Mileage Claims for Electricians UK 2026: Claim Every Mile, Keep More Money

If you are a self-employed electrician, you likely drive 10,000 to 25,000 business miles per year — visiting customer sites, collecting materials from the wholesaler, attending training, and driving between jobs. Every one of those miles is a tax-deductible business expense.

Many electricians either do not claim mileage at all (leaving thousands of pounds of tax relief on the table) or claim incorrectly (risking penalties if HMRC investigates). This guide explains exactly what you can claim, the correct rates, the rules for vans vs cars, what travel qualifies, and how to keep records that satisfy HMRC.

The rules are different depending on whether you drive a car or a van, and whether you use simplified expenses or actual costs. Getting this right can save you £1,000 to £3,000+ per year in tax and National Insurance.

HMRC publishes approved mileage rates for self-employed individuals using their own vehicle for business. These are the rates for the 2026/27 tax year:

Important: The 45p/25p rate is a "simplified expense" — it replaces claiming actual running costs. If you use simplified mileage, you cannot also claim fuel, insurance, road tax, or any other vehicle running cost. You choose one method or the other for each vehicle, and once chosen, you must continue with that method for that vehicle.

This is where many electricians get caught out. HMRC treats cars and vans differently for mileage purposes.

Why the difference? HMRC classifies vehicles by type. A van is defined as a goods vehicle with a design weight not exceeding 3,500kg — this includes all standard panel vans used by electricians (Transit Custom, Vivaro, etc.). The simplified mileage rates were designed for cars used partly for business, not for commercial vehicles.

Not every journey in your vehicle is a business journey. Understanding the rules prevents overclaiming (which can result in penalties) and underclaiming (which costs you money).

The concept of a "workplace" is critical to mileage claims. Get this wrong and you could face a nasty surprise during an HMRC enquiry.

HMRC requires contemporaneous records — meaning you record each journey at or around the time it happens, not at the end of the year from memory. If you cannot produce records during an enquiry, HMRC can disallow your entire mileage claim.

Mileage tracking apps such as MileIQ, Driversnote, and HMRC's own receipts app can automate much of this. GPS-based apps record journeys automatically — you just need to classify each one as business or personal. The monthly cost (typically £5 to £10) is itself a tax-deductible business expense.

If you use a car (not a van), you have a choice: simplified mileage rate or actual costs. The right answer depends on your circumstances.

In this example, actual costs produce a larger deduction — which is typical for vans with high running costs. Ask your accountant to calculate both methods in your first year to determine which is more beneficial. Remember: once you choose simplified mileage for a car, you cannot switch to actual costs for that vehicle later.

Electric vehicles are increasingly popular among electricians — the fuel savings are significant, and there is a natural alignment between installing EV chargers and driving an EV yourself. The tax treatment for EVs is also favourable.

For most self-employed electricians buying a new electric van, the combination of 100% first-year capital allowance, low running costs, and actual costs deduction makes an EV one of the most tax-efficient vehicles you can operate.

Mileage claims are one of the easiest ways to reduce your tax bill — but only if you keep proper records. Here is how to make it effortless.

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