Volunteer Driving Mileage Allowance Rates

by Denise Hayward, CEO, Volunteer Now

In recognition of the pressures facing drivers, the Government announced in May, the first uprating of the Approved Millage Allowance Rates in 15 years, backdated to April 2026. This directly links to the rates which volunteers can be re-imbursed without incurring tax. This is good news; however, it may well be a struggle for volunteer involving organisations to pay these rates without putting up prices or receiving extra funding so it may not impact on volunteers immediately.
 
For 2026/27, mileage rates for cars and vans will increase from 45p to 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles annually, followed by 25p per mile thereafter, with effect from 6 April 2026. The 25p per mile rate for mileage above 10,000 miles remains unchanged.
 
Volunteers can also claim an additional 5p per mile for each passenger transported. Mileage rates for other vehicles, including motorcycles, remain unchanged. Looking ahead and beyond 2026/27, the Government has already committed to a review of these rates and will set this out at the Budget in October 2026. This means that there may be another increase for April 2027.
 
Volunteer Now has updated information sheets which cover this detail – Volunteer Drivers Information Sheet and Volunteering & Expenses Information Sheet.