Mileage & Ground Transportation | Business Services

Travelers are required to complete the Basic Driver Safety Course before driving any vehicle for official university business.

Washington State rule 10.10.10.a1 mandates travelers choose the most economical means of travel
Western encourages travelers to use university vehicles and carpool whenever possible
When these options are unavailable, compare the cost of mileage vs rental vehicle and train/bus/etc. to find the most cost-efficient option

Using Your Personal Car for Business Travel

If you drive your own car on University business, you are reimbursed the applicable rate for each mile driven.
You are responsible for your own car insurance. If you are in an accident, your insurance is the primary coverage.
Concur Expense provides a mileage calculator with Google Maps and allows travelers to deduct their commute:

Concur Expense: Deduct your Commute

Concur Expense Mileage Calculator shows a route in blue from home in Ferndale to Bellingham Airport and the regular commute in red in Google map

As of Jan. 1, 2023 the Personal Car Mileage Rate is: $0.655 per mile

July 1, 2022 - Dec. 31, 2022: $0.625/mile

Jan. 1 2022 - June 30 2022: $0.585/mile

Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2021: $0.56/mile

Mileage and Regular Commute

Commute: Travel between home and Official Workstation.

Official Workstation: The city or town where the employee works on a permanent basis for one year or more.

Commute expenses are the employee's personal responsibility.

Reimbursable and Non-Reimbursable Mileage for WWU Privately Owned Vehicle

Examples

An employee's Official Workstation is Western's Bellingham campus. The employee has a business meeting at the Port of Bellingham. Travel between campus and the Port office may be covered, but travel between the Port office and the employee's home would be considered their regular Commute and not reimbursable.

The traveler drives from their home in Ferndale to Bellingham Airport for a flight to a conference. The mileage is considered their regular Commute, and not reimbursable. This example is shown in the Concur Expense: Deduct Your Commute image above.