Buy a business vehicle
Explore with diligence: legitimate, needs careful checks.
A truck, van or SUV with a gross vehicle weight rating over 6,000 pounds, used more than half the time for business, can often be written off largely or entirely in the year you put it in service. Lighter cars are held to yearly depreciation caps.
It's one of the most popular year-end moves for owners who genuinely need a vehicle, and one of the most often lost in an audit, almost always because the mileage log is missing.
How it works
A truck or SUV over 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight used mostly for business can be written off largely or fully in the year it’s put in service. Lighter cars have yearly depreciation caps.
What makes it hold up
- A mileage log showing business use above 50%
- The vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating, from the door sticker
- Which company bought it, and the date it was put in service
Risks
Moderate. A missing or after-the-fact mileage log is the most common way this is lost. If business use drops to 50% or less later, part of the deduction comes back as income.
Questions to ask your CPA
- Which company should buy it?
- Section 179 or bonus depreciation?
- Is the standard mileage rate better for this vehicle?
Common questions
How do I know if my vehicle is over 6,000 pounds?
Check the gross vehicle weight rating on the sticker inside the driver's door. It's the loaded rating, not the vehicle's empty weight.
Does it have to be new?
No. A used vehicle can qualify, as long as it's new to you and your business.
What if I use it personally too?
Only the business share counts, and business use has to stay above 50%. If it drops to 50% or less in a later year, part of the deduction comes back as income.
Should I take the standard mileage rate instead?
Sometimes. A large first-year write-off usually rules out switching to the standard mileage rate later for that vehicle, so compare both before you choose.
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Education, not advice. Tax law changes and every situation is different, so confirm the details with your CPA or tax advisor before acting. This page was last checked against tax law as of October 2026, including the 2025 tax law, in October 2026.