What does the government say a mile of driving costs?

The IRS business mileage rate, set from an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating a car, rose from 51 cents a mile in early 2011 to 76 cents from July 2026 (49% higher), so 10,000 miles is $7,600 at the current rate.

2026 (July 1 – Dec. 31)76¢

2026 (Jan. 1 – June 30)72.5¢

202570¢

202467¢

202365.5¢

7/1/2022-12/31/202262.5¢

1/1/2022-6/30/202258.5¢

202156¢

202057.5¢

201958¢

2018 TCJA54.5¢

201753.5¢

What it shows: 2026 (July 1 – Dec. 31) is the largest at 76¢, followed by 2026 (Jan. 1 – June 30) at 72.5¢; the smallest shown is 2017 at 53.5¢.

Source: Internal Revenue Service: Standard mileage rates (all years table) and 2026 mileage rate announcement · data from 2026