As a private employer in Virginia, you’re not generally required to reimburse employees for mileage when they use personal vehicles for work-related travel. Even so, many businesses choose to follow the IRS standard mileage rate to set clear, consistent expectations around travel expenses.

Mileage reimbursement rules differ for public sector employees. Virginia Code § 30-19.15 outlines the requirements for reimbursing state employees who use personal vehicles for official business.

Offering fair mileage reimbursement can also help keep employee pay aligned with Virginia’s Minimum Wage Act (§ 40.1-28.10) when work-related travel expenses are involved.

Virginia business mileage reimbursement rates

Virginia's business mileage reimbursement rate for 2026 is $0.725 per mile, in accordance with the IRS standard.

The table below shows how Virginia’s mileage reimbursement rate has changed year-over-year.

Virginia mileage reimbursement laws

Virginia's private sector does not have a mandated mileage reimbursement law. However, there is a mandatory Minimum Wage Code §40.1-28.10, which applies to you, too, as a private employer.

In contrast, the public sector mileage reimbursement under code §30-19.15 is different for certain public employees, including the members of legislative committees, when they use personal vehicles to carry out state duties.

Explore the ins and outs of all these Virginia mileage reimbursement laws and codes below.

Virginia code 30-19.15 for public sector mileage reimbursement

Under this code, public sector workers in Virginia must be reimbursed for all mileage incurred during official duties at a rate prescribed by the state.

This code ensures that employees traveling for work are compensated for their actual travel expenses, including the following.

• Trips to conferences and training sessions
• Other work-related events outside the regular workplace

However, as per this mileage law, you don't have to reimburse for everything. Here's a list of what does not fall under the employer's scope of reimbursement.

• Storage and parking fees
• Turnpike, tunnel, ferry, and bridge tolls

Code 40.1-28.10 for minimum wages in Virginia

In Virginia, while you're not legally required as a private-sector employer to reimburse for mileage, you do have to ensure that your employees' wages do not fall below the current state minimum of $12.77 per hour for 2026.

As per the Minimum Wage Code 40.1-28.10, the state minimum ensures your team doesn't end up paying to work.

Accelerate your mileage reimbursement process with Ramp

No specific state law can hold you liable to reimburse your employees if you are a private employer in Virginia. You are only legally accountable that your employees' wages do not drop below the state minimum.

Adopting fair reimbursement rates that comply with IRS rates in 2025 can help you achieve the following.

• Fairly reimburse your employees so their expenses are minimal and they don't have to pay out of their pockets for business-related travel.
• Ensure your business does not violate the Virginia Minimum Wage Code §40.1-28.10.
• Shield your business from potential wage and hour disputes.

Looking for a way to simplify your business's mileage reimbursement process? Ramp can streamline the intricacies, making calculating, tracking, and compensating travel expenses automated and straightforward.

Try Ramp's AI-driven expense management software to maintain transparency and accuracy, benefiting both you and your employees.