Courier's car guide: How to get mileage and tax deductions (without unnecessary hassle)

A car—or any other means of transportation—is probably your most important work tool after your phone. Yet there is a persistent misconception among couriers about its costs.

First things first: mileage allowances or car expenses are not paid directly into your account on top of your salary or remuneration.

When you report your mileage and car expenses correctly, they reduce your taxable income. In practice, this means that you pay less tax and have more money left over – the benefit comes through taxation, not as an extra lump sum in your bank account.

For this to work, everything must be in order on paper (or in the app). Here are instructions on how to get the job done.

1. Enter your car details

In order to do your accounting correctly, we need your car details Truster. We don't ask for them to evaluate your vehicle, but to ensure tax deductions.

We need at least the following information:

• Registration number
• Car value in euros
• Utilization rate: Do you drive your car more than or less than 50% of your working hours?

This is how you prove the value of your car

The taxman is interested in how much your car costs.

• Purchased less than a year ago: Add the sales contract to the application.
• Older car / no bill of sale: Get a free price estimate online (e.g., Alma Ajo).

Here's how:

1. Go to the Alma Ajo service.
2. Enter the registration number and odometer reading.
3. Take a screenshot of the price estimate in the "Timeline" section (the screenshot must show the registration number, price, and date).
4. Upload the image Truster: Menu → Vehicle information.

2. "The 50% rule" - How are deductions calculated?

This is the point that determines how your vehicle is treated for tax purposes.

A) Do you drive more than 50% of your working hours?

If your car is used more for work than for personal travel, it is considered a business tool by the tax authorities.

• What you get: We deduct the actual costs of the car (fuel, washing, maintenance, insurance) from your taxes, as well as 25% of the car's value as an annual depreciation.

B) Do you drive less than 50% of the time?

If the car is mainly used for civilian purposes, it is considered a private car by the tax authorities.

• What you get: You will receive mileage allowance (in 2026: €0.55/km) based on the number of kilometers driven during working hours.

3. The driving log is the be-all and end-all

This is no joke: without a driving log, there are no deductions.

The tax authorities require black and white proof of where you have driven. If you do not have a driving log, the tax authorities may refuse to grant deductions, which will have a negative impact on your wallet.

Every business trip must include:

• Date and times (start & end)
• Exact addresses (from where to where, each gig separately)
• Driven kilometres
• Purpose of the trip (e.g., "food delivery")
• Meter readings at the beginning and end

4. Forget Excel - Start using Driversnote

No one wants to write down their trips in a notebook in a dark car. That's why we recommend the Driversnote app. It does the dirty work for you: just press Start at the beginning of your trip and Stop at the end.

Why Driversnote?

• Just track your work hours. There is no need to record personal trips separately.
• As a Truster user, you get Driversnote for free.

Do this at the end of the year: When the year changes, create a report in the app for the entire year.

1. Keep the report for yourself (for at least 6 years). Do not send the report to Truster.
2. Just let us know your total mileage in the tax return questionnaire we will send you at the beginning of the year.

Pro: If Driversnote isn't your thing, you can use any other method as long as the information is available. The main thing is that it can be found if the tax authorities ask for it.

In summary:

1. Add your car details to the app right away.
2. Keep a driving log for every trip (Driversnote is your friend).
3. Please note: The money will not be credited to your account immediately, but you will benefit from lower taxes in your final tax assessment.