How are new operators handling personal vehicles?

July 15, 2025

by a searcher in Boston, MA, USA

I'm under LOI on a business and will be stepping into the operator seat shortly. I do not have a personal vehicle currently, but will need one to commute to and from the office. I will also need to use the vehicle (likely a pickup truck) for a number of business purposes (as the prior owner did with his). I estimate use will be spit fairly evenly between personal (commuting) and business use. My plan is to finance a pickup (>6,000 GVWR) via the business, reap the Section 179 benefits, and deduct expenses pro-rata to business use. I understand this is only kosher if the business use is >50%. Any words of wisdom? How strict is the IRS with mileage tracking? I'm not trying to game the system, but also not entirely sure what the exact ratio of usage would be at this point in time. Thanks!

Reply by a professional
from Miami University of Ohio in Denver, CO, USA

Buy it in the business and discuss use with your CPA. Most small business owners would claim as 100% business. You CPA could advise you on allocations of personal vs. business use. Sounds like either way it is needed for the business and just comes down to your comfort level with how much personal use to claim.

Reply by a searcher
from Belmont University in Jacksonville, FL, USA

The IRS will likely be quite strict if you get audited. Not so much if you don't haha. Something a lot of people do is buy near the end of the year, so majority business use is easy to prove.

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