Does Amazon Flex Pay for Mileage?
Short Answer: No
Amazon Flex does not directly reimburse drivers for mileage or gas. However, as an independent contractor, you can deduct $0.70 per mile on your taxes for 2026, which can save you thousands annually.
Quick Savings Example
At a 22% tax bracket, that's $4,004 in actual tax savings per year!
Why Amazon Flex Doesn't Pay Mileage
Unlike traditional employment, Amazon Flex drivers are classified as independent contractors, not employees. This means:
- No mileage reimbursement - You're responsible for all vehicle expenses
- No gas cards or fuel stipends - All fuel costs come out of your pocket
- No vehicle maintenance coverage - Oil changes, tires, repairs are your expense
- Tax deductions available - You can write off business mileage to offset costs
Important: While Amazon doesn't pay mileage directly, the pay rates are generally higher than traditional delivery jobs to account for vehicle expenses. A $25/hour block is meant to cover your time AND vehicle costs.
2026 IRS Mileage Rate Explained
Standard Mileage Rate: $0.70 per mile
Effective January 1, 2026
The IRS standard mileage rate covers:
- ✓ Gas/fuel costs
- ✓ Oil and fluids
- ✓ Tire wear
- ✓ Vehicle depreciation
- ✓ Insurance (portion)
- ✓ Maintenance/repairs
- ✓ Registration fees
- ✓ Lease payments (portion)
What Miles Can You Deduct?
✅ Deductible Miles
- • Driving to the Amazon warehouse
- • All miles during your delivery block
- • Driving between delivery stops
- • Returning packages to the station
- • Driving home after your block
- • Driving to pick up supplies (bags, etc.)
- • Bank trips to deposit earnings
❌ NOT Deductible
- • Personal errands during work
- • Driving to non-work activities
- • Family trips or vacations
- • Commuting to a non-gig job
- • Medical appointments
- • Shopping for personal items
Pro Tip: If you multi-app with DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Instacart, you can deduct ALL business miles across apps. The key is accurate tracking from when you start working to when you stop.
Best Mileage Tracking Apps for Flex Drivers
Stride
FREE - Best for Gig Workers
Built specifically for gig economy workers. Auto-tracks miles, estimates quarterly taxes, and provides expense categorization.
- ✓ Automatic GPS tracking
- ✓ Quarterly tax estimates
- ✓ Expense categorization
- ✓ IRS-compliant reports
MileIQ
Free tier / $5.99/mo premium
Popular automatic mileage tracker. Runs in background and detects drives automatically.
- ✓ Auto-detect drives
- ✓ Swipe to classify
- ✓ Team features for businesses
Gridwise
FREE - Gig Economy Focused
Designed for rideshare and delivery drivers. Tracks miles plus earnings across multiple apps.
- ✓ Multi-app earnings tracking
- ✓ Airport demand insights
- ✓ Gas price finder
Everlance
Free tier / $8/mo premium
Comprehensive expense and mileage tracking with bank connection for automatic expense import.
- ✓ Bank account connection
- ✓ Receipt scanning
- ✓ Detailed reports
How to Calculate Your Mileage Deduction
Example Calculation (2026)
Real Tax Savings:
If you're in the 22% tax bracket, a $10,500 deduction saves you $2,310 in federal taxes plus additional state tax savings!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Amazon Flex pay for mileage?
No, Amazon Flex does not directly reimburse drivers for mileage or gas expenses. However, as an independent contractor, you can deduct mileage on your taxes at $0.70 per mile for 2026, which can result in significant tax savings.
How much can I deduct for mileage as an Amazon Flex driver?
For 2026, the IRS standard mileage rate is $0.70 per mile. If you drive 100 miles per day for Amazon Flex, that's $70/day in deductions, or over $18,000 annually if you work 5 days per week.
Does Amazon Flex pay for gas?
No, Amazon Flex does not pay for gas or provide gas cards. All fuel costs are the driver's responsibility. However, these costs are factored into your mileage tax deduction, so tracking miles is essential.
Can I deduct miles driving to the Amazon warehouse?
Yes! As an independent contractor, you can deduct all miles driven for business purposes, including driving to/from the warehouse, between deliveries, and returning home. Start tracking as soon as you leave for work.
Should I use standard mileage or actual expenses?
Most Flex drivers benefit more from the standard mileage rate ($0.70/mile) unless they have very high maintenance costs or drive an expensive vehicle. The standard rate is simpler and usually provides larger deductions for gig drivers.
Calculate Your True Earnings
Use our tools to see your real hourly rate after expenses and potential tax savings.
About Glen Meade
Founder of FlexDriverGuide and SideQuestHustle.com. I've spent years researching gig economy platforms and interviewing hundreds of drivers to bring you strategies that actually work. My goal is to help you maximize your earnings while avoiding common pitfalls.