Carsharing

Shared mobility: is using a shared car more advantageous than buying your own car?

Since the concept of shared mobility is relatively new, the legislation on the deductibility of shared cars is not yet very clear. The general rule is therefore that carsharing is partially deductible.

Do you rent a shared car exclusively for business purposes? In that case, a broader deduction could be justified… But of course only on the condition that you can prove the trip was purely professional and that you didn’t stop along the way to do some shopping. 😉

The cost of a shared car is partially deductible

Carsharing is partially deductible, following the same principle as ‘normal’ car expenses. To determine the tax deductibility of a shared car, you therefore need to take into account:

• the CO₂ emissions and fuel type of the shared car 
• how old the shared car is (check the vehicle info from your carsharing service)
• its professional use

An example:

You book a Cambio shared car to visit a potential new client. The total cost of your booking is €60.00.

• Electric car: if the shared car is 100% electric, you also enjoy a tax deductibility of 100% (still until 2027). In that case, you can deduct the full €60.00.
  
• Hybrid car or combustion engine (diesel, petrol or LPG): the deductibility then depends on how old the car is. For a shared car from before July 2023, the gram formula applies:
  
  120% – (0.5% x [coefficient] x CO2)
  
  Suppose it’s a hybrid shared car (diesel coefficient = 1) from 2021, with CO2 emissions of 50 grams per kilometre: the deductibility is then 95%. So you can deduct €57.00.
  
  Is the shared car more recent (from July 2023)? Then the same formula applies, but with a maximum of 50% this year (2026) and 25% in 2027. For brand-new fossil-fuel cars from 2026, no deduction is possible any more (plug-in hybrids still between 75% and 100%). You can find all the details in our article on car expenses.
  

In practice, it’s actually a lot simpler: in Accountable you can create a car profile that matches the shared car you use most often, and then assign all your expenses to that profile. That makes your bookkeeping a lot easier.

Do you stop by your grandmother’s after your business visit and then drive on to the supermarket? Then the use is not 100% professional and the cost is only partially deductible. It’s up to you to make a realistic and honest estimate.

Deductible VAT on carsharing

Just as with your own company car, you can only partially deduct the VAT on a shared car. The maximum is 50%. You also need to reduce this percentage if your trips are not exclusively professional.

What if you need to refuel or charge?

If you cover a lot of kilometres with the shared car, chances are you’ll need to stop to refuel or charge. Good to know: fossil fuel you buy for a hybrid car is never deductible at more than 50%.

However, in most cases a fuel or charging card is included with the booking of a shared car. So no need to worry about it: these costs are included in the total price of your booking.

Which proof do I need to deduct the shared car?

If you also want to deduct part of the VAT, you need the official invoice. You can request it from the carsharing service. Make sure your official name and VAT number are mentioned on the invoice. Carsharing services often have an option for professional use. Make use of it and automatically receive a valid VAT invoice.

If you’re not subject to VAT, the proof of payment is sufficient.