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Mileage · Templates 7 min read · Updated June 2026

Free Printable Mileage Log PDF & KM Log Book Template

A clean, tax-ready vehicle log book you can print and keep in the glovebox — or fill digitally. Works for IRS miles and CRA kilometres, with every column an auditor expects.

Whether you call it a mileage log, a km log book, or a vehicle log book, it does one job: prove how much you drove for business so you can claim the deduction. The format is simple — but it has to contain the right columns, or a tax authority can reject it. Here's a printable template that works for both miles (IRS) and kilometres (CRA, HMRC, ATO), plus exactly what each column is for.

Grab it in 30 seconds

You can print the blank template below and fill it by hand, or generate a pre-formatted PDF with your details and the current rate already in it. Both are tax-valid as long as you fill them in as you drive.

The printable mileage log format

Here's the exact column layout of a compliant vehicle log book. Print this structure, or copy it into a notebook:

DateFrom → ToPurposeOdo. startOdo. endMiles / KM
__/________________________________________
__/________________________________________
__/________________________________________
__/________________________________________

And at the top or back of the book, record your odometer on January 1 and December 31 so your total annual distance is documented.

What each column is for

  • Date — the calendar date of the trip. Daily entries beat weekly summaries.
  • From → To — start and end location so the distance is verifiable on a map.
  • Purpose — the business reason. "Client meeting — Acme" not just "business".
  • Odometer start / end — optional per trip but powerful evidence; at minimum capture year-start and year-end.
  • Miles / KM — the business distance for that trip. Use miles for the IRS, kilometres for the CRA.
🖨️ Printable vs digital — both count. Neither the IRS nor the CRA cares whether your log is paper, spreadsheet, app or PDF. What matters is that it's filled in contemporaneously (at or near the time of the trip) and contains the required fields. A printed book in the car works perfectly — just be consistent.

Miles or kilometres? Pick the right version

The only structural difference between a US and Canadian/UK log is the distance unit:

CountryUnitAuthorityGuide
United StatesMilesIRSIRS mileage log requirements
CanadaKilometresCRACRA mileage log guide
UK / AustraliaKilometres/MilesHMRC / ATOSame format, local rate

If you're in Canada and want a ready-made km log book, the CRA mileage log template is pre-formatted in kilometres with the year-end odometer fields built in.

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Skip the printing

Generate a filled mileage log PDF free

Choose miles or kilometres, pick your country, and download a clean printable PDF — with the current standard rate and totals already calculated. Templates for self-employed, real estate, Uber and DoorDash.

Get your free log →

Tips to keep your log audit-proof

  1. Fill it as you go. A log written all at once (same pen, same day) undermines the contemporaneous standard.
  2. Avoid suspiciously round numbers. Real trips are 18.4 km, not a column of 20s.
  3. Don't claim your commute. Home to your regular workplace is personal.
  4. Keep it for the full period. Three years (IRS) to six years (CRA) after filing.
  5. Record the annual odometer. Year-start and year-end readings prove total distance and your business-use percentage.

Specialised templates by job

The columns are the same, but the typical trips differ. These ready-made versions save time:

Frequently asked questions

What should a printable mileage log include?
Columns for date, start/end location, business purpose, odometer start/end, and total miles or kilometres per trip, plus space for your year-start and year-end odometer readings.
Is a paper log book still accepted?
Yes. The IRS and CRA accept any format — paper, spreadsheet, app or PDF — as long as it's filled in contemporaneously and has the required fields.
What's the difference between a mileage log and a km log book?
Only the unit. A km log book records kilometres (Canada, UK, Australia); a mileage log records miles (US). Same columns, same rules.
Where can I get a free one?
Print the template above, or generate a pre-filled PDF for free with MileageLogMaker — choose miles or kilometres and your country.