Getting to and from work can take a sizeable chunk out of your weekly budget. Between fuel, public transport, tolls, parking, and keeping your car on the road, the cost of commuting can quickly add up. If you’re looking to get help with travel costs to work, there are several options worth exploring. In this guide, we look at the assistance available in Australia, what you may be able to claim at tax time, and practical ways to make getting to work more affordable.
And if an unexpected breakdown is stopping you from getting to work, a car repair loan could help cover eligible repair costs and get your car back on the road sooner.
Overview:
- Can I claim travel costs to work on tax?
- Can I get help with travel costs to work?
- How to reduce travel costs to and from work
- Start carpooling to and from work
- Combine driving with public transport
- Take advantage of public transport discounts and fare caps
- Keep your car regularly maintained
- Ask your employer about car or travel allowances
- Check whether you’re eligible for public transport concessions
- Plan ahead for unexpected car expenses
- FAQs
Can I claim travel costs to work on tax?
Generally, you can’t claim the cost of travelling between your home and your regular workplace as a tax deduction. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) considers your normal commute a private expense, even if you live a long way from work or travel outside normal business hours.
However, there are circumstances where work-related travel may be deductible. Depending on your situation, this could include travelling:
- Directly between two separate workplaces.
- From your regular workplace to an alternative workplace, such as a client’s premises.
- Between different work locations if you have shifting places of employment.
- From home to an alternative workplace in certain circumstances.
- While transporting bulky tools or equipment required for your job when there is no secure storage available at work.
The rules around work-related travel deductions can be complicated, and simply using your car for work doesn’t automatically make the expense deductible. Check the latest ATO guidance on transport expenses or speak with a registered tax professional before making a claim.
Can I get help with travel costs to work?
Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for government assistance with some of the costs associated with travelling for work, study, training, or other approved activities.
Two options worth checking are:
- Mobility Allowance: financial assistance for eligible people with disability, illness, or injury who have difficulty using public transport without substantial assistance.
- Workers’ compensation travel assistance: some work-related medical and rehabilitation travel costs may be covered if you have an accepted workers’ compensation claim.
Mobility Allowance
Services Australia’s Mobility Allowance provides financial assistance to eligible people with disability, illness, or injury who need to travel for work, study, training, volunteering, or to look for work and can’t use public transport without substantial assistance.
As of 2026, eligible recipients may receive either the standard or higher Mobility Allowance rate, depending on their circumstances and activities.
If you’re not sure whether you qualify or what you’re entitled to, check out Mobility Allowance information from Services Australia to see the current payment rates and eligibility requirements.
Workers’ compensation travel assistance
If you’ve got a workers’ compensation claim you may also be able to get some of your travel costs covered when you’re heading to medical treatment or rehabilitation.
Exactly what’s covered depends on where you live, as workers’ compensation rules vary across each state and territory.
For example, in Queensland, WorkCover Queensland may reimburse travel expenses for approved medical or rehabilitation appointments, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.
What to do: Check with the workers’ compensation authority in your state or territory to find out whether your travel expenses may be covered.
How to reduce travel costs to and from work
Not eligible for financial assistance? There are still plenty of ways to make getting to work a little easier on your wallet.
1. Start carpooling to and from work
Have colleagues who live nearby? A shared commute could be an easy way to reduce your weekly travel costs.
Depending on your arrangement, you could split:
- Fuel costs
- Tolls
- Parking fees
- Driving duties
Even carpooling a couple of days each week could reduce the amount of fuel you use and the kilometres you put on your car.
Quick tip: agree on costs and driving responsibilities upfront. Nobody wants the office group chat turning into a debate over who paid for parking three Tuesdays ago.
2. Combine driving with public transport
You don’t necessarily have to choose between driving or public transport. Sometimes, a bit of both works best.
Park-and-ride facilities let you drive to a participating station or transport interchange, park your car, and complete the rest of your journey using public transport.
This could be particularly useful if you work in a CBD or another busy area where:
- Parking is expensive
- Traffic adds time and fuel to your commute
- Tolls make driving all the way to work more expensive
Check your state or territory’s public transport website to find park-and-ride facilities near you.
3. Take advantage of public transport discounts and fare caps
Before paying full fare every day, check what discounts are available in your state or territory. Depending on where you live, you may have access to fare caps, concessions, or off-peak discounts.
For example:
| State | Example of potential savings |
| Queensland | 50-cent fares currently apply across most Translink bus, train, tram, and ferry services. |
| New South Wales | Eligible Opal and contactless trips can benefit from daily and weekly caps and off-peak discounts. |
| Victoria | Daily fare caps can limit how much you pay for eligible public transport travel each day. |
Public transport fares and conditions can change, so always check your local transport authority for current pricing before planning your commute.
