Call-out fee calculator
Work out in a few clicks what a trip to a client really costs you: fuel, vehicle wear and travel time combined. Useful for plumbers, electricians, technicians and other professionals who work on location.
Your call-out costs per trip
Fewer detours make this amount smaller. Schedulinq only lets clients book times that fit your route.
Try Schedulinq for freeWhat is a call-out fee?
A call-out fee is what you charge as a professional for travelling to the client. It covers your fuel, the wear on your van and the biggest item: the time you spend on the road.
If you charge no call-out fee, or too little, you effectively work for free for every minute you sit in the car. How much you charge depends on the distance to the client, your fuel consumption, your hourly rate and any parking or toll costs.
Many professionals use a fixed amount per trip. It's fairer to base it on the actual distance, as the calculator above does. Want to know what you spend on fuel each month as well? Use the fuel cost calculator.
What determines your call-out fee?
Two things: the van you drive and your hourly rate. A large diesel van with a roof rack burns and wears more than a compact city van, and an hour of a specialist's travel time costs more than a starter's.
The calculator above turns that into a cost price per trip. That's the floor of what you should charge.
In practice, many professionals also use distance tiers instead of a per-kilometre amount. That keeps your price predictable for the client and covered for you. Whichever tiers you choose, put them on your website and in your quote up front.
Drive less, charge fairly.
The best way to lower your call-out costs is not to charge less, but to drive less. Schedulinq only lets clients book times that fit logically into your route, so you drive fewer detours and help more clients in a day.
What you do drive goes on the invoice by itself. Schedulinq works out the call-out fee from the actual route distance, and you set how: with free kilometres, a fixed amount, one way or round trip.
30 days free · no credit card needed
- First 10 km free
- € 0.50 per km
- Round trip
Frequently asked questions about call-out fees
How do you calculate a call-out fee?
Add up your fuel costs, vehicle costs and travel time. A common formula: (kilometres × fuel cost per km) + (kilometres × ± € 0.10 wear) + (travel time × your hourly rate). The calculator on this page works this out for you automatically, including VAT.
What is a normal call-out fee?
There is no fixed number: your rate depends on the van you drive, your hourly rate and the distance to the client. A distance tier is common, for example a base rate within 10 km, a surcharge between 10 and 30 km and a higher surcharge beyond that. Work out your actual cost per trip with the calculator above and build your tiers on top of it.
Do you charge VAT on call-out fees?
Yes. Call-out fees are part of your service and fall under the same 21% VAT rate. Always state the amount excluding and including VAT on your invoice and in your quote, so the client isn't caught off guard.
Are you allowed to charge a call-out fee?
Yes, it is common and allowed. What matters is that you communicate the rate clearly in advance: on your website, in your quote and when making the appointment. That prevents discussion afterwards.
How do you lower your call-out costs?
By clustering appointments per area. If you help three clients in the same neighbourhood in the morning instead of criss-crossing the city, your costs drop sharply. Schedulinq does this automatically: clients only see time slots that fit your route.
What is the tax-free mileage allowance in 2026?
The tax-free mileage allowance in the Netherlands is € 0.23 per kilometre in 2026. Employers may reimburse this amount tax-free to employees. As a freelancer you deduct the actual vehicle costs from your profit instead.