Is 72.5 Cents a Mile Worth It? Let's Do the Math.

One of the most common questions we hear from people considering becoming a volunteer driver with New Growth Transit is:

“Does the mileage reimbursement actually cover the cost of driving?”

It’s a reasonable question. Fuel prices are high, and vehicle expenses add up quickly. Tires, oil changes, maintenance, insurance, and wear on a vehicle are real costs.

That’s exactly why New Growth Transit reimburses volunteer drivers at 72.5 cents per mile, which aligns with the IRS standard mileage reimbursement rate. That rate is designed to reflect the average costs associated with operating a vehicle—including fuel, maintenance, tires, depreciation, and insurance.

So let’s take a realistic look at the numbers.

Let’s Look at the Numbers

Driving 100 miles at 72.5 cents per mile = $72.50 reimbursement

Now let’s estimate some common vehicle expenses using conservative assumptions.

Fuel

If your vehicle gets 25 miles per gallon, driving 100 miles would use about 4 gallons of fuel.

At $4.25 per gallon:

• 4 gallons × $4.25 = $17.00

Oil Change

Using a $60 oil change every 3,000 miles:

• About $2.00 per 100 miles

Tires

If tires cost $200 each and last30,000 miles:

• About $2.70 per 100 miles

Total Estimated Costs

• Fuel: $17.00
• Oil Change: $2.00
• Tires: $2.70

Estimated total: $21.70

That leaves approximately $50.80 remaining from that 100-mile reimbursement.

And remember, those examples are intentionally conservative. Many vehicles get better gas mileage than 25 MPG, many tires last longer than 30,000 miles, and oil changes often stretch well beyond 3,000 miles depending on the vehicle and oil type.

What About Insurance and Other Expenses?

Vehicle ownership comes with costs that exist whether you drive or not. Insurance, registration, and general upkeep don’t disappear if the car stays parked.

For many volunteer drivers, the mileage reimbursement helps free up room in the household budget by helping offset those vehicle-related costs.

Volunteer drivers are required to carry minimum liability insurance, which is required by the state. New Growth Transit also provides additional insurance coverage while volunteers are driving for the program.

And because drivers use their own vehicles, no special license is required.

More Than Just Numbers

Still, most volunteer drivers will tell you this work becomes about much more than mileage.

It’s about the rural resident who finally gets to a specialist appointment after months of worrying how they would get there.

It’s about the rider who quietly and gratefully says, “I don’t know what I would have done without this.”

It’s about the conversations on long rural roads.
The stories shared.
The feeling that your time genuinely mattered to someone that day.

Many New Growth Transit drivers say they originally signed up thinking they would simply help with transportation.

What they didn’t expect was how meaningful the experience would become for them too.

Flexibility Helps

Volunteer drivers choose:

• When they drive
• Which trips they take
• How often they volunteer

Some drive a few times a month.Others drive regularly because they enjoy the sense of purpose and connection.

And unlike many volunteer opportunities, the mileage reimbursement helps make it financially realistic for people to continue helping.

Rural Communities Need Creative Solutions

Transportation challenges in rural areas are real. Many riders travel long distances for:

• Medical care
• Work
• Dialysis
• Cancer treatment
• Grocery shopping
• Recovery programs
• Essential services

New Growth Transit’s volunteer driver model works because it’s community-based, flexible, and built around neighbors helping neighbors.

And every mile matters.

Volunteer drivers receive mileage reimbursement at 72.5 cents per mile to offset vehicle costs while helping strengthen rural communities one ride at a time.

To learn more about becoming a volunteer driver with New Growth Transit, call to talk with our volunteer driver coordinator 417-283-7991.

Can’t volunteer? Donations help reimburse the miles generously provided by volunteer drivers.

Together, we’re helping rural neighbors stay connected, one mile at a time.

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