4. Keep your car regularly maintained
Regular servicing might not feel like a money-saving strategy when you’re paying the bill, but keeping on top of smaller issues may help prevent them from turning into bigger—and potentially more expensive—problems. Knowing some of the most common car repairs and their warning signs can also help you spot when something might need attention.
Keep an eye (and ear) out for:
- Dashboard warning lights
- Unusual noises or vibrations
- Fluid leaks
- Changes in steering
- Changes in braking performance
- Tyres that are worn or losing pressure
Of course, even with regular maintenance, unexpected repairs can still happen. If you’re faced with a bill you weren’t prepared for, there may be ways to get help paying for car repairs depending on your circumstances.
5. Ask your employer about car or travel allowances
Use your own car for work? It could be worth checking whether your employer offers a car or travel allowance to help cover some of those extra costs.
Just keep in mind that not every trip in your workday counts as work-related travel:
- Driving to and from work: your regular trip between home and your usual workplace is generally considered private travel.
- Driving for work: heading somewhere as part of your job—such as travelling between workplaces or visiting a client—may count as work-related travel, depending on the circumstances.
And if your employer does give you an allowance, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can claim every car expense at tax time. What you can claim depends on where you’re travelling, why you’re making the trip and how you use your car for work.
If you’re using the cents-per-kilometre method for eligible work-related car travel, the ATO’s rate for the 2026–27 income year is 91 cents per kilometre.
Quick reminder: your everyday commute between home and your regular workplace generally isn’t included. Tax rules can change too, so it’s always a good idea to check the latest ATO guidance before making a claim.
6. Check whether you’re eligible for public transport concessions
If public transport is part of your regular routine, it’s worth checking whether you could be paying a little less for your trips. Depending on where you live and your circumstances, you may be eligible for discounted fares or other public transport concessions.
Concessions may be available to eligible:
- Students
- Seniors
- Pensioners
- Veterans
- People receiving certain government payments
Even a small saving on each trip can add up when you’re travelling regularly, so it’s worth taking a few minutes to see what’s available. Eligibility and concession types vary between states and territories, so check with your local public transport authority for the latest information.
7. Plan ahead for unexpected car expenses
Cars have an unfortunate habit of needing money at the least convenient time. A flat battery, worn tyres, or an unexpected mechanical problem can quickly throw a spanner in the works (and your budget).
If you can, try putting a little money aside regularly for car costs like:
- Scheduled servicing
- New tyres
- Battery replacements
- Registration and insurance
- Unexpected mechanical repairs
Even a small emergency car fund could help take some of the sting out of your next surprise repair bill.
Of course, cars don’t always wait until your emergency fund is ready. If an urgent repair pops up and you don’t have enough savings to cover it, there are other options you could explore. This might include loans for car repairs, but it’s important to consider the costs involved, compare your options, and make sure any repayments fit comfortably within your budget before borrowing.
Need a little help getting back on the road?
Car trouble is stressful enough without an unexpected repair bill putting the brakes on your budget too. If you need some extra funds to cover eligible vehicle repair costs, a Swoosh car repair loan could help.
With a fast, simple online application, getting started is easy. Apply online today and get moving again!
Travel Costs to Work FAQs
Can you claim travel expenses to get to work?
Usually, no. Your everyday trip between home and your regular workplace is generally considered private travel by the ATO.
Some work-related trips may be deductible, though, such as eligible travel between workplaces. Check the latest ATO rules to see what applies to you.
Can you claim 5,000 km without proof?
Not quite. The ATO’s cents-per-kilometre method lets you claim up to 5,000 eligible work-related kilometres per car, per income year, but you can’t automatically claim the full 5,000 km.
You’ll still need to be able to show how you worked out your eligible work-related kilometres, so check the latest ATO record-keeping requirements before making a claim.
What are the ATO travel allowance rates for 2026?
There’s no single ATO travel allowance rate. Reasonable amounts for eligible accommodation, meals, and incidentals vary depending on factors such as your salary and where you travel.
Looking for the car rate? For 2026–27, it’s 91 cents per eligible work-related kilometre when using the cents-per-kilometre method.
What are the most overlooked tax deductions in Australia?
There’s no official “most overlooked” list, but depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim eligible expenses for things like:
- Working from home
- Work-related travel
- Tools, self-education
- Phone and internet use
- Professional subscriptions
- Donations
The golden rule? If you’re unsure, check the latest ATO requirements before you claim.
