Mileage is the largest tax deduction most rideshare drivers have. At $0.70 per mile (2026 IRS standard rate), 30,000 business miles per year equals a $21,000 deduction — worth $4,620 in taxes at the 22% bracket.
But you can only claim miles you’ve tracked. Here are the best tools for rideshare drivers.
RideOwn (Built-In for BASIC Plan and Above)
RideOwn includes automatic mileage tracking for all subscribers. The tracker runs in the background when you start a work shift and logs trip-by-trip mileage — both ride miles and deadhead miles between passengers.
At the end of the year, you export an IRS-ready mileage report from your dashboard. For drivers using RideOwn for direct bookings, every direct-booking ride is tracked automatically.
Best for: RideOwn subscribers who want a single tool for mileage + bookings + customer management.
MileIQ
MileIQ is the most widely used dedicated mileage tracker for self-employed drivers. It automatically detects trips using GPS and presents a daily “swipe to classify” interface — left for personal, right for business.
- Price: $5.99/month or $59.99/year
- Automatic detection: Yes — trips logged without manual input
- IRS-ready reports: Yes — monthly and annual CSV/PDF reports
- Integration: Microsoft 365, QuickBooks
Best for: Drivers who want a dedicated mileage tool with minimal setup.
Stride
Stride is a free mileage and expense tracker built specifically for gig workers. It’s the budget option and handles the basics well.
- Price: Free
- Automatic detection: Manual start/stop (some auto-detection in premium mode)
- IRS-ready reports: Yes — basic mileage log export
- Integration: Basic CSV export
Best for: Drivers who need a free solution and don’t mind a more manual workflow.
Everlance
Everlance offers automatic trip detection and a broader expense tracking feature set alongside mileage.
- Price: Free (basic) or $12/month (premium)
- Automatic detection: Yes — background GPS
- IRS-ready reports: Yes
- Expense tracking: Built-in, links to bank accounts
Best for: Drivers who want mileage + expense tracking in one tool.
What Makes a Good Mileage Tracker
For IRS audit compliance, a mileage log should capture:
- Date of each trip
- Business purpose (passenger transport, deadhead miles)
- Starting location and destination
- Miles driven
Any of the tools above produce adequate records if used consistently. The best tracker is the one you’ll actually use every day.
The Hidden Mileage Most Drivers Miss
Beyond ride miles, rideshare drivers often overlook:
- Deadhead miles between rides (when you’re on the app but empty)
- Pre-shift miles from home to your starting area (typically NOT deductible)
- Car wash miles when driven for business cleanliness
- Shop miles for business-related vehicle maintenance
Ask your tax professional what qualifies in your specific situation — deductible business miles vary slightly by circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Uber/Lyft earnings reports as my mileage log? Partially. Uber provides ride miles but not deadhead miles (you driving empty between rides). A separate tracker captures the full picture, which is typically 30–50% more miles than just ride miles.
What if I forget to log some trips? Reconstructing mileage after the fact is acceptable if you can support it with GPS data (phone location history), bank records (gas purchases at specific times), or calendar entries. Automatic trackers prevent this problem entirely.
Is the IRS standard mileage rate or actual expense method better for rideshare? It depends on your vehicle. High-mileage drivers with fuel-efficient vehicles often do better with standard mileage. Drivers with expensive vehicles (higher depreciation) or high actual costs sometimes benefit from the actual method. A tax professional can model both for your situation.