Can Dog Walkers Claim Mileage? A Simple Guide to UK Tax Rules
If you spend your days driving between clients, parks, and home visits, mileage is probably one of your biggest costs as a dog walker. The good news? In many cases, you can claim mileage against tax – but only when it meets HMRC’s rules.
In this guide, we’ll break down how mileage works for dog walkers in the UK, when you can claim it, and how to keep records that keep HMRC happy — all in plain English.
What counts as business mileage for dog walkers?
Business mileage is any travel that is wholly and exclusively for your dog walking business.
Common examples that usually do count:
- Driving from your home to pick up dogs for a walk
- Driving between multiple client addresses
- Driving from a client’s home to a local park or walking route
- Travelling to the vet or groomer as part of an agreed service
- Travelling to a training course, networking event, or business meeting
Travel that usually does not count:
- Normal commuting to a separate office job
- Personal errands on the way to or from a dog walk
- School runs or supermarket trips
The key test is simple: if the journey is purely for business, it’s usually allowable. If it’s mixed (personal and business), only the business element is claimable.
Two main ways to claim vehicle costs
HMRC gives you two main options for claiming your car expenses. You normally choose one method and stick with it for that vehicle.
1. Simplified mileage method
This is the easiest route for most dog walkers.
You track your business miles and apply HMRC’s approved rates:
- 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles in a tax year
- 25p per mile for any business miles above 10,000
This rate is designed to cover:
- Fuel
- Insurance
- Repairs and servicing
- MOT and road tax
- Depreciation (wear and tear)
You cannot claim these costs again separately if you’re using the mileage method.
2. Actual cost method
With this method, you:
- Track all car-related costs (fuel, insurance, repairs, tax, MOT, etc.)
- Work out the business-use percentage of your vehicle
- Apply that percentage to your total costs
This can work if you have high running costs, but it’s more admin and easier to get wrong. For most solo dog walkers, the simplified mileage method is usually simpler and safer.
What records do dog walkers need to keep for mileage?
HMRC expects you to keep a clear record showing:
- The date of each journey
- Where you travelled from and to
- The purpose of the journey (business reason)
- The number of miles travelled
You can track this using:
- A notebook kept in your car
- A spreadsheet
- A mileage-tracking app
What matters most is that your records are consistent, accurate, and stored safely in case HMRC ever asks to see them.
Common mileage mistakes dog walkers make
A few things we regularly see:
- Guessing mileage at year-end instead of logging journeys as you go
- Claiming personal trips (like supermarket runs) as business mileage
- Double-claiming fuel and mileage together
- Not keeping any back-up records if an app is deleted or changed
Getting these wrong doesn’t just reduce your tax efficiency – it can also cause headaches if HMRC reviews your return.
How Simplr Accounting helps dog walkers with mileage
At Simplr Accounting, we work with UK dog walkers and pet care businesses every day. We’ll help you:
- Choose the right method (mileage vs actual costs)
- Set up a simple mileage tracking routine that fits how you work
- Make sure you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to without falling foul of HMRC’s rules
If you’d like support from an accountant who actually understands how dog walkers work, we’re here to help you keep things simple, compliant, and stress-free.