has not changed since 2011/12, so in real terms it has gradually fallen behind inflation and rising fuel prices. For owners of efficient cars driving moderate annual mileage, AMAP is still a useful tax break.
Should I claim AMAP or have my employer reimburse fuel?
AMAP if your actual fuel cost is under 45p per mile, which it nearly always is. If your employer pays a fuel-only rate (typically the HMRC Advisory Fuel Rates of around 13 to 18p per mile depending on engine size), you can still claim the difference up to 45p as Mileage Allowance Relief on your self-assessment tax return.
Does the calculator handle electric cars?
Yes. Set fuel type to Electric, enter your miles per kWh (typical 3.0 to 4.0 for mid-size EVs in mixed UK conditions), and your electricity cost. Home rates of 28p per kWh produce around 8p per mile; off-peak overnight tariffs of 7 to 10p per kWh drop that to 2 to 3p per mile.
What is the average UK car's cost per mile?
Around 14 to 18p per mile for fuel only, on a typical family petrol or diesel car. Including insurance, road tax, depreciation, servicing and tyres, the all-in figure is closer to 35 to 45p per mile. The HMRC AMAP rate of 45p effectively assumes that all-in figure when reimbursing business mileage.
Why is rapid-charged EV mileage so expensive?
Public rapid chargers in 2026 commonly cost 70p to 90p per kWh, three to four times the home rate. At 80p per kWh, an EV at 3.5 miles per kWh costs 22.9p per mile, more than most petrol family cars. Rapid charging is a top-up tool for long trips, not a daily fuelling source; if you cannot charge at home, the EV cost case is much weaker.
Related Tools
Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate fuel costs for a trip. Enter distance, fuel efficiency, and price per litre. Compare multiple vehicles side by side.
Mileage Reimbursement Calculator
Calculate tax-efficient mileage reimbursement using HMRC approved rates for business travel.
Petrol vs Electric Total Cost Calculator
Compare the true cost of ownership between petrol/diesel and electric vehicles over 5-10 years.