Guide for the United States
How to keep a Tesla mileage log for taxes
Your Tesla can record when and where you drive. A useful business mileage log also needs your reason for each business trip. Here is a simple way to keep both parts together and review them before you file.
Reviewed September 30, 2026. About 4 minutes to read.
What belongs in the log?
The IRS lists the date, business destination, business purpose, miles for each business use, and total miles for the year among the details used to substantiate car expenses. Its example daily mileage log also includes starting and ending odometer readings. Records made at or near the time of a drive generally carry more weight than a log reconstructed much later. See the IRS’s recordkeeping guidance in Publication 463.
- Capture every drive. Record the date, time, route, distance, and available odometer readings while the trip is fresh.
- Classify it. Mark the drive business or personal. Do not assume a trip is deductible merely because it was made in a work vehicle; ordinary commuting has separate rules.
- Add the business purpose. Record why you made the trip, such as a client meeting or supplier visit. Your car cannot know this from its location alone.
- Review regularly. Check missing trips, unclear destinations, and blank purposes each week rather than trying to reconstruct the year in April.
- Export and retain the record. Save a copy with the other records that support your return or reimbursement claim.
What OhMyMiles does, and what you still do
OhMyMiles builds a trip history from your connected Tesla. You review each drive, mark business or personal, and add its purpose. The report then lists the business trips you classified, including dates, routes, purposes, and miles. You are responsible for confirming that trips are complete and that each classification and purpose is accurate. Inspect the sample report and CSV before connecting your car.
Standard mileage rate or actual expenses?
The standard mileage rate is one way to calculate eligible business car costs; actual expenses are another. Eligibility and which method you may use depend on your circumstances and prior choices. The IRS explains the methods in Topic 510. If you use the standard rate, apply the rate in effect on the date of each trip; the IRS publishes current and historical rates. A mileage report helps organize evidence, but it does not decide whether a particular drive is deductible.
A five minute weekly check
Open the unclassified trips, label each one, and fill in missing business purposes. Compare the log with your calendar and any client or reimbursement records. At year end, confirm the report includes the intended date range and export a copy for your records or accountant. This small routine is easier to defend and easier to correct than a year-end reconstruction.
This guide describes recordkeeping and the product workflow, not an individual tax determination. Review unusual circumstances with your tax professional. Sources: IRS Publication 463, IRS Topic 510, and IRS standard mileage rates.