Date posted: 6th Jan 2026
HMRC publishes fuel-only rates for company cars. These rates are updated quarterly and have two main uses:
- Reimbursing employees for business travel in a company car
- Reimbursing the cost of fuel provided or paid for by the employer and used for private journeys in a company car
The rate you use depends on:
- The fuel type (petrol, diesel, or electric)
- For engines with a relevant size, the engine size
- From 1 September 2025, for electric cars, the rate also depends on whether the car is charged at home or at a public charger (higher rate for miles charged at a public charger)
Where to find the rates
- Rates are updated quarterly on 1 March, 1 June, 1 September, and 1 December
- You can view them at Gov.uk: www.gov.uk/guidance/advisory-fuel-rates
Reimbursing the cost of business journeys
- If you pay for fuel for a business journey in a company car, you can usually reclaim this from your employer as a mileage allowance.
- If your employer uses the advisory fuel rates for the reimbursement, the payment is typically tax- and National Insurance–free.
Electric cars from 1 September 2025
- For electric company cars, the tax-free reimbursement depends on where the car was charged:
- Home charging: a lower rate
- Public charging: a higher rate
- If a journey uses both charging types, the reimbursement must be apportioned (split proportionally between home and public charging).
Repaying fuel for private mileage
- If your employer covers the fuel for private journeys in a company car, a fuel benefit charge may apply (except for electric cars, which have different rules).
- You can avoid the tax charge if you “make good” the cost of all fuel used for private journeys.
- How to make good:
- If car and fuel benefits are payrolled: do this before 1 June following the end of the tax year.
- If the employer reports the benefit via P11D: do this by 6 July following the end of the tax year.
- Important: the charge can only be eliminated by making good all fuel used for private journeys; partial reimbursement does not reduce the charge.
As ever, if you have any queries, please contact us.
