If you’re dashing without tracking your mileage, you’re leaving one of the biggest tax deductions on the table. As a Dasher, you’re an independent contractor — which means the IRS lets you deduct the miles you drive for work. At the current standard mileage rate, those deductions add up fast.
This guide covers everything: what miles count, the best free app to track them, and how to claim the deduction when tax time comes.
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Why Mileage Tracking Matters for Dashers
When you dash, you’re running a small business. The IRS recognizes this and allows self-employed people — including gig workers — to deduct business-related driving expenses using the standard mileage rate.
For the 2025 tax year, the IRS standard mileage rate is 70 cents per mile for business use. That means every 100 miles you drive while dashing is worth a $70 deduction from your taxable income.
Drive 10,000 miles in a year? That’s a $7,000 deduction. Drive 20,000? $14,000. For most active Dashers, this is the single largest deduction available — and many miss it entirely because they never tracked their miles.
Quick note: Always verify the current mileage rate at IRS.gov before filing, as rates can change year to year.
What Miles Count as Deductible?
Not every mile you drive while the Dasher app is open is automatically deductible — but most of them are. Here’s how it breaks down:
Miles that count:
- Driving to the restaurant after accepting an order
- Driving from the restaurant to the customer’s address
- Driving between deliveries while actively on a dash (waiting for the next order)
- Driving to pick up supplies directly related to your dashing (like insulated bags)
Miles that generally don’t count:
- Driving from home to the area where you start dashing (your commute)
- Personal errands mixed in during a dash
- Driving after you’ve ended your dash for the day
The key rule: once you’ve accepted an order, you’re on the clock for mileage purposes. Many Dashers also count miles driven while waiting in a hot zone for orders — the important thing is that the app is on and you’re actively working.
When in doubt, track everything and let your tax software help you sort it out. More records are always better than fewer.
The Best Free App: Stride
The easiest way to track your mileage is with Stride — and it’s completely free.
Stride is built specifically for gig workers and independent contractors. It runs quietly in the background, uses your phone’s GPS to automatically log trips, and generates IRS-ready mileage reports when tax season arrives.
Why Dashers love Stride:
- Completely free — no subscription, no premium tier required
- Auto-tracks via GPS so you don’t have to remember to start/stop
- Detects driving automatically — no button to press
- Logs the date, start/end location, and miles for every trip
- Generates a year-end mileage report formatted for tax filing
- Also tracks business expenses beyond mileage
How to set it up:
- Download Stride from the App Store or Google Play
- Create a free account
- Set your work type to “Delivery Driver” or “DoorDash”
- Enable background location access so it can auto-detect trips
- Review and classify trips at the end of each day (business vs. personal)
That’s it. Stride does the heavy lifting — you just confirm the trips as you go.
Pro tip: Classify your trips daily rather than waiting until the end of the month. It takes 30 seconds per day and saves hours at tax time.
How to Track Mileage Manually (Backup Method)
If you prefer a low-tech approach — or want a backup to Stride — you can track mileage manually using a simple log. The IRS requires you to keep records of:
- The date of the trip
- The starting and ending location
- The number of miles driven
- The business purpose (e.g., “DoorDash delivery — McDonald’s to customer”)
A spreadsheet or even a small notebook kept in your car works fine. Note your odometer reading at the start of each dash and at the end, and record the difference.
The downside is it’s easy to forget, especially on busy dash days. That’s why most Dashers use an app like Stride as their primary method and keep manual notes only as a backup.
The Two Methods: Standard Mileage vs. Actual Expenses
When you file your taxes as a Dasher, you have two ways to deduct vehicle costs:
Standard Mileage Rate Multiply your total business miles by the IRS rate (70 cents/mile for 2025). Simple, no receipts required beyond your mileage log. This is what most Dashers use.
Actual Expense Method Deduct a percentage of your actual car costs — gas, insurance, maintenance, depreciation — based on the percentage of miles driven for business. More complex, requires detailed records, but can sometimes result in a larger deduction for high-mileage drivers.
For most Dashers, the standard mileage rate is the better choice. It’s simpler, requires less paperwork, and the 70-cent rate is generous. You can use TurboTax Home & Business to compare both methods and automatically pick the one that saves you more.
How to Claim Your Mileage Deduction at Tax Time
As a Dasher, you’ll file your DoorDash income and expenses on Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business). Your mileage deduction goes there as a business expense.
Here’s the general process:
- Pull your year-end mileage report from Stride (it exports directly as a CSV or PDF)
- Total up your business miles for the year
- Multiply by the IRS mileage rate for that tax year
- Enter the deduction on Schedule C, Line 9 (Car and Truck Expenses)
- Keep your mileage log on file for at least 3 years in case of an audit
TurboTax Home & Business walks you through Schedule C step by step, including the vehicle expense section. It asks the right questions, handles the math, and flags deductions you might have missed — it’s built exactly for situations like this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DoorDash track my mileage for me? No. DoorDash provides an estimate of miles driven for reference in your annual tax summary, but it only counts miles from the restaurant to the customer — not miles driving to the restaurant or between deliveries. The DoorDash figure is almost always lower than your actual deductible miles. Track it yourself with Stride.
Can I deduct miles if I multi-app (DoorDash + Uber Eats)? Yes. Miles driven for any gig delivery platform count as business miles. Stride lets you tag trips by platform so you can see the breakdown, but the total business miles all go on the same Schedule C.
What if I forgot to track my mileage this year? You can reconstruct mileage using records — your DoorDash earnings statements, bank deposits, and the app’s delivery history can help you estimate. Some tax professionals accept reconstructed logs. Going forward, set up Stride so you’re covered automatically next year.
Do I need a separate vehicle for deliveries to claim mileage? No. You can use your personal vehicle and still deduct the business-use miles. You just need to track which miles were business and which were personal.
What records do I need to keep in case of an audit? Keep your mileage log (Stride exports this), your DoorDash 1099-NEC, and any related receipts (insulated bags, phone mounts, etc.) for at least 3 years from the date you file.
Are Dashers employees of DoorDash? No. Dashers are independent contractors operating in a 1099 capacity — not W-2 employees. This is why you’re responsible for tracking your own expenses and filing your own Schedule C.
Start Dashing and Tracking
The mileage deduction is one of the best perks of being a Dasher — but only if you track it. Download Stride before your next dash, let it run in the background, and come tax time you’ll have everything you need.
And if you’re not dashing yet — signing up is quick and there’s no fixed schedule or commitment.
Subject to background check and availability. Standard mileage rate of 70 cents/mile applies to the 2025 tax year; verify the current rate at IRS.gov before filing. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation.