A Mileage Log App That Keeps Itself
You already plan your route in RouteWren. The mileage log uses that route to record each day's driving, stop by stop, so the log is done before you get home. Add odometer readings if you want them and export a CRA-friendly report when you need it.
Included in every plan. No GPS tracking, no battery drain.
What Does CRA Want in a Mileage Log?
Whether you claim vehicle expenses as a self-employed person or get a per-kilometre allowance from an employer, the Canada Revenue Agency expects a record of your business driving. For each business trip, that means:
The Basics for Each Trip
The date, where you went, why you went (the business purpose) and how many kilometres you drove.
Odometer Readings
Your odometer at the start and end of the year, so total driving can be compared with business driving.
Most people know this and still end up rebuilding the log from their calendar at tax time. The problem isn't knowing what to record; it's remembering to record it after a long day. This is general information, not tax advice; your accountant can tell you what applies to you.
How RouteWren Fills In the Log
The Mileage tab records each day's driving from that day's route, from the moment you leave your base until you're back, so there's nothing to write down at the end of the day. Each trip line shows where you went (the stop's name and address), its reference number, and the purpose, taken from the stop's visit type or a default purpose you set, so every line already has what your accountant will ask for.
If plans change during the day, tick stops Visited as you go. The log follows what you actually did, so a cancelled appointment doesn't pad your log.
Odometer Readings and Your Own Figures
Tap any day to enter odometer readings at the start and end, or type your own distance. Either one replaces the route's figure for that day, and the log shows where each day's number came from: planned route, visited stops, odometer, or entered by you. Use it for days when you made a detour to a hardware store for a client, or drove somewhere that wasn't on a route.
Your Own Rate or CRA's Tiered Rate
Set a rate per kilometre or per mile and RouteWren adds up the amount for any period. In Canada, turn on CRA rates and the amount follows the two-tier allowance: a higher rate for the first 5,000 km of the year and a lower one after that.
The territories get 4 cents more per km; you can edit both rates in RouteWren. CRA updates the rates each January. Work out an allowance with our free CRA mileage calculator.
One point that trips people up: the per-km rate is what an employer can pay an employee tax-free. If you're self-employed, you generally deduct your actual vehicle costs (fuel, insurance, repairs, lease or depreciation) multiplied by your business-use percentage. Either way, the mileage log is your evidence.
Day, Week, Month and Year Views
Switch between Day, Week, Month and Year to see totals for kilometres, stops and the amount. Export any period as a CSV spreadsheet for your accountant or bookkeeping software, or print it and save as a PDF for an employer's expense claim or an Independent Adjuster's invoice.
Routes themselves are deleted 14 days after their date, to keep personal details about the people you visit off our servers. Your mileage log keeps your daily totals after that, but the trip-by-trip destinations go with the route. Exporting each week or month keeps the full detail on file.
What It Doesn't Do
RouteWren doesn't track your phone's location or detect trips automatically. That's deliberate: nothing runs in the background, and personal driving never ends up in your work log. The trade-off is that driving that isn't on a route needs an odometer reading or a figure from you. If you'd rather keep a paper log, our free printable mileage log template has the same columns.
Popular With
The log is a side effect of planning your day. See the route planner, appointment texting, or how RouteWren works.
Mileage Log Questions
Is RouteWren's mileage log CRA-approved?
CRA doesn't approve mileage apps. What it looks for is a log with the date, destination, purpose and distance of each business trip, plus odometer readings. RouteWren's log is built to record those details, which is why we call it CRA-friendly.
Can I use the CRA per-kilometre rate if I'm self-employed?
Generally no. The CRA rate is the tax-free allowance an employer can pay an employee. If you're self-employed, you usually deduct your actual vehicle costs multiplied by your business-use percentage, and a mileage log is how you show that percentage. Ask your accountant about your situation.
Do I have to keep a logbook all year?
CRA allows a simplified logbook: once you have a full 12-month logbook as a base year, you can keep a log for a sample period of at least three months in later years, as long as your business use stays within 10% of the base year. Check canada.ca or your accountant for the current rules.
Does RouteWren track my trips with GPS?
No. RouteWren doesn't use GPS or detect trips automatically. Distances come from your planned routes, or from the odometer readings or figures you enter for a day.
Can I log miles instead of kilometres?
Yes. Choose kilometres or miles in the mileage settings and set your own rate per km or per mile. The CRA rate option works in kilometres.
What happens to my mileage when a route is deleted?
Routes are deleted 14 days after their date, but your mileage log keeps your daily totals. Export the detailed trip list by week or month if you want the destinations for your records.
Let Your Routes Keep Your Mileage Log
Plan the day once and the kilometres are recorded for you. Every feature is on every plan, from $12/month CAD.
14 days free, up to 20 stops. No card needed.