The HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has been urged to implement a 70p per mile rate for drivers covering up to 10,000 miles annually. A petition on the Labour Party government website demands that HM Treasury "Increase HMRC Mileage Allowance to 70p per mile."
Petition Details
The petition, created by Neil Michael Wyatt, will remain open until 11 September 2026, providing ample time for public support and a government response. It argues that the current 45p per mile allowance has remained unchanged for 15 years. Since April 2011, prices in the UK have risen by approximately 49.2%, according to the Bank of England. The petition calls for an increase to 70p per mile to reflect these cost increases.
Employers typically set their mileage allowances based on the HMRC rate, which the petition claims is now unrealistically low. It states: "We believe drivers aren't just affected by not having extra tax relief, but by being underpaid for their work-associated travel costs, effectively subsidising their employers out of their own pockets."
Financial Impact
For someone claiming the maximum 10,000 miles of work or business travel, the difference between 70p and 45p equates to a loss of £2,500 per year. Even a driver covering just 1,000 miles annually would be £250 out of pocket under the current rate.
The petition has garnered 3,329 signatures so far. If it reaches 10,000 signatures, the government will respond. With 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
Current Mileage Allowance Rates
As it stands, for the first 10,000 business miles in the tax year, cars and vans receive 45p per mile, motorcycles 24p, and bicycles 20p. For each business mile over 10,000, cars and vans get 25p, motorcycles 24p, and bicycles 20p.
HMRC advises: "You can claim tax relief on the money you’ve spent on fuel and electricity for business trips in your company car. Keep records to show the actual cost of the fuel. If your employer reimburses some of the money, you can claim relief on the difference."
