What information do I need to record in a mileage log for HMRC?

HMRC requires a mileage log that records sufficient detail to verify your business travel claims. For each business journey, record: 1. Date of journey 2. Start point (address or description) 3. End point (address or description) 4. Business purpose of the journey 5. Miles driven (odometer start and end, or estimated total for the journey) 6. Cumulative total for the year (to track when you cross the 10,000-mile threshold) You do not need to record every single trip if you have regular routes (e.g. the same client site every Monday), but you should be able to show a consistent pattern. Many apps (Google Maps history, MileIQ, TripLog, or even a simple spreadsheet) can help automate this. HMRC accepts digital records. Keep the log for at least 5 years after filing your return.

  • Record: date, start, end, purpose, miles for each business journey
  • Track cumulative miles to identify the 10,000-mile threshold (45p vs 25p rate)
  • Regular routes don't need a separate entry each time — a recurring pattern is sufficient
  • Digital records and apps (MileIQ, spreadsheets) are acceptable
  • Keep for 5 years after filing your Self Assessment return

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