California Travel Time Pay: When Employers Must Pay for Travel (2026)

Quick Answer: California generally does not require pay for normal commuting, but employers must pay for travel time during the workday, between job sites, and for required out-of-town travel. If travel is under your employer's control, it's typically compensable time.

The Basic Rule: Control = Compensation

California law requires payment for all hours "suffered or permitted to work." This includes time under your employer's control—even if you're traveling rather than performing your main job duties.

Compensable travel time:

• Travel between job sites during the workday
• Required travel to locations other than your regular workplace
• Certain business trips and out-of-town travel

Generally not compensable:

• Normal commute to and from work
• Travel to your regular work location

When Travel Time Must Be Paid

1. Travel Between Job Sites

If you work at multiple locations during a single day:

• All travel between sites is compensable
• Includes driving, public transit, or any travel method
• Time starts when you leave one site and ends when you arrive at the next

Example: A home healthcare aide visits three clients:

• Travel from home to Client #1: Not paid (normal commute)
• Travel from Client #1 to Client #2: Paid
• Travel from Client #2 to Client #3: Paid
• Travel from Client #3 to home: Not paid (normal commute)

2. Travel to Different Work Locations

When your employer sends you somewhere other than your regular workplace:

• Travel to that location is typically compensable
• Excess travel time beyond normal commute may be paid

Example: You normally work at the Oakland office. Your employer sends you to the Sacramento office for a meeting:

• Normal Oakland commute: 30 minutes
• Sacramento commute: 90 minutes
• Compensable travel: 90 - 30 = 60 minutes extra

3. Travel During the Workday

Any required travel during your regular work hours:

• Running errands for employer
• Going to meetings at other locations
• Picking up supplies or materials
• Client visits

All of this time is compensable.

4. Out-of-Town Business Travel

Rules for overnight business trips are more complex:

Compensable:

• Travel during your normal work hours (even on non-work days)
• Time spent working during travel
• Travel that's part of your principal activity

Potentially not compensable:

• Travel outside normal work hours (if you're not working)
• Time as a passenger when you're free to relax

5. Required Training and Meetings

Travel to mandatory training or meetings:

• Is compensable work time
• Includes travel to offsite training locations
• Applies even if training is on a day off

When Travel Time Is NOT Paid

Normal Commute

Your regular commute to and from work is generally not compensable:

• Home to regular work location
• Regular work location to home
• This is true even for long commutes

Voluntary Travel

Travel that's entirely voluntary and outside work hours:

• Optional social events
• Non-mandatory training you choose to attend
• Travel for your own convenience

Travel as a Passenger (Sometimes)

When traveling as a passenger outside normal work hours:

• And you're free to use the time as your own
• And you're not performing any work
• May not be compensable

However, if you're required to be on the trip, it may still be compensable.

How to Calculate Travel Time Pay

Rate of Pay

Travel time must be paid at least at minimum wage. However:

• If travel is part of your regular duties, pay at your regular rate
• Overtime rules apply if travel pushes you over 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week

Example Calculations

Example 1: Job Site Travel

• Hourly rate: $22
• Travel between sites: 2 hours
• Travel pay: 2 × $22 = $44

Example 2: Out-of-Town Trip

• Normal work hours: 9 AM - 5 PM
• Flight leaves: 7 AM, arrives destination: 11 AM
• Travel during normal hours: 9 AM - 11 AM = 2 hours
• Travel outside normal hours: 7 AM - 9 AM = may not be paid

Example 3: Excess Commute

• Normal commute: 20 minutes
• Travel to special assignment: 80 minutes
• Compensable excess: 60 minutes

Common Travel Time Scenarios

Construction Workers

Construction workers often work at different sites:

• Travel to first job site: Usually not paid (commute)
• Travel between sites during day: Paid
• Travel from last site to home: Usually not paid
• Required to report to shop first: All subsequent travel paid

Home Healthcare Workers

Healthcare aides visiting clients' homes:

• First client visit: Commute (not paid)
• Travel between clients: Paid
• Return home from last client: Not paid
• If employer requires checking in at office first: Changes the calculation

Delivery Drivers

Delivery drivers with routes:

• Travel from home to first delivery: Depends on arrangement
• All deliveries during route: Paid
• Return to distribution center: Paid
• Home after center: Commute (not paid)

Salespeople

Outside salespeople traveling to clients:

• If you have a regular office: Commute to office not paid
• If you work from home: First client may be commute
• Travel between clients: Paid
• Travel time may affect exempt status

Special Situations

Required to Drive Company Vehicle Home

If you're required to take a company vehicle home:

• May not make commute compensable alone
• But restrictions on use may change analysis
• "De minimis" use of time may not be compensable

On-Call While Traveling

If you're on-call during travel:

• May make travel time compensable
• Especially if restrictions are significant
• See On-Call and Standby Pay

Rideshare and Gig Workers

For app-based drivers (Uber, Lyft, etc.):

• Special rules under Prop 22
• Generally independent contractors
• Different compensation structure

Travel with Controlled Itinerary

If employer controls your travel completely:

• All time may be compensable
• Includes required stops, routes, and timing
• Employer control = work time

Reimbursement vs. Travel Time Pay

Two separate issues:

You may be entitled to both:

• Pay for travel time
• Reimbursement for mileage, parking, tolls

Mileage Reimbursement

Under Labor Code § 2802:

• Employer must reimburse necessary business expenses
• Includes mileage for required travel
• IRS rate is common benchmark (67 cents/mile for 2026)

Employer Violations

Common Violations

• Not paying for travel between job sites
• Requiring off-the-clock travel
• Paying travel time at lower rate than regular work
• Not including travel time in overtime calculations
• Failing to reimburse mileage expenses

How to Document

• Keep a log of all travel
• Note start and end times
• Record locations and distances
• Save receipts for expenses
• Track when employer controls your travel

Filing a Travel Time Claim

DLSE Wage Claim

Include travel time in your wage claim:

• Identify all unpaid travel time
• Calculate hours and amounts owed
• Include supporting documentation

Statute of Limitations

• 3 years for unpaid wages
• 4 years if willful violation
• Each pay period is a new violation

PAGA Claims

If employer has pattern of not paying travel time:

• May file representative PAGA claim
• Recover penalties for all affected employees
• See PAGA Claims

FAQs

Is my commute ever compensable?

Rarely. Normal home-to-work commute is generally not paid. Exception: If you must report to one location, then travel to another to work, all post-report travel may be paid.

What if I choose to work during my commute?

Choosing to work (calls, emails) during commute doesn't automatically make it compensable. But if employer requires or expects it, it may be.

Are lunch breaks during travel paid?

Depends. If you're truly relieved of duties, no. If you're driving or otherwise not free, that time may be compensable.

Can my employer make me travel without pay?

Only for true commuting. Travel during the workday, between sites, or to special assignments beyond normal commute should be paid.

What about working from home and occasional office visits?

If you normally work from home and occasionally go to the office, that trip is generally your commute. But this depends on your regular work arrangement.

Related Topics

• Overtime Laws
• On-Call and Standby Pay
• Minimum Wage
• Unpaid Wages
• PAGA Claims

Legal Disclaimer

This article provides general information about California travel time pay and is not legal advice. Travel time rules can be complex and fact-specific. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed California employment attorney.

Legal Authority:

• Labor Code § 1194 - Right to recover unpaid wages
• Labor Code § 2802 - Expense reimbursement
• IWC Wage Orders - Hours worked definition
• Morillion v. Royal Packing Co. (2000) - Employer-controlled travel