Split road trip costs without the petrol maths
One person fills the tank, another pays the toll, someone else books the car. Put it all on one tab that opens from a link, so everyone sees what the drive cost and what they owe.
Why road trip costs get messy
- The driver pays for every fill-up and quietly ends up out of pocket.
- Two cars, different passengers, and nobody knows who owes which driver.
- Tolls, parking and ferries get paid on whoever's card is nearest.
- Sorting it out a week later means digging through bank statements.
What to put on the tab
Fuel and charging
Every fill-up or charge. Split it between the people in that car.
Car hire
The rental, the insurance excess cover and the extra driver fee.
Tolls, parking and ferries
Motorway tolls abroad, car parks, the Dartford Crossing and ferry crossings.
Snacks and stops
Services coffees and the big shop on the way. Split between whoever had them.
How it works
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1
Start a tab
Call it "NC500 road trip" and pick £ or €. You get a private link straight away.
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2
Send the link to the group chat
Everyone opens it on their phone and picks their name. No account, no app.
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3
Add costs at each stop
Whoever pays adds it. Split it between everyone or only the people in that car.
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4
Settle up when you're home
Tabby shows who owes who. Pay each other by bank transfer and mark it settled.
Example: splitting the petrol for four
A worked example only. Tabby doesn't calculate fuel or mileage: you add what you actually paid at the pump and it splits that. If you want to estimate it first, remember UK mpg uses imperial gallons of 4.546 litres.
| Working | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel used | 300-mile round trip ÷ 45 mpg | 6⅔ gallons |
| In litres | 6⅔ gallons × 4.546 litres | 30.3 litres |
| Petrol | 30.3 litres × £1.45 a litre | £43.94 |
| Toll | One toll on the way | £2.50 |
| Parking | A day in the car park | £12.00 |
| Total | £43.94 + £2.50 + £12.00 | £58.44 |
| Each | £58.44 ÷ 4 people | £14.61 |
Keeping it fair
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Two cars on the same trip | Split each car's fuel only between the people in it |
| Someone's using their own car | Agree up front whether passengers chip in extra, then add it as one expense |
| Someone joined halfway | Leave them off the costs from before they arrived |
| The driver can't drink at the stops | Leave them off the pub round, or let the group cover it |
More ways to use Tabby
Questions
How do you split petrol on a road trip? +
Add each fill-up to one tab as it's paid and split it between the people in that car. Tabby works out who owes the driver at the end.
Should passengers pay extra if it's someone's own car? +
Many groups add a little for wear and tear. Agree an amount before you set off and add it to the tab as one cost.
Does everyone need to download an app? +
No. Tabby runs in the browser on any phone or laptop. Open the link and pick your name.
Can I use euros for a road trip abroad? +
Yes. Pick € when you start the tab. Each tab uses one currency.
Is it free? +
Yes. No paid plan, no ads and no account. Up to 30 people per tab.
Does Tabby collect the money? +
No. Tabby only tracks who paid what and who owes who. Pay each other back however you normally do, then mark it settled.