What does your fleet really cost?
For Australian trades businesses. Work out the true annual cost of running your vehicles, see your cost per kilometre against the ATO method, compare buying versus leasing, and understand the tax treatment based on how much you actually use them for work.
Takes ~3 minutes · All figures stay in your browser until you choose to share them
Running Cost
Fuel, rego, servicing, tyres
Cost Per Km
Your rate vs the ATO method
Buy vs Lease
Which is cheaper for you
Tax Treatment
Deductible by business use
About this tool
Vehicle & Fleet Cost Calculator
Vehicles are one of the biggest — and most quietly leaky — line items for an Australian trades or field-services business, yet most owners only ever see the pieces: a fuel card here, a rego notice there, a lease direct debit, an insurance renewal. Nobody adds it all up into a single, honest annual number, and almost nobody knows what each vehicle actually costs to run per kilometre. The Vehicle & Fleet Cost Calculator pulls those scattered costs together so you can see the true cost of running your fleet, how it compares to standard tax methods, whether owning or leasing suits you, and how much of it is genuinely deductible based on how you actually use each vehicle for work.
How it works
You enter your annual business revenue and set up each vehicle — its type, whether it's owned or leased, and its running costs: fuel, insurance, rego, servicing and tyres, plus estimated annual kilometres and the share of those kilometres driven for work. From those inputs the tool builds four views. It totals your true annual running cost (adding an indicative depreciation estimate for owned vehicles and lease payments for leased ones) and works out cost per vehicle and cost per kilometre. It compares your actual cost per km against the ATO's current cents-per-km method so you can see which way of claiming is likely to serve you better. It sets your buying costs against your leasing costs side by side. And it estimates the deductible portion using a kilometre-weighted business-use percentage across the fleet, while flagging where Fringe Benefits Tax may come into play. It also shows your total fleet cost as a share of revenue against an indicative range for trades businesses. Every figure is an estimate built from your own numbers and current published rates — general guidance to help you think it through, not tax advice.
Who it’s for
Owners of Australian trades and field-services businesses running one vehicle or a whole fleet, who want a clear, single view of what those vehicles really cost and how they're best claimed.
- Consolidates fuel, insurance, rego, servicing, tyres and either depreciation or lease payments into one true annual fleet cost — and a cost per kilometre — instead of costs scattered across the year.
- Compares your actual running cost per km against the ATO's current cents-per-km method and estimates your deductible portion from a kilometre-weighted business-use percentage, so you can see whether a logbook or the cents-per-km method is likely to claim more.
- Puts owning and leasing side by side and benchmarks your total fleet cost as a share of revenue against an indicative range for trades businesses, flagging where costs sit high and where FBT may apply.
Frequently asked questions
Should I claim my vehicle using the logbook method or cents-per-km?
It depends on your actual running cost per kilometre and how far you drive for work. The calculator works out your real cost per km from the figures you enter and compares it against the ATO's current cents-per-km rate. As a rule of thumb, if your actual cost per km sits above the cents-per-km rate, a logbook claiming your real running costs is likely to deduct more — but you need to keep detailed records to support it. If your cost per km is below the rate, the cents-per-km method can be the simpler win. The tool shows you which way you're leaning; confirm the final choice with your accountant, since the right method depends on your full circumstances.
Is it cheaper to buy or lease my work vehicles?
Neither is automatically better — it turns on how long you keep vehicles, how many kilometres you run, and whether you value predictable monthly costs or building asset value. The calculator sets your owned-vehicle running costs (including an indicative depreciation estimate) against your leased-vehicle costs so you can see the annual difference for your own fleet. Broadly, leasing suits owners who want predictable payments and less maintenance hassle, while owning tends to favour those who keep vehicles long-term and run high kilometres. The comparison is a starting point for the conversation, not a definitive answer for your tax position.
How much of my vehicle costs can I actually claim?
Only the portion tied to business use is deductible — the private-use share isn't. The calculator asks for the business-use percentage of each vehicle (the share of kilometres driven for work), then applies a kilometre-weighted average across your fleet to estimate the deductible portion of your total running cost. It also flags that where vehicles carry private use and are provided to employees, Fringe Benefits Tax may apply and private-use proportions need to be documented. These are indicative estimates to help you plan; your accountant should confirm the treatment for your situation.