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How to keep a mileage log as a delivery driver

Tracking your miles is what saves you the most on taxes. Here's which miles count, what the IRS asks for, and the easiest way to do it without forgetting.

Why it matters so much

Every work mile is subtracted from what you earned before your taxes are figured. In the second half of 2026 the IRS lets you deduct 76 cents per mile. If you drive 300 miles a week, that's about $228 a week that isn't taxed.

But there's a condition: if the IRS asks, you have to prove those miles. Without a log, the deduction doesn't count. More in the 1099 taxes article.

What the IRS asks for

Your log has to be made at the time (the same day, not made up months later) and include:

• The date of each day you worked.
• The miles you drove for work that day.
• The purpose: for example "Spark deliveries" or "DoorDash deliveries".
• The odometer (the car's total miles) at the start and end of the year. That shows how many miles were for work and how many were personal.

Tip: on January 1, take a photo of your car's odometer. Do the same on December 31. It takes 5 seconds and can save you in an audit.

Which miles count?

Miles from home to your first order and back home at the end of the day depend on your situation. Ask your tax preparer.

Careful: the delivery app's miles aren't all of them

Spark, DoorDash and Uber Eats show miles in the app or in your tax summary, but they usually only count part of the trip, for example from when you accept the order until you deliver it. Driving between orders or back to your zone often doesn't show up.

If you only use the miles the app gives you, you could be leaving hundreds or thousands of miles undeducted.

Three ways to keep the log

1. An app that tracks miles on its own (the easiest)

Some apps use your phone's GPS to log your trips automatically. You turn it on when you start working (or leave it on automatic) and at the end of the year it gives you a report ready for your taxes. Some are free and others charge a subscription.

If you work with several delivery apps, this is the best option, because it logs your whole route no matter which app the order is for. You can see a few in the gadgets section.

2. A spreadsheet

In Excel or Google Sheets make a table with columns: date, starting odometer, ending odometer, miles and app. Fill it in every day when you finish. It's free, but you have to remember.

3. A notebook in the car

The classic way: a notebook in the glove box where you write down the same things as in the spreadsheet. It works, but it's easy to forget or lose. If you use one, take a photo of it every week.

What a log looks like

Notice that between November 3 and 4 there are 12 miles that weren't logged (from 45,318 to 45,330). Those were personal and don't count.

Per-mile rate or actual expenses

There are two ways to deduct your car:

• Standard mileage rate: multiply your miles by the IRS rate. It's the easiest and the one almost all drivers use.
• Actual expenses: add up gas, insurance, repairs, depreciation, etc., and deduct the work share. More paperwork, and only worth it in some cases.

If you own your car, the first year you use it for work it usually makes sense to use the per-mile rate. If you start with actual expenses, you can't switch to the per-mile rate later with that car. Your preparer can help you choose.

Either way, you need the mileage log.

Quick summary

1. Photograph the odometer on January 1 and December 31.
2. Log your miles the same day you work: date, miles and purpose.
3. Don't rely only on the delivery app's miles.
4. Easiest: a GPS mileage app.
5. Keep your records for at least 3 years.

Note: this is general information, not tax advice. Rules and rates change. Check irs.gov or talk to a tax preparer.