Private Hire Vehicle Expenses You Can Claim
Every legitimate expense you claim reduces your taxable profit and puts more money back in your pocket. Here is the complete list of what UK private hire drivers can deduct, with real pound amounts so you can see the impact.
As a self-employed person, HMRC allows you to deduct "wholly and exclusively" business expenses from your income before calculating your tax. This guide groups every claimable expense into clear categories, includes realistic annual amounts, and explains the difference between simplified expenses and actual costs so you can choose the method that saves you the most.
Simplified Expenses vs Actual Costs
Before we dive into specific expenses, you need to understand the two methods HMRC allows for vehicle costs:
Simplified Expenses
Use HMRC's flat rate mileage allowance: 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles, then 25p per mile after that. This covers fuel, insurance, repairs, road tax, depreciation -- everything related to the vehicle. You cannot claim these individually on top.
Best for: drivers with lower vehicle costs or who want simpler bookkeeping.
Actual Costs
Claim the business-use percentage of every individual vehicle cost: fuel, insurance, repairs, finance, road tax, MOT, depreciation. You must track each cost separately and calculate the business-use ratio (e.g., 80% business, 20% personal).
Best for: full-time drivers with high actual costs or expensive vehicles.
Important: Once you choose a method for a vehicle, you must stick with it for the life of that vehicle. You cannot switch between simplified and actual costs year to year. Choose carefully -- and if in doubt, calculate both methods for your first year to see which saves more.
Vehicle Running Costs
Only claimable if using the actual costs method. If you use simplified mileage, these are already covered.
Fuel / Electric Charging
~£4,000-6,000/yrYour single largest running cost. Track every fill-up or charging session. If you use the car 80% for business, you can claim 80% of your total fuel costs. A full-time driver spending £6,000 on fuel with 80% business use can claim £4,800.
Electric vehicle drivers: include home charging costs (using a smart meter or HMRC's advisory fuel rate of 9p per mile for EVs) and public charging payments.
Repairs, Servicing and MOT
~£800-2,000/yrAll maintenance and repair costs: annual service (£150-300), MOT test (£55), tyre replacements (£200-400 per set), brake pads, oil changes, and any breakdown repairs. Claim the business-use percentage. A £1,500 annual repair bill at 80% business use = £1,200 deduction.
Road Tax (Vehicle Excise Duty)
~£0-180/yrThe annual road tax for your vehicle. Electric vehicles lost their exemption in April 2025 and now pay road tax too. For a typical hybrid or petrol car, expect £155-180 per year. Claim the business-use percentage.
Vehicle Insurance
~£1,500-3,500/yrPrivate hire insurance is significantly more expensive than standard car insurance. A typical policy costs £1,500-3,500 per year. If the policy is exclusively for your business vehicle, you can claim 100% of the cost. If the car is also used personally, claim the business-use percentage.
Simplified Mileage Example
A full-time worker covering 30,000 business miles per year:
First 10,000 miles x 45p = £4,500
Remaining 20,000 miles x 25p = £5,000
Total mileage allowance = £9,500
Compare this against your actual vehicle costs to see which method gives you a larger deduction. Learn more in our Mileage Allowance Guide.
Licensing and Regulatory Costs
These are claimable regardless of whether you use simplified expenses or actual costs, because they are not vehicle running costs -- they are business operating costs.
Council Private Hire Licence
£150-400/yrYour local council charges for your private hire or hackney carriage driver licence. Most councils charge between £150 and £400 for a three-year licence. Claim the annual portion (e.g., a £300 three-year licence = £100 per year).
Vehicle Licence Plate
£100-250/yrThe council also charges to licence your vehicle for private hire use. This is separate from your driver licence. Claim the full amount as it is 100% a business cost.
DBS Check (Enhanced)
£40-55Required for all private hire drivers. The enhanced DBS check costs around £40-55 and must be renewed periodically. Some councils require annual updates via the DBS Update Service (£13/year). All of these are fully deductible.
Medical Examination
£50-150Most councils require a medical certificate confirming you are fit to drive professionally. This typically costs £50-150 from your GP or an approved doctor. Fully claimable as a business expense.
Office and Admin Expenses
Running your business involves more than just driving. These administrative costs are all deductible.
