The drive to your usual workplace is on you. The drives once you're already working usually aren't. Here's where the ATO draws the line.
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By the Nomo team · Last reviewed 24 September 2026
| Trip | Usually claimable? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Site to site on the same day | Yes | You're already at work |
| From one job to a second job | Yes | Travelling directly between two places of employment |
| Home to your regular workplace | No | Private travel, however early or far |
| Home to an alternative workplace | Often | For example a training venue that isn't your regular workplace |
| Home to site, when your work is itinerant | Can be | See the itinerant work test below |
| Home to work, carrying bulky tools | Sometimes | Only if the gear is essential, awkward to move without a vehicle, and there's nowhere secure to leave it |
| Home to either of two regular workplaces | No | Both are regular workplaces as a standing arrangement |
These are general rules. Check the ATO's trips you can and can't claim for your situation.
The ATO's line is simple once you see it. Travel that gets you to work, so you can start earning, is private. Travel you do as part of your work, once you've started, is usually claimable.
That's why the drive to your first site of the day usually doesn't count, but every drive between sites after that usually does.
These are general examples, not advice for your situation. If you're unsure, check the ATO's guidance or ask a registered tax agent.
If your work is itinerant, the trips from home can count too. The ATO looks at signs like these:
No single sign decides it. The ATO weighs up the whole picture.
For each work trip: the date, where you started and finished, the kilometres and the purpose. That's the evidence behind a cents per km claim or a logbook. See the current cents per km rate and the work kilometre tracker for how to keep it.
The rules for travel from home are different when you run your own business. Check the ATO's guidance for sole traders.
Nomo watches for drives on the days and hours you work.
Right after the drive, swipe work or personal and tap a purpose like Site visit or Pickup.
Every trip keeps the start, finish and kilometres, so you can see which site to site drives count.
Nomo is an Australian tax deduction and mileage/work kilometre tracking app for PAYG employees and sole traders.
Anyone who drives between sites, clients or jobs during the working day.
Usually not. The trip to your regular workplace is private travel, with limited exceptions such as itinerant work or carrying bulky tools you can't leave at work.
Generally yes. Once you've started work, travel between sites is usually part of doing your job.
Generally yes, if you travel directly from one job to the other.
Work where travel is a fundamental part of the job and your workplace keeps changing, with no fixed place of work.
Only if the tools are bulky, essential for your work, awkward to move without a vehicle, and there's nowhere secure to leave them at work.
The date, start and finish, distance and purpose of each work trip.
Business travel rules are different, especially for travel from home. Check the ATO's guidance for sole traders.
Every site to site drive, counted.
Nomo records your work trips with a purpose on each. 14 days free, no card needed.
Start 14-day free trialBy the Nomo team · Last reviewed 24 September 2026. We check these pages against current ATO guidance and update them when the rules change.
General information only, not tax advice. Rules change and everyone’s situation is different, so check ato.gov.au or talk to a registered tax agent about your situation. Nomo is a record keeping app, not a registered tax agent.