Last Updated: July 15, 2025
Real estate agents, did you know every business mile you drive can save you thousands? Accurately logging your mileage is crucial for maximizing tax deductions and staying IRS compliant. This guide will show you how to master your mileage log as a real estate agent.
Table of Contents
Why Your Mileage Log is Your Money Maker
For real estate agents, the road is basically a second office. From client showings to property tours, every mile matters. Each business mile driven can be deducted from your taxes, giving you big savings.
However, not all driving counts, but a lot of it does. Here’s what you can typically deduct:
- Showings: Trips to and from properties for client viewings.
- Client Meetings: Drives to meet clients at offices or coffee shops.
- Open Houses: Traveling to host or attend open houses.
- Business Errands: Picking up supplies, dropping off documents, or visiting the post office for business.
- Property Inspections: Driving to and from properties for inspections or appraisals.
- Industry Events: Attending conferences, seminars, or networking events.
Remember, your regular commute from home to your primary office usually doesn’t count. However, if you have a dedicated space for a home office, commuting will be deductible as well. See if you qualify on the IRS website.
How Real Estate Agents Track Mileage Today
Gone are the days when a crumpled notebook and a pen were your only options. Modern technology has made mileage logging much simpler and more accurate. Let’s compare these two methods:
The Traditional Way: Manual Logs
Some agents prefer manual methods like handwritten journals or spreadsheets. However, manual logging is often time-consuming and can lead to mistakes, since a lot of details need to be recorded:
- Date of the Trip
- Starting Location and Destination
- Purpose of the Journey
- Total Miles Driven
- Odometer Readings (Start and End of the Year)
Because it is prone to mistakes, this method also carries a higher audit risk compared to detailed digital records.
The Rise of Digital Tracking Apps
Most real estate agents now rely on digital apps for fast, accurate, and IRS-compliant mileage tracking. Apps like Everlance, Hurdlr, and MileageWise use GPS to automatically record your trips. They even help you sort business from personal drives.
These apps offer vital features:
- Automatic Tracking: No more forgetting to jot down miles. The app does it for you.
- Easy Categorization: Quickly label trips as business or personal with a swipe.
- Instant Reports: Generate IRS-compliant reports at tax time with just a few clicks. This replaces hours of manual tallying.
- Cloud Storage: Your data is safe and backed up in the cloud, so you never lose a record.
- Detailed Trip Log: Records exact routes, times, and distances for every trip.
Many agents who’ve switched to automatic apps report saving hours each month on documentation. They also find that these apps help with route planning and understanding their business travel habits better.
Let’s look at a quick comparison:
| Feature | Manual Log | Automatic App |
| Deduction Accuracy | Medium–Low | High |
| Audit Protection | Low–Medium | High |
| Time Required | High | Low |
| Recommended by Experts | Rarely | Frequently |
| IRS-Compliant Reports | Needs manual formatting | Often automatic |
Maximize Your Deductions: Best Practices
To get the most out of your mileage log as a real estate agents, follow these best practices:
- Log Every Trip: Even running short errands adds up. Note that tracking personal trips is not mandatory, but it contributes to more accuracy and transparency. It is also best to log your trips contemporaneously to avoid any issues with the IRS.
- Separate Business from Personal: The IRS is strict here. Your driving to grandma’s house is not deductible. Classify them as business or personal each day.
- Keep Related Receipts: Save gas receipts, toll fees, and parking tickets. These can be additional deductions and provide further proof of your miles, beyond your mileage logs.
- Review Regularly: Check your logs weekly or at least monthly to catch any errors and inaccuracies.
MileageWise: Your Partner in Mileage Tracking Excellence
At MileageWise, we’re dedicated to empowering real estate agents and other professionals with IRS-compliant solutions that simplify tax preparation and maximize deductions. We understand the unique needs of a busy real estate agent, which is why our solutions stand out.
MileageWise offers powerful tools designed specifically to make your life easier and your logs audit-proof:
Mobile App for Mileage Tracking
- Automatic Mileage Tracking: Log daily drives automatically with various modes.
- Quick Setup: Start tracking in minutes so you can focus on clients, not tech hassles.
- Ad-Free & Privacy-Focused: Enjoy smooth tracking without ads or worries about sharing client data.
- Backup Mileage Capture: Pinpoints trip start points reliably, a struggle for many other apps.
- Flexible Routing/Distance Calculations: Track exact routes or use optimized distances to your liking.
- Routing Integration with Waze: Let Waze guide you while MileageWise logs trips in the background: ideal for busy schedules.
- Expense Tracking Integration: Keep mileage and business expenses organized together, simplifying tax prep.
