Mileage log template
A mileage log is a dated record of trips you want to remember — usually business driving — with miles, the purpose, and enough detail that you could explain a trip later.
If you work for yourself and use a car for work, a clear log is one of the records that makes a standard-mileage claim easier to support. The official rate changes, sometimes mid-year, so the date of the trip matters. Confirm the current rate on the IRS standard mileage rates page before you rely on a figure.
What to track on each trip
- Date. The day you drove, not the day you remembered to write it down.
- From and to. Enough of a place name or route that you would recognize the trip later.
- Miles. The business miles for that trip. If you also drove for personal reasons, do not mix the two in one number.
- Purpose. A short note: a client meeting, a supply run, a site visit.
- The rate, if you want a dollar amount. For 2026, official IRS business standard mileage rates changed mid-year (72.5 cents a mile through June 30, 76 cents from July 1). Confirm those figures on official IRS pages before you use them.
A short how-to
- Choose one place to log trips — a printable page, a spreadsheet, or a phone log — and stick to it.
- Write the trip the same day, or at least the same week. A reconstructed log at year-end is weaker than a habit.
- Keep the log with your other records. If you also invoice clients, the dates on invoices and the dates on trips should make sense together.
- If you use the standard mileage method, do not also try to deduct the same trip as actual car expenses. This page is not advice about which method to choose.
A free way to start
The free monthly ledger is for income and expenses, not miles, but it is a useful companion: log the job you were paid for on the ledger, and log the driving that supported that job in your mileage record.
Download the free ledger (PDF + CSV) About the free ledger
A 2026 mileage log, with invoices if you need them
Invoice & Mileage includes a mileage log that looks up official 2026 IRS business rates by date, plus a one-page invoice template and printable invoice blanks. It works in Excel and Google Sheets. For a paper log only, the Printables 2026 pack includes a 2026 mileage-log PDF. Store links are coming soon.
This is a record-keeping and planning guide, not tax, legal, accounting or financial advice, and not a substitute for official forms, tax software, or a qualified professional.