Last updated: September 17, 2025
Learn the IRS Mileage Rate for California and see what it’s worth with local laws, route examples, and Bay Area – SoCal realities.
Build IRS-compliant and §2802-ready mileage logs with MileageWise.
Table of Contents
Summary
- 2025 IRS Mileage Rates: $0.70/mi (business), $0.21/mi (medical/moving), $0.14/mi (charitable).
- California Deduction Potential: Long routes like San Diego–LA or Sacramento–Napa easily add up to hundreds in tax-deductible mileage.
- Employer Reimbursement Law: California requires full reimbursement (Labor Code §2802); underpayments must be corrected.
- MileageWise’s Top Solution: Import your Google Maps Timeline to turn past drives into IRS-compliant mileage logs.
Your Business Mileage Deduction Potential in a Day in California
San Diego → Los Angeles (120 miles)
Los Angeles → Santa Barbara (95 miles)
Santa Barbara → San Diego (217 miles)
Total miles: 432
Deduction: 432 × $0.70 = $302.40
Sacramento → Napa Valley (60 miles)
Napa Valley → San Francisco (60 miles)
San Francisco → Sacramento (88 miles)
Total miles: 208 miles
Deduction: 208 × $0.70 = $145.60
California Reimbursement You Can’t Ignore
Under California Labor Code §2802, employers must reimburse employees for all necessary expenditures. California allows reimbursement via an IRS-rate mileage allowance or a lump sum — as long as it fully makes the employee whole. If a method under-reimburses, employers should true-up. See Gattuso v. Harte-Hanks (Cal. 2007).
🚫 Commuting is not deductible. Home ↔ regular workplace trips don’t count. Business miles are client visits, trips between work sites, supply runs, etc.
This page is informational; consult a tax professional for your specific situation. Refer to our IRS Mileage Rates page for nationwide details.
2025 Mileage Rates
- Business Mileage: Standard mileage rate for business-related driving: $0.70/mi
- Medical / Moving Mileage: Active-duty military moving + medical trips: $0.21/mi
- Charitable Mileage: Trips in the service of charitable organizations: $0.14/mi
What is the IRS Mileage Rate worth in California?
| Route (one-way) | Approx. miles | 2025 value |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco → San Jose | 48 mi | $33.60 (RT $67.20) |
| Los Angeles → San Diego | 120 mi | $84.00 (RT $168.00) |
| Oakland → San Jose | 40 mi | $28.00 (RT $56.00) |
| Sacramento → Roseville | 20 mi | $14.00 (RT $28.00) |
| San Jose → Palo Alto | 18 mi | $12.60 (RT $25.20) |
| Downtown LA → Burbank | 12 mi | $8.40 (RT $16.80) |
| San Diego (Gaslamp) → La Jolla | 13 mi | $9.10 (RT $18.20) |
| Bakersfield → Delano | 32 mi | $22.40 (RT $44.80) |
| Fresno → Bakersfield | 110 mi | $77.00 (RT $154.00) |
| Hollywood → Burbank | 7 mi | $4.90 (RT $9.80) |
Calculations use the 2025 business rate of $0.70/mi.
Regions in California with Different Driving Realities
- Northern California (Bay Area + Sacramento): Dense urban cores, bridges/tolls, short hops between startups, clinics, agencies.
- Southern California (LA/OC/IE/San Diego): Longer, traffic-sensitive legs across the basin; studio lots and vendor runs.
- Central & Coastal (Central Valley, Santa Barbara, SLO, Sierra foothills): Longer highway stretches, seasonal closures/elevation.
Who Benefits Most from Mileage Reimbursement
- Real estate
- Mobile healthcare
- Trades (HVAC/solar/electrical/plumbing)
- Field sales (SaaS & med-device)
- Rideshare/delivery
- Entertainment production
- Agriculture & logistics
California Driving Needs, MileageWise Solutions
For drivers in California, where long commutes and heavy traffic often stretch across multiple cities, keeping an accurate mileage log is no small task. To maximize deductions, you need a precise record of every trip.
MileageWise provides a smarter way to manage your driving records. It helps you stay on top of IRS requirements without the stress. By offering innovative tools for three distinct needs, MileageWise makes it easy to keep your mileage logs precise and ready for tax season.
1. Google Maps Timeline Import: A Smart Fix for California Drivers
With MileageWise, you can transform your Timeline into an IRS-compliant mileage log. If you forgot to track your drives or only now realize you need past mileage records, you don’t have to start from scratch. MileageWise can import and structure your Timeline data into a compliant, audit-proof mileage log.
2. No Timeline? No Problem! Rebuild with AI Wizard
If your Google Timeline is incomplete or missing entirely, MileageWise offers a powerful Plan B: the AI Wizard Mileage Log Generator. This tool can automatically reconstruct past trips and fill in the gaps with routes tailored to your driving patterns in California. Instead of spending hours trying to remember trips from weeks or months ago, this AI-powered tool makes sure your mileage logs are complete.
3. Moving forward: MileageWise Mileage Tracker App
Looking ahead, the MileageWise mobile app provides a reliable solution for mileage tracking. This ad-free app ensures your drives in California are precisely recorded. With just a few taps, it generates bulletproof mileage logs that maximize your deductions and give you peace of mind.
A Quick California Story: Local Proof, Clear ROI
A San Diego property manager operating across Downtown, Mission Valley, and La Jolla missed several weeks of business trip entries during peak season. He recovered his trips with the help of MileageWise’s Google Maps Timeline import feature. He then exported a polished, audit-ready report, saving time and protecting his deductions.
Conclusion
Staying compliant with the IRS and understanding California’s §2802 rules is critical for any local who wants to deduct mileage. With regional driving realities adding complexity, accurate and audit-ready logs are the only way to secure your rightful reimbursements.
No matter your situation, you have three solutions at your disposal:
- The Google Maps Timeline Import transforms your Timeline data into an audit-proof log.
- If your Timeline is missing, the AI Wizard Mileage Log Generator reconstructs your past trips with smart, California-specific routes.
- And for trips going forward, the MileageWise Mobile App tracks every mile automatically.
Together, these three tools ensure that California drivers can recover the past, capture the present, and protect their future deductions with confidence.
Automatic Mileage Tracker App
AI Logs & Google Timeline Import
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FAQ
What are the 2025 IRS mileage rates?
Business $0.70/mi; Medical/Moving (active-duty military) $0.21/mi; Charitable $0.14/mi.
Does California require employers to reimburse mileage?
Yes. Under Labor Code §2802. Reimbursement can be a mileage allowance or lump sum, but employees must be made whole; true-ups may be required. See Gattuso v. Harte-Hanks (2007).
Is commuting deductible?
No. Home ↔ regular workplace is commuting and not deductible. Business miles start once work begins (client visits, site-to-site).
Can I rebuild a past mileage log?
Yes — with Google Maps Timeline import feature or the AI Wizard Mileage Log Generator, you can reconstruct accurate, IRS-proof logs for past weeks or months.
Are tolls and parking included in the mileage deduction?
Tolls/parking are separate business expenses; record them alongside your mileage report when applicable (company policy applies).
Does the IRS mileage rate apply to EVs and hybrids?
Yes — the IRS rate applies per mile regardless of fuel type; your employer may also request separate charging/fuel details for internal reporting.
