The Best Mileage Tracker App for Tradies in Australia (ATO Logbook Made Easy)

Your ute or work van is one of the biggest tax deductions available to you as a tradie — but to claim the full actual cost method (which is almost always worth far more than the 88 cents per kilometre alternative), you need a valid ATO logbook.

The problem is that keeping a manual logbook is one of those things every tradie intends to do and almost none actually follow through on. A paper logbook in the glovebox gets ignored after the first week.

A mileage tracker app solves this completely. The best ones automatically detect when you've started driving, record the trip via GPS, and let you classify it as business or personal with a single tap. The ATO logbook practically writes itself.

This guide covers exactly what the ATO requires, which apps work best for Australian tradies, and how to set up a system that takes less than 30 seconds of attention per trip.

What the ATO Actually Requires in a Logbook

Before choosing an app, it's worth understanding what you need to capture. The ATO requires that each trip recorded in your logbook includes:

• The date of the journey
• The reason for the journey (purpose)
• The odometer reading at the start
• The odometer reading at the end
• The kilometres travelled

The logbook must cover a continuous 12-week period that is representative of your typical vehicle use. Once completed, it's valid for 5 years — unless your vehicle use pattern changes significantly.

You also need to record your odometer reading at 30 June each year, even after your logbook period has ended, to establish total annual kilometres.

The business-use percentage from your 12-week logbook (business km ÷ total km) is then applied to all your actual vehicle costs for the full year — fuel, registration, insurance, servicing, depreciation, loan interest.

A good mileage tracker app captures all the required logbook data automatically, creates a defensible GPS-backed record, and generates reports your accountant can use directly.

The Best Mileage Tracker Apps for Australian Tradies

ATO myDeductions — Free, Built for Australian Tax

The ATO's own app includes a vehicle logbook feature that satisfies the ATO's requirements (unsurprisingly). You can track trips manually or use GPS tracking, classify trips, record odometer readings, and export reports.

What works well:

• Free
• Explicitly designed around ATO logbook requirements
• Data exports to help pre-fill your individual tax return
• Simple interface

What doesn't work as well:

• Doesn't automatically detect trips — you need to manually start and stop recording
• GPS tracking less accurate than dedicated apps
• No integration with accounting software (Xero, MYOB)

Best for: Sole traders with simple setups who want a zero-cost option and are disciplined enough to manually start the app before each work trip.

MileIQ — Best for Automatic Trip Detection

MileIQ is one of the most popular mileage tracking apps globally and works well in Australia. It runs continuously in the background on your phone and automatically detects every drive you take — you don't need to remember to start anything.

After each drive, a notification appears and you swipe right (business) or left (personal) to classify it. That's all you need to do for most trips.

What works well:

• Fully automatic trip detection — never miss a trip
• Swipe classification is extremely fast (5 seconds per trip)
• GPS-accurate distance measurement
• Monthly reports exportable as PDF or spreadsheet
• Business purpose field for adding notes to each trip
• Works on iOS and Android

What doesn't work as well:

• Doesn't capture odometer readings automatically — you need to add start-of-year and end-of-year readings manually
• No direct integration with Xero or MYOB
• Cost: ~$10/month or ~$80/year after a free trial

For ATO logbook purposes: MileIQ gives you dates, distances, purposes, and GPS routes. You add odometer readings manually (quick photos at logbook start, end, and 30 June each year). The combination satisfies ATO requirements.

Best for: Tradies who want the most effortless tracking experience and don't mind manually entering odometer readings.

Driversnote — Best ATO Logbook Compliance

Driversnote is a dedicated logbook app designed specifically for ATO and tax authority compliance in multiple countries. It automatically tracks trips via GPS and is designed to generate logbook reports that match exactly what the ATO needs.

