Mileage Reimbursement for Workers' Compensation
2026 rates for medical travel, parking, and other expenses
2026 Mileage Reimbursement Rate
72.5 cents per mile
Effective January 1, 2026
The California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) has increased the mileage rate for medical and medical-legal travel expenses by 2.5 cents to 72.5 cents per mile, effective January 1, 2026. This rate applies to all travel for medical treatment, medical-legal appointments, and other authorized workers' compensation related travel.
This rate is based on the IRS standard mileage rate for business travel, which the DWC adopts annually for workers' compensation purposes under California Labor Code Section 4600.
Historical Mileage Rates
| Year | Rate per Mile | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 72.5 cents | +2.5 cents |
| 2025 | 70.0 cents | +3.0 cents |
| 2024 | 67.0 cents | +1.5 cents |
| 2023 | 65.5 cents | +3.0 cents |
| 2022 | 62.5 cents | +4.0 cents |
What Travel Expenses Are Covered?
Under California Labor Code Section 4600, injured workers are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses incurred for work-related medical treatment. Covered expenses include:
- Mileage: Reimbursed at 72.5 cents per mile for 2026 travel from your home to medical appointments related to your work injury
- Parking: Reasonable parking fees at medical facilities, hospitals, and medical-legal appointments
- Bridge Tolls: Toll charges for bridges crossed during medical travel
- Public Transportation: Bus, train, or other public transit fares when driving is not feasible
- Ride-Share Services: Uber, Lyft, or taxi fares when medically necessary or when the injured worker cannot drive
- Medical-Legal Travel: Travel to QME (Qualified Medical Examiner) appointments, AME evaluations, and WCAB hearings
How to Request Mileage Reimbursement
To receive reimbursement for your medical travel expenses, follow these steps:
- Keep Records: Document all trips including the date, destination, purpose of the visit, and round-trip mileage. Keep receipts for parking and tolls.
- Complete the Mileage Expense Form: Use the DWC Medical Mileage Expense form. You can obtain this form from your claims administrator or the DWC website.
- Submit to Claims Administrator: Send your completed form and receipts to your workers' compensation claims administrator.
- Track Your Submissions: Keep copies of all submitted forms and note submission dates.
Payment Timeline
Your claims administrator must pay your mileage reimbursement within 60 days of receiving your completed form. If they fail to pay within 60 days, you may be entitled to a 10% penalty. Further unreasonable delays may result in penalties up to 25%.
2026 IRS Standard Mileage Rates
The IRS sets several standard mileage rates for different purposes. California workers' compensation uses the business rate for medical travel reimbursement:
| Purpose | 2026 Rate | Change from 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Business Use (Workers' Comp) | 72.5 cents | +2.5 cents |
| Medical/Moving (Personal Tax) | 20.5 cents | -0.5 cents |
| Charitable | 14.0 cents | No change |
Note: California workers' compensation uses the higher business rate (72.5 cents), not the lower IRS medical rate (20.5 cents). This is because California Labor Code 4600 ties reimbursement to reasonable expenses of transportation.
Mileage Reimbursement Calculator
Estimate your travel expense reimbursement for 2026:
Tips for Maximizing Your Reimbursement
- Track Every Trip: Keep a detailed log of all medical appointments, including the date, doctor's name, and address. Use a mileage tracking app for accuracy.
- Save All Receipts: Keep parking receipts, toll receipts, and any other travel-related documentation.
- Submit Regularly: Don't wait months to submit your mileage claims. Submit them monthly or quarterly to ensure timely reimbursement.
- Use the Correct Form: Always use the most current DWC Medical Mileage Expense form, as rates are updated annually.
- Include Medical-Legal Travel: QME appointments, AME evaluations, and WCAB hearings all qualify for mileage reimbursement.
- Request Penalty if Late: If your claims administrator fails to pay within 60 days, formally request the 10% penalty.
Legal Authority
The right to mileage reimbursement is established under:
- California Labor Code Section 4600: Requires employers to provide all medical treatment reasonably required to cure or relieve the effects of an industrial injury, including reasonable expenses of transportation.
- 8 CCR Section 9785: Establishes that mileage shall be paid at the IRS rate per mile for all travel.
- DWC Administrative Director Order: Annually adopts the IRS business mileage rate for workers' compensation purposes.