They see “travel £35” and hear “you charged me to exist.” They do not see the forty minutes you did not sell to anyone else. Whether the line is visible is manners. Whether the money is in the number is survival.
When to show it
| Show a travel line? | When |
|---|---|
| No — in the job total | Fixed price, you know the drive, domestic extras |
| Yes — call-out / visit | Diagnostics, first visit, far jobs, emergencies |
| No — already in the hourly | Only if that hourly was built for typical miles |
| Never twice | Do not add a van line and a fat hourly that already has the van |
Far jobs (an hour each way) deserve either a visible visit charge or a bigger lump. Pretending it is “local” because you are embarrassed is how you work a half day in the cab.
What people miss
Hiding travel then adding it on the invoice. That is a new number. Put it on the quote.
Parking and congestion as a surprise. If the job is in the zone, say so or bake a sensible amount in.
Charging a round trip you did not do. You were already next door. Price the actual loop.
Mileage plus hourly travel plus van overhead. One recovery. The rest is double-counting.
Related guides
FAQ
- Per mile or per hour in the van?
- Hourly travel matches how you sell time. Mileage can cover fuel if the hourly already has the van. Do not stack them blindly.
- They say the last person did not charge travel.
- The last person might be broke. Your quote is your drive.
- Site is 10 minutes.
- Still not zero. The minimum charge exists for this.
- Congestion charge?
- If you will pay it for this job, it is in the number or on a line. Not a surprise on Friday.
