Set Up Mileage Tracking in 7 Steps
From adding your first vehicle to exporting an IRS-compliant mileage log — follow along with the animated walkthrough.
What Are the 7 Steps?
Mileage tracking in TrakMiles Pro takes seven steps: add a vehicle, set your distance preferences, start a trip, watch it track, classify it as business or personal, review your history, and export the log. Trips are captured by GPS as you drive, which is what makes the record contemporaneous rather than reconstructed — the distinction the IRS actually cares about. The export carries date, destination, purpose and distance, and the total goes on Schedule C, Line 9.
Why Mileage Tracking Matters for Gig Workers
The IRS lets gig workers deduct 76 cents per business mile from July 1, 2026, and 72.5 cents for miles driven January through June. For a driver logging 20,000 business miles in the second half of the year, that's a $15,200 deduction — the single largest write-off most independent contractors qualify for. But the IRS requires a contemporaneous log of every trip, including date, destination, business purpose, and distance.
TrakMiles Pro handles all of this automatically. GPS tracking records your route, auto-detection starts trips when you begin driving, and your mileage log is always IRS-ready for export. No spreadsheets, no guessing, no missed deductions.
Learn more about maximizing your car-related deductions in our guides:
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Download Free on Google PlayFrequently asked questions
How do I start tracking mileage in TrakMiles Pro?
Add a vehicle first, then set your distance preference to automatic or manual. With automatic detection on, the app starts recording when it senses you driving. You can also start a trip by hand from the dashboard whenever you prefer.
Does the app track miles automatically?
Yes. Auto-detection starts a trip when you begin driving and ends it when you stop, so short runs get captured without you remembering. You can switch to manual start if you would rather control every trip yourself.
How do I classify a trip as business or personal?
Each completed trip prompts you to classify it. Business miles feed your deduction; personal miles stay out of it. Classifying as you go is what keeps the log clean, because reconstructing months later is exactly what weakens a mileage record.
Is the exported mileage log IRS-compliant?
The export includes the date, start and end location, business purpose and distance for every trip, plus your totals. That is what the IRS asks for, and because trips are recorded as you drive rather than rebuilt at year end, the log is contemporaneous.
Where does the mileage total go on my taxes?
On Schedule C, Line 9, car and truck expenses. You multiply business miles by the IRS rate for the period driven and add business parking and tolls. 2026 is a split-rate year, so the log needs dates: 72.5 cents a mile through June 30 and 76 cents from July 1.