What works well:

• Automatic trip detection via GPS and phone motion sensors
• Odometer readings can be entered in the app
• Reports generated specifically in ATO logbook format
• Work hours mode — automatically classifies trips during set work hours as business
• iBeacon integration — if you buy a small Bluetooth beacon ($25) and leave it in your ute, the app automatically detects when you're in the vehicle and starts tracking
• Team features for businesses with multiple vehicles

What doesn't work as well:

• Free plan limited to 20 trips per month
• Full plan: ~$10/month or ~$70/year
• Interface is functional but less polished than MileIQ

Best for: Tradies who want an app explicitly designed around ATO logbook requirements, particularly those who want to include odometer readings in the app rather than tracking them separately.

TripLog — Best for Teams and Fleet Tracking

TripLog is a more comprehensive mileage and fleet tracking solution suited to tradie businesses with multiple vehicles — whether that's you and some employees, or a fleet of company vehicles.

What works well:

• Automatic trip detection with multiple trigger options (Bluetooth, phone motion, plug-in OBD device)
• Fleet dashboard — see all vehicles and drivers in one view
• IFTA and tax reporting
• Strong odometer tracking
• Integrates with QuickBooks Online

What doesn't work as well:

• More complex to set up than solo-focused apps
• More expensive for teams (~$10–$15/month per driver)
• Overkill for a sole operator

Best for: Tradie businesses with 2+ vehicles or employees who drive company vehicles, where you need to track mileage across the whole fleet.

QuickBooks Online Built-In Mileage Tracking

If you already use QuickBooks Online for bookkeeping, it has a mileage tracking feature built into the mobile app. Automatic trip detection, business/personal classification, and basic reporting.

What works well:

• Included in your QuickBooks subscription — no extra cost
• Trips connect directly to your QuickBooks books for expense tracking
• Automatic detection

What doesn't work as well:

• Less feature-rich than dedicated mileage apps
• Reporting isn't formatted specifically for ATO logbook requirements
• Not available if you use Xero or MYOB

Best for: QuickBooks Online users who want a basic mileage tracking solution without paying for a separate app.

Which App Should You Choose?

For most Australian tradies, Driversnote or MileIQ are the best choices. Both offer automatic tracking, both are accurate, and both generate the reports your accountant needs. Driversnote has a slight edge for strict ATO logbook compliance; MileIQ wins on ease of daily use.

If cost is the primary concern and you're disciplined enough to manually start tracking, ATO myDeductions is a legitimate free option.

How to Set Up Your Logbook Correctly

Whichever app you choose, follow these steps to create a valid ATO logbook:

Step 1: Record your starting odometer reading. Take a photo of your odometer on the day your logbook period begins. Enter it in the app if supported, or note it separately.

Step 2: Enable automatic tracking. Turn on auto-detection in your chosen app. Grant location permissions (always on, not just when using) so the app can detect trips in the background.

Step 3: Classify every trip, every day. For business trips, add the purpose — "Job site visit — 22 Johnson Rd Frankston" or "Materials pick-up — Reece Plumbing Dandenong." Brief is fine; specific is better.

Step 4: Don't stop at 12 weeks. Once your logbook period is complete, you can technically stop recording — but continuing for the full year is easy with auto-detection and gives you better data. Many tradies just leave the app running permanently.

Step 5: Record your ending odometer and 30 June odometer. Note your odometer at the end of the 12-week period and again at 30 June each year. Photo of the dashboard works fine.

Step 6: Export your report. Most apps let you export a logbook report as PDF or spreadsheet. Share this with your accountant at tax time. Keep a copy for your records.

The Tax Saving Is Real

A working tradie doing 35,000 km/year with 80% business use and $20,000 in annual vehicle costs has a potential vehicle deduction of $16,000.

Under the cents-per-kilometre method: 5,000 km × $0.88 = $4,400 maximum.

The logbook method adds $11,600 in additional deductions. At a 30% marginal rate, that's $3,480 more in your pocket every year — for an app that costs less than $100 per year and takes roughly 30 seconds of attention per trip.

The maths on running a mileage tracker app is about as clear as it gets in personal finance.

Tradie Money AU provides practical financial guidance for Australian tradies. This article is general in nature — check current ATO requirements at ato.gov.au and speak with a registered tax agent for advice on your specific situation.