Travel Time Pay Checker
Not all travel time is working time — but some of it legally must be paid at the National Minimum Wage. Enter your details to check whether your effective hourly rate still meets the law.
Step 1 — Your Age Band
Step 2 — Type of Travel (select all that apply)
Step 3 — Unpaid Travel Time per Week (that should be paid)
Enter your gross (before tax) weekly earnings, not including any separate travel allowance.
Your effective rate meets the minimum wage
Based on your inputs, your pay is compliant with April 2026 NMW rules.
Effective Hourly Rate (inc. travel)
£12.71/hr
NMW for your band
£12.71/hr
Total weekly hours
40 hrs
Weekly shortfall
£0.00
Annual shortfall
£0
You may be owed money — here is what to do
-
Report to the Fair Work Agency (formerly HMRC NMW team) anonymously at gov.uk/pay-and-work-rights
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Get free impartial advice from ACAS — acas.org.uk or call 0300 123 1100
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You can claim up to 6 years of back pay through an employment tribunal or civil court. See our NMW Violation Guide.
Which Travel Counts as Working Time?
The table below summarises the rules under the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015 as applied to April 2026 rates.
| Situation | Counts? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Travelling between clients or job sites during the working day | YES | Core rule — must be paid at NMW |
| Sent by employer to a different site or location | YES | Employer-directed travel counts |
| On-call travel to an emergency or call-out | YES | From point of call-out to arrival |
| Regular commute from home to fixed workplace | NO | Ordinary commuting — does not count |
| Travel home from the last client or site of the day | NO | Equivalent to ordinary commuting |
| Choosing to travel to a different office (not required) | NO | Voluntary travel — not working time |
Who Is Most Affected?
The Fair Work Agency identifies these sectors as highest-risk for unpaid travel time violations:
Domiciliary care workers
Visiting multiple clients at home throughout the day. Travel between every appointment must be paid at NMW. This is the most frequently investigated sector.
Cleaning and facilities workers
Mobile cleaners moving between offices or properties. Any inter-site travel during the shift must be counted as working time.
Delivery and courier drivers
Where the delivery round starts away from home. Travel from a depot or to the first drop-off point at employer's direction generally counts.
Mobile engineers and tradespeople
Field technicians, gas engineers, plumbers and electricians sent by their employer to different sites each day.
What to Do If You Are Being Underpaid for Travel
- 1
Keep a record of all travel time
Note the start and end time of every trip between clients or sites. This forms the basis of any claim.
- 2
Raise it informally with your employer first
Many employers are unaware of the rule. Put your concern in writing (email is fine) so you have a paper trail.
- 3
Report to the Fair Work Agency
Reports are anonymous. The agency investigates and can recover arrears on your behalf, plus fine your employer up to 200% of what is owed. Report at gov.uk/pay-and-work-rights.
- 4
Contact ACAS or an employment solicitor
ACAS provides free, confidential advice: acas.org.uk or 0300 123 1100. You can also bring a claim at an Employment Tribunal within 3 months of the last underpayment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my commute count as working time for minimum wage purposes?
No. Travelling from your home to your fixed, regular workplace is ordinary commuting and does not count as working time for National Minimum Wage purposes. Only travel that forms part of your duties — such as moving between clients or sites during the working day — must be counted and paid at NMW.
I am a care worker — does my travel between clients count as working time?
Yes. Travel between clients during your shift is working time and must be paid at the National Minimum Wage. This is one of the most common NMW violations in the UK. If your employer pays a flat travel allowance that does not cover this time at NMW rates, they are breaking the law. The Fair Work Agency actively investigates the care sector for this breach.
My employer pays a flat travel allowance, but it works out to less than NMW for the time — is that legal?
No. The test is always whether your total pay divided by your total qualifying working hours (including paid travel time) meets the minimum wage for your age band. A flat allowance that brings your effective hourly rate below the minimum is unlawful, regardless of how it is labelled. You are entitled to the difference in back pay.
What if I choose to travel to a different office or location that my employer has not required me to visit?
Travel you choose to make of your own volition — such as deciding to work from a different office when you could work from your usual place — does not count as working time for NMW. The key question is whether your employer required or directed the travel. If the answer is no, it falls outside the rules.
How do I calculate whether my effective hourly rate meets the National Minimum Wage?
Add all hours that count as working time (including qualifying travel) to get your total paid hours. Divide your gross weekly pay by that total. If the result is below the NMW for your age band, you are being underpaid. For example: £500 gross pay ÷ 40 hours (38 paid work + 2 qualifying travel) = £12.50/hr. If you are 21+, the minimum is £12.71/hr, so you are being underpaid by £0.21/hr.