Canada mileage records
CRA Mileage Log: What Canadian Small Business Drivers Should Record
A Canada-first guide to recording dates, destinations, purposes, kilometres, and vehicle odometer readings without turning OdO into tax advice.
- Region
- Canada
- Audience
- Self-employed Canadians, contractors, consultants, mobile service providers, and small business owners
- Read time
- 6 minute read
What a CRA-focused mileage log should help you remember
For Canadian small business drivers, the goal is to keep enough detail that the business use of a vehicle can be reviewed later. The Canada Revenue Agency says a full logbook is strong evidence when it shows the destination, reason for each business trip, and distance covered. It also lists date, destination, purpose, and kilometres for each business trip.
OdO does not decide what is deductible. It helps you capture and review mileage records so you have a cleaner file to discuss with your accountant or compare with current CRA guidance.
Trip details to capture
- - date of the trip
- - destination or route context
- - business purpose while it is still fresh
- - kilometres driven
- - Business, Personal, or Ignored classification
Vehicle-level details to review
- - total kilometres for the period
- - business kilometres for the period
- - start and end odometer readings
- - separate records for more than one vehicle
- - supporting receipts outside the mileage log
A simple weekly workflow
- 1. Capture every work drive. Use manual start-stop or OdO Plus phone auto-tracking so the drive is recorded before the details fade.
- 2. Review once per week. Mark each trip as Business, Personal, or Ignored and add a short purpose note for business trips.
- 3. Export monthly. Keep a monthly backup for bookkeeping, reimbursement, or year-end review.
- 4. Check official guidance. Compare your records with current CRA guidance before filing or ask a qualified professional.
Official reference points
Start with the CRA page on motor vehicle records. For business and personal use of the same vehicle, the CRA also explains that the deductible part is based on the portion used to earn income on its motor vehicle expense calculation page.
Keep the log while the drive is fresh
OdO is built for drivers who need private mileage records without a cloud account. Start with free manual start-stop logging, then upgrade in app if phone auto-tracking and PDF reports are useful for your real workflow.