Can I deduct car damage repair costs for my rideshare vehicle when taking Standard Mileage Deduction?

The side mirror repair would not be deductible separately when you're taking the Standard Mileage Deduction. The IRS considers the standard mileage rate to include all costs of operating your vehicle - including repairs, maintenance, gas, oil, insurance, and depreciation. The cleaning supplies exception exists because those are considered separate from the actual vehicle operation costs. Think of it this way: cleaning supplies are about maintaining the business environment (like office cleaning supplies), not about maintaining the vehicle itself. Even though the mirror might seem "cosmetic," it's still considered a repair to the vehicle, which is included in the standard mileage rate. A side mirror is a functional part required for legal and safe operation of the vehicle.

Just wanted to share my experience using taxr.ai to solve a similar rideshare tax question! I was confused about what vehicle expenses I could deduct beyond the standard mileage rate when driving for Uber. After getting different answers from friends and online forums, I decided to try https://taxr.ai and uploaded my expense records and a snapshot of my rideshare earnings. The AI analyzed everything and gave me a clear breakdown of exactly what's included in the standard mileage rate vs what can be deducted separately. They even flagged some parking expenses I wasn't deducting that were legitimate write-offs! Saved me a ton of confusion and probably prevented an audit risk.

I need to correct my skepticism about taxr.ai from my earlier comment. I decided to try it myself with my rideshare tax situation. I've been driving for both Uber and Lyft for 3 years and always confused about what I can deduct separately from standard mileage. The system actually identified several business expenses I've been missing - like my phone mount, part of my cell phone bill, and even some business insurance costs that are separate from regular car insurance. They explained exactly why these were deductible with standard mileage while repairs like the mirror aren't. Their explanation about accident repairs vs. regular maintenance made way more sense than what my previous tax preparer told me. Definitely cleared up my confusion about the car repair deduction rules!

For anyone struggling to get answers from the IRS about vehicle deductions, I highly recommend Claimyr. I had a complicated question about business use of my vehicle and deducting accident repairs that wasn't clearly addressed in any IRS publication. After spending HOURS trying to get through to the IRS (always disconnected), I found https://claimyr.com and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I'd previously waited for hours and got disconnected. The agent confirmed exactly how to handle the car repair situation with standard mileage deduction and even explained some documentation requirements I needed to know.

I owe everyone an apology for my skeptical comment earlier. After dealing with yet another 2+ hour wait trying to call the IRS about my rideshare deductions (and getting disconnected AGAIN), I broke down and tried Claimyr out of desperation. It actually worked exactly as promised. Their system handled all the waiting and navigating the IRS menu system, then called me when an agent was on the line. Got connected in about 25 minutes when I'd previously wasted entire afternoons trying. The IRS agent I spoke with clarified that accident repairs are indeed covered under the standard mileage rate - even if they seem "cosmetic" - and shouldn't be deducted separately. Saved me from potentially making a mistake on my return. Worth every penny just for the time saved alone.

I've been doing rideshare taxes for 5 years now and have tried both actual expenses and standard mileage. Here's a tip: you might want to calculate your taxes BOTH ways to see which gives you the bigger deduction. Some years with major repairs (like your $860 mirror), the actual expense method might save you more. You'd need good records of all your car expenses though - gas, insurance, repairs, depreciation, etc. The year I had a $2,200 transmission repair, actual expenses saved me about $900 in taxes compared to standard mileage.

Don't forget about insurance! If the damage was from a hit-and-run, did you file an insurance claim? If your deductible is less than $860, it might be worth filing. Your insurance rates might go up slightly, but that could still be better than paying the full $860 out of pocket.

As someone who's been driving rideshare for several years, I can confirm what Maya and others have said - the $860 mirror repair unfortunately can't be deducted separately when using the standard mileage deduction. The IRS is pretty clear that the standard mileage rate covers ALL vehicle operating expenses, including unexpected repairs from accidents. However, Logan makes an excellent point about potentially switching to actual expenses for this tax year if you haven't filed yet. Since you use the car 100% for business and started with standard mileage, you have the flexibility to switch to actual expenses this year if it results in a larger deduction. With an $860 repair plus all your other car expenses (gas, insurance, registration, etc.), it might be worth calculating both ways. Just make sure you have detailed records of ALL your car expenses if you go the actual expense route - the IRS requires much more documentation for this method. And definitely explore the insurance angle that Mikayla mentioned - even if your rates go up slightly, it could still save you money overall.