If you spend your days driving between clients, parks, vets and home visits, mileage can quickly become one of your biggest business costs as a dog walker. The good news is that in many cases you can claim mileage against tax, as long as the journeys meet HMRC's rules.

This guide explains what counts as business mileage for dog walkers, the two main ways to claim vehicle costs, and how to keep records that support your tax return. For wider support, see our accountant for dog walkers page.

What Counts as Business Mileage for Dog Walkers?

Business mileage is travel that is wholly and exclusively for your dog walking business. In practice, this usually means journeys you would not make if you were not running the business.

Usually Claimable

Business journeys

  • Driving from home to pick up dogs for a walk
  • Driving between multiple client addresses
  • Driving from a client's home to a park or walking route
  • Travelling to the vet or groomer as part of an agreed service
  • Travelling to training, networking or business meetings
Usually Not Claimable

Personal journeys

  • Normal commuting to a separate office job
  • Personal errands on the way to or from dog walks
  • School runs, supermarket trips or personal appointments
  • Journeys with no clear business purpose

The key test is simple: if the journey is purely for the dog walking business, it is usually allowable. If it is mixed personal and business travel, only the business element should be claimed.

Two Main Ways to Claim Vehicle Costs

HMRC gives self-employed people two main ways to claim vehicle costs. You normally choose one method for a vehicle and stick with it.

1. Simplified Mileage Method

This is the easiest route for most dog walkers. You track your business miles and apply HMRC's simplified mileage rates. GOV.UK confirms that cars and goods vehicles can use 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles and 25p per mile after that.

Rate 01

First 10,000 miles

  • Cars and goods vehicles: 45p per business mile
  • Motorcycles have a different flat rate
Rate 02

After 10,000 miles

  • Cars and goods vehicles: 25p per business mile
  • The higher rate only applies to the first 10,000 business miles in the tax year

The simplified mileage rate is designed to cover fuel, insurance, repairs, servicing, MOT, road tax and depreciation. If you use the mileage method, you cannot claim those vehicle running costs again separately.

Example: if you drive 4,000 business miles for dog walking in a tax year, your mileage claim would be 4,000 x 45p = £1,800.

2. Actual Cost Method

With the actual cost method, you track all car-related costs and claim the business-use percentage. Costs can include fuel, insurance, repairs, servicing, tax, MOT and other running costs.

This can work if you have high vehicle costs, but it involves more admin and can be easier to get wrong. For many solo dog walkers, simplified mileage is cleaner and simpler.

Which Method Is Better for Dog Walkers?

The best method depends on your mileage, vehicle costs and record keeping. Simplified mileage is often best if you want a straightforward system and use the vehicle for both business and personal journeys.

  • Use simplified mileage if you want simpler records and fewer calculations
  • Consider actual costs if business use is high and vehicle running costs are significant
  • Avoid switching methods without advice once you have chosen a method for a vehicle
  • Do not claim mileage and actual running costs for the same vehicle at the same time

What Records Do Dog Walkers Need to Keep?

HMRC expects clear records showing your business journeys. You should record:

01Date. The date each business journey took place.
02Route. Where you travelled from and to, such as home, client address, park or vet.
03Purpose. The business reason for the journey, such as client pickup, dog walk, vet visit or training.
04Miles. The number of business miles travelled.

You can keep records in a notebook, spreadsheet or mileage-tracking app. What matters is that the records are consistent, accurate and saved safely.

Common Mileage Mistakes Dog Walkers Make

  • Guessing mileage at year end instead of logging journeys as they happen
  • Claiming personal errands as business mileage
  • Double-claiming fuel and simplified mileage together
  • Not keeping backup records if a mileage app changes or data is deleted
  • Forgetting to record business trips to the vet, groomer, training or suppliers

Getting mileage wrong can reduce your tax efficiency and create problems if HMRC reviews your return. Good records do not need to be complicated, but they do need to exist.

How Simplr Accounting Helps Dog Walkers With Mileage

At Simplr Accounting, we work with UK dog walkers and pet care businesses. We help you choose the right vehicle cost method, set up a simple mileage tracking routine and make sure you claim what you are entitled to without falling foul of HMRC's rules.

If you want support from an accountant who understands how dog walking businesses actually work, visit our dog walker accountant services page or get in touch.

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