The actual costs
You deduct the fuel costs you really make, provided you keep a complete trip log: per trip the date, departure and arrival address, distance and business purpose. The tax authority may ask for it during an audit.
Fuel cost calculator
Work out in a few clicks what you spend on fuel per day, week, month and year. For freelancers, trade professionals and anyone who drives to clients daily.
5
15 km
€2.10
8 L
5 days
Your fuel costs
Kilometres per day150 km
Costs per day€25.20
Costs per week€126.00
Costs per month€546
Costs per year€6,552
Drive 18% less and that saves €98 a month, €1,179 a year.
18% less travel time was the average in our simulation of 54 scenarios.
Try Schedulinq for freeHow to calculate fuel costs
The basic formula is simple: divide the distance by 100, then multiply by your consumption per 100 km and by the price per litre.
The real cost per kilometre is higher. Add wear, maintenance, insurance and depreciation and you quickly reach € 0.30 to € 0.55 per kilometre. For professionals who drive every day, vehicle costs are often the second-largest expense.
Want to know what a complete trip to a client costs, including travel time? Use the call-out fee calculator.
Less fuel through smarter planning
You save most fuel not by driving more economically, but by driving fewer kilometres. Many professionals drive back and forth because appointments don't connect: north of the city in the morning, south in the afternoon, and back again at the end of the day.
Schedulinq prevents that: clients only see times that fit your other appointments nearby. In our simulation of 54 scenarios, that cut travel time by 18% on average.
Available appointmentsReinwardtstraat 12 · maintenance visit
- 09:00HoofddorpSam · follows on from 08:3094
- 10:30HoofddorpSam · same neighbourhood88
- 13:00Haarlem-NoordLisa · 18 min drive71
- 15:30HeemstedeTim · 42 min drive46
- 16:00Den HelderOutside the service area8
Deducting fuel costs as a freelancer
As a self-employed professional in the Netherlands you can deduct business fuel costs from your profit. If you drive a private car, there is a second way.
€ 0.23 per kilometre
If you drive a private car, you can claim € 0.23 per business kilometre instead. That amount covers all vehicle costs together, including wear and insurance.
Which is more advantageous depends on your situation. Your accountant can work it out quickly.
Frequently asked questions about fuel costs
How do you calculate fuel costs per trip?
Use the formula: (distance in km ÷ 100) × consumption per 100 km × fuel price per litre. Example: a 30 km trip at 8 L/100 km and € 2.10 per litre costs (30 ÷ 100) × 8 × € 2.10 = € 5.04.
What does driving 1 kilometre cost?
In fuel, on average € 0.15 to € 0.25 for petrol and € 0.12 to € 0.18 for diesel. Including wear, insurance and depreciation, total vehicle costs land between € 0.30 and € 0.55 per kilometre.
How much fuel cost can you deduct as a freelancer?
If you drive a company vehicle, you deduct the actual fuel costs, provided you keep a complete trip log. If you drive privately, you claim € 0.23 per business kilometre.
Which is cheaper: petrol, diesel or electric?
Electric driving is cheapest per kilometre: roughly € 0.05–€ 0.08 when charging at home. Diesel costs about € 0.12–€ 0.18 per km and petrol € 0.15–€ 0.25. For high-mileage drivers, switching to electric can make a real difference.
How much fuel does a van use per 100 km?
On average 8 to 12 litres of diesel per 100 km, depending on model, load and driving style. A compact van like a Volkswagen Caddy sits around 6–7 litres, a large van like a Mercedes Sprinter around 9–12 litres. City traffic increases consumption by 20–30%.
How do you lower your fuel costs as a professional?
Mainly by planning smarter: cluster appointments per neighbourhood so you drive fewer detours. Driving calmly, keeping tyres at pressure and removing unnecessary weight from your van also help. In our simulation of 54 scenarios, smart planning cut travel time by 18% on average.