Self-Education Car Travel Tax Deductions 2025 – Q&A Road Trip to Refunds

Got your seatbelt on? Good. Because we’re about to take a scenic drive through the world of tax deductions for self-education car travel. If you’re hitting the books to level up in your current job, you might just be able to claim some juicy car expenses on your 2025 tax return. Let’s put the pedal to the metal with this quick Q&A guide.

Q1: What kind of car travel can I claim?

If your course is directly related to your current job, you can claim:

• Home → Place of Education

• Work → Place of Education

• Home → Education → Work (but only the education-to-work leg)

Q2: Can I claim travel from home to my usual workplace?

Nope. That’s just commuting. The ATO says, “Nice try, but no.”

Q3: What if I go from work to class, then home?

You’re in luck! You can claim work-to-education and education-to-home legs.

Q4: How about home → education → work?

You can only claim the education-to-work leg. Not the whole journey.

Q5: What if the course has nothing to do with my current job?

Then it's a no-go. The deduction only applies if the course links to your current gig.

Q6: What’s the cents per kilometre rate for 2025?

It’s a zippy 88 cents per km, up to 5,000km per year.

Q7: How do I use the cents per km method?

Calculate your work/study-related kilometres, multiply by 88c, and boom—that’s your claim. Keep a diary or calendar to back it up.

Q8: What’s the logbook method?

Keep a 12-week logbook to figure out your work/study percentage. Then claim that percentage of your total car costs (fuel, rego, repairs, etc.).

Q9: Do I need receipts for cents per km?

No receipts for costs, but you DO need proof of your kms. No proof? No claim.

Q10: Do I need receipts for the logbook method?

Absolutely. Fuel, rego, insurance, the lot. Plus your logbook.

Q11: What about parking and tolls?

Yep, if they’re part of your study-related trips, they’re claimable.

Q12: Can I claim public transport instead of driving?

Sure can. Just keep those Opal or Myki receipts.

Q13: What if my boss reimburses me?

Then you’re out. You can’t claim anything your employer paid you back for.

Q14: Can I claim car travel for online courses?

Not unless you have to attend something in-person. Clicking Zoom doesn’t count.

Q15: How do I prove my self-education travel?

Keep a diary or logbook with dates, trips, reasons. Plus receipts for parking or tolls.

Q16: Can I claim travel to exams or practical assessments?

Yes, as long as the course is related to your current job.

Q17: What about travel to buy textbooks?

Sorry. Driving to Officeworks doesn’t count.

Q18: What if I have more than one job?

Only claim travel linked to the job that your course relates to.

Q19: How long do I keep records?

Five years after you lodge. The ATO has a long memory.

Q20: Can I claim if I’m unemployed?

Nope. You must be working in a job related to your study to claim.

Final Lap Recap

• Make sure your course is related to your current job.

• Only claim trips allowed under ATO rules.

• Choose cents per km (88c/km) or logbook method.

• Keep records. Diaries, calendars, receipts. The works.

• Don’t get greedy—claim what’s fair and provable.

For help tracking your self-education trips, use Deduction Grabber—your one-stop logbook shop. Ready to maximise your online tax return? Buckle up and let Gotax steer you to a smarter refund.

Further Resources:

Uncommon Tax Deductions

Why Use Gotax?

Working Holiday Makers