Mobile Phone
£240-500/yrYour monthly phone contract (£20-40/month) is partially claimable. If you use your phone 70% for business (running apps, navigation, accepting jobs), you can claim 70% of the annual cost. A £35/month contract at 70% business use = £294/year.
If you bought a phone handset specifically for driving, the full cost is claimable. A £300 phone used entirely for work is a £300 deduction in the year of purchase.
Accounting Software and Fees
£50-500/yrTax software subscriptions (like Fyled), accountancy fees, and bookkeeping costs are all fully deductible. If you pay an accountant £300 to prepare your return, that £300 comes straight off your taxable profits.
Bank Charges
£0-120/yrMonthly fees on your business bank account, transaction fees, and charges for business debit/credit cards. Many digital banks are free, but if your account charges £10/month, that is £120 you can deduct.
Parking Charges
£200-1,000/yrParking costs incurred while working: airport pickup waiting areas, city centre parking while waiting for jobs, and paid rank spaces. Keep receipts or bank statements for every payment. Do not include parking fines or PCNs -- these are never deductible.
Other Claimable Expenses
Vehicle Cleaning and Valeting
£300-800/yrKeeping your vehicle clean is a professional requirement. External car washes (£8-15 each), internal valeting (£20-50), and cleaning supplies are all deductible. A weekly wash at £10 plus monthly valet at £30 totals around £880/year.
Advertising
£0-500/yrBusiness cards, a simple website, social media advertising to attract private bookings, or signage on your vehicle. If you spend £200 on business cards and a basic website, that is fully deductible.
Training and Development
£50-500/yrProfessional training courses that relate directly to your taxi business: Knowledge of London, NVQ in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving, first aid courses, safeguarding training, disability awareness. These are fully deductible. A Knowledge course at £300 is a complete write-off against your profits.
Congestion Charge and Tolls
£0-4,000/yrLondon Congestion Charge (£15/day), ULEZ charges, Dartford Crossing (£2.50), and other road tolls incurred while working. A London worker paying the Congestion Charge five days a week for 50 weeks can claim £3,750.
Vehicle Finance Interest
£500-2,000/yrIf you purchased your vehicle on finance (HP or PCP), the interest portion of your monthly payments is deductible (not the capital repayment). On a £350/month HP agreement where £80 is interest, you can claim the business-use percentage of £960/year. Capital allowances may also apply for the purchase price -- consult an accountant for complex vehicle finance.
What Could Your Total Deductions Be?
Here is a realistic scenario for a full-time PHV worker using simplified mileage:
At the 20% basic rate, £13,294 in deductions saves you £2,658.80 in income tax alone, plus additional savings on National Insurance. That is real money back in your pocket -- but only if you track and claim every expense.
What Records Do You Need?
HMRC requires evidence for every expense you claim. For each cost, you should keep:
- The date of the expense
- The amount paid
- What the expense was for
- A receipt, invoice, or bank statement as proof
- The business-use percentage (if applicable)
Remember: Keep all records for at least 5 years after the Self Assessment filing deadline. HMRC can open an enquiry at any time during this period. Digital records (photographs, scanned PDFs) are perfectly acceptable.
Quick Reference: All Claimable Expenses
| Expense | Category | Typical Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel / Electric charging | Vehicle | £4,000-6,000 |
| Repairs and servicing | Vehicle | £800-2,000 |
| MOT test | Vehicle | £55 |
| Road tax | Vehicle | £0-180 |
| Insurance | Vehicle | £1,500-3,500 |
| Council driver licence | Licensing | £100-150/yr |
| Vehicle licence plate | Licensing | £100-250 |
| DBS check | Licensing | £40-55 |
| Medical examination | Licensing | £50-150 |
| Mobile phone | Admin | £240-500 |
| Accounting software/fees | Admin | £50-500 |
| Bank charges | Admin | £0-120 |
| Parking charges | Admin | £200-1,000 |
| Cleaning and valeting | Other | £300-800 |
| Advertising | Other | £0-500 |
| Training | Other | £50-500 |
| Congestion charge/tolls | Other | £0-4,000 |
| Vehicle finance interest | Other | £500-2,000 |
Vehicle running costs are only individually claimable under the actual costs method. If using simplified mileage, only mileage allowance is claimed for vehicle costs.
Want the full picture? Read our Tax Deductions Guide and Expenses Guide for an even deeper breakdown of how deductions work and how they reduce your tax bill.
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