![]() Mileage tracker apps are currently the most popular method to keep track of mileage. However, there are more affordable options on the market. If you’re an individual or a business with a small fleet, this option could work. Additionally, a device is tied to a specific vehicle, so if you have multiple vehicles you'll need to install separate devices into each of them. You might need to get a professional to install and set up the device, and you’ll also need to pay for the device itself and its maintenance. And while they can be really accurate and only track when you’re driving, their installation can be quite costly depending on the device you choose. There are physical devices that can be installed in your car to track miles. Plus, with paper or even something that’s saved on your computer, there’s always the risk of losing the logs or accidental deletion. There are less steps involved for the self-employed, though you still have to worry about forgetting to track miles, adding them all up and getting the logs over to an accountant if you’re using one. Managers can be suspicious, drivers could forget to input their data, and in the end it could be a losing game for everyone involved. It’s a tedious and time-consuming process, on top of which the logs may not be accurate. Then someone typically has to manually input the amounts into the payroll system for payment. If employees or companies are tracking miles in this way, drivers need to send the logs to their manager or a department that's in charge of employee reimbursements for approval. They typically include all the information you need to capture for IRS compliance and incorporate the IRS standardized mileage rate, which makes calculations a little bit easier. ![]() There are plenty of free mileage log templates you can find online. The only difference is that they're done in digital format, using apps like Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel or even the Notes app on your phone. With this option, drivers write down their mileage for each trip, as well as where they drove and the date of each trip.ĭigital logs are quite similar to paper logs. I can't say the interface is anywhere near as polished or intuitive as MileIQ's, but for less than half the annual price, you get a very versatile, feature-rich mileage-tracking tool.Although they aren’t as common as before, paper logs are still widely used for mileage tracking. You even have the option of syncing with a Bluetooth OBD-II scanner, which would eliminate the need to use battery-draining GPS. It can start when power is connected to the phone (think: car charger), when a Bluetooth connection is made (think: car stereo), during a selected time period or when it detects sustained movement above 4 mph. The automated mileage tracking is more comprehensive here than in either of the other apps, at least in terms of how it engages. Those options add support for things like automated mileage tracking and cloud backup, receipt photos (for things like gas expenses) and unlimited IRS-ready reports. To really get the most from it, though, you'll want to upgrade to either the Personal or Business plan, which cost $1.50/month ($15 annually) and $2.50/month ($25 annually). So if you've enabled auto-start, do you still have to tap "Start GPS Tracking" and "Stop GPS Tracking"? It's a little confusing. In fact, you can use the app for free for up to five vehicles, complete with manual or GPS-based trip logging, vehicle fuel- and expense-tracking and map-based route review. TripLog offers a robust feature set that matches - and in some cases even exceeds - MileIQ's, but for a lower price. (Totally optional, but if you want to get the annual plan for $47.99 for the first year, you can use my referral link.) TripLog (Android, iOS) ![]() There's also a free option, but it limits you to 40 drives per month - probably not enough if you use your vehicle for both business and personal trips. The app costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 annually, a price that includes tracking for an unlimited number of drives. But it does offer robust exporting options and integration with tools like Concur and Freshbooks. Alas, automatic drive-detection (which does affect battery life) can't be scheduled accordingly. You can also specify work hours so that MileIQ isn't automatically trying to classify drives outside those hours.
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