Dashboard for a Retroactive Mileage Log
- Google Maps Timeline Integration: Import your Google Location History to fill in untracked trips. We understand the struggle to remember tracking during busy days.
- AI-Powered Mileage Wizard: Rebuilds past trips automatically, saving hours of manual data entry for accurate tax records.
- IRS Compliance Auditor: Checks logs against IRS rules, helping you stay audit-ready and stress-free at tax time.
- Bulk Client & Trip Import: Upload client lists or set fixed routes in bulk, saving time for agents managing frequent property tours.
- Comprehensive Trip Management: Manage recurring drives, categorize trips, and batch-edit logs—ideal for juggling multiple listings and clients.
Lifetime Plans: A MileageWise Exclusive
MileageWise is the only mileage tracking app offering lifetime plans, saving you money compared to ongoing subscriptions. Pay once and enjoy the tools you need without worrying about annual fees.
- Small Lifetime Deal: Track unlimited miles using the easy-to-use app, with AI help for creating mileage reports — all for a one-time payment of $119. Perfect for simple, reliable tracking without recurring costs.
- Gold Lifetime: Get full access to tools for tracking both current and past trips, import Google Location History, and generate IRS-compliant reports. Ideal for agents needing detailed records for past years or mileage audits.
Customer Support That Understands the Real Estate Business
MileageWise offers support that understands how busy real estate agents are. Whether you’re setting up your account or need help fine-tuning reports, the team is there to help you quickly and keep your business moving. No waiting days for replies — just fast, practical support when you need it.
Try MileageWise for free for 14 days. No credit card required!
Automatic Mileage Tracker App
AI Logs & Google Timeline Import
A Realtor’s Success Story
Last tax season, I felt sick thinking about my mileage. My notes were a jumble of scribbles and half-missing odometer readings. I knew I was losing out on hundreds, maybe thousands, in deductions and dreaded an IRS audit with my flimsy logs. Then I found MileageWise. It’s precise, simple, and finally keeps up with my business drives. Now, tax time is stress-free. My deductions have soared, and I’m finally at peace knowing my mileage log is solid, and I’m keeping more of my hard-earned money.
Take Action: Secure Your Deductions!
Your mileage log is more than just a record; it’s a powerful financial tool. By adopting smart, modern tracking methods, you can significantly reduce your tax burden and simplify your life.
Here’s what to do next:
- Understand the Basics: Know what counts as a deductible mile and the IRS requirements.
- Choose Your Method: Decide if a digital app or manual logging fits your style (apps are strongly recommended!).
- Implement Best Practices: Log daily, categorize accurately, and keep supporting records.
- Explore MileageWise: Check out how our automatic tracking and retroactive log creation features can help you.
- Start Tracking Today: Don’t wait until tax season. Every mile tracked is a dollar saved.
- Consult a Pro: If you have complex tax situations, always talk to a tax professional.
FAQ
What types of miles can real estate agents deduct?
You can deduct all miles driven exclusively for business, including:
- Property tours and showings
- Traveling to/from client meetings
- Trips to inspections, staging, or closings
- Business errands (e.g., purchasing signs, supplies)
Commuting (traveling from home to your main office) is not deductible. Exceptions may apply if you have a registered home office.
What information should be included in a mileage log for real estate agents?
According to the IRS, a compliant mileage log should include:
- Date of each trip
- Starting and ending locations
- Purpose of the trip (e.g., client showing)
- Total miles driven
- Starting and ending odometer readings of the year
Is there a standard template or format for a real estate agent’s mileage log?
While the IRS does not require a specific template, your log must be “contemporaneous” and complete. You can use:
- A notebook or spreadsheet (Excel, Google Sheets),
- IRS-provided mileage log templates,
- Or digital mileage tracker apps like MileageWise.
How long should real estate agents keep their mileage logs for tax purposes?
Keep your mileage records for at least three years after you file your return for that year. If you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction, keep records for seven years.
| MileageWise | Other Mileage Tracker Apps | Other GPS Based Trackers | Excel | Tax Professional | |
| Mobile App for Ongoing Tracking | |||||
| Web Dashboard to Manage Trips | |||||
| Imports Trips and Locations from Google Timeline | |||||
| Lifetime Deals Available | |||||
| Average Reported Business Mileage Deduction | $12,000 | $710-$8500 | $400-$5,700 | $200-$2,000 | |
| Average Time Creating Retrospective Mileage Log (Yearly) | 7 minutes | 180 minutes | 180 minutes | 180 minutes | N/A |
| AI Wizard Mileage Log Generator for Retroactive Mileage Recovery | |||||
| Produces IRS-Proof Mileage Logs | |||||
| Free Phone Support with Live Agent | |||||
| Mileage Log Preparation Service | |||||
| Data Accessible in the Cloud |
