Finding the best kilometre tracking app for Australia comes down to one thing: does it keep records the ATO will accept? A great app saves you time, captures the right data, and lets you export a clean report at tax time. A poor one leaves gaps that can cost you your deduction.
This guide covers what to look for, how automatic tracking compares to manual logging, and how Tripbook handles all of this for Australian iPhone users.
What makes a good kilometre tracking app for Australia?
The ATO sets clear expectations for what your records must show. Any app worth using needs to capture the date, start and end locations, distance, and the purpose of each work trip. That applies whether you use the cents per kilometre method (88c/km in 2025–26, capped at 5,000 km) or the logbook method.
Beyond ATO requirements, a good app should:
- work without you thinking about it during the day
- make it easy to classify each trip as business or private
- store your records securely
- produce a report you can hand to an accountant or attach to your return
Key features to look for (ATO compliance)
Not every “mileage tracker” is built with Australian tax rules in mind. Before you commit to any app, check for these:
Odometer or distance tracking. The app must capture the distance of each trip accurately. GPS-based tracking is reliable and requires no manual input.
Trip purpose field. You need to be able to record a short note for each trip — for example, “client visit – Sydney CBD” or “picking up supplies”. This is non-negotiable for the cents-per-kilometre method.
Date and time stamp. The ATO expects contemporaneous records. An app that logs the exact date and time of each trip protects you better than a spreadsheet filled in later.
Business/private classification. You should be able to quickly mark a trip as business or personal. This feeds directly into your business-use percentage if you use the logbook method.
Export options. A report that only lives inside the app is not useful at tax time. Look for CSV or PDF export so you can share records with your accountant.
For a full breakdown of what the ATO requires, see ATO logbook requirements.
Automatic vs manual tracking
Manual tracking means opening the app before you drive, entering your start location, and closing the trip when you arrive. It works, but it relies on you remembering every time. One missed trip is data gone.
Automatic tracking uses your iPhone’s GPS and motion sensors to detect when you start driving — without any interaction from you. Trips appear in the app after you arrive. You then review them, add a purpose, and classify each one. This takes seconds.
The practical difference matters. If you have a busy workday with multiple short trips — site visits, client meetings, supply runs — manual tracking creates friction at exactly the wrong time. Automatic tracking removes that friction entirely.
The only trade-off is battery usage, which modern apps manage well by using iPhone motion coprocessors rather than continuous GPS.
How Tripbook works for Australian users
Tripbook is built for iPhone and uses automatic trip detection to capture every drive in the background. When you open the app, your trips are already there. You swipe to mark each one as business or private and add a short note for work trips.
The app is designed around the two ATO methods. If you use cents per kilometre, Tripbook totals your business kilometres and applies the current rate. If you use the logbook method, it calculates your business-use percentage from the trips you have classified.
Tripbook stores your odometer readings, trip dates, distances, start and end addresses, and purposes — everything the ATO expects to see. For a walkthrough of how the tracking works day to day, see kilometre tracking: ATO-compliant logbook.
Exporting ATO-compliant reports
At tax time, Tripbook lets you export a full trip log as a PDF or CSV. The report includes every field the ATO requires: date, start and end locations, distance, trip purpose, and a running total of business kilometres.
You can filter by date range and by trip type before exporting, so it is straightforward to produce a report for a specific income year or logbook period. The report format is accepted by most Australian tax agents and accounting software.
Keep your exported reports with your other tax records for at least five years. The ATO can request supporting documents for prior years.
Getting started
Download Tripbook, allow location access (required for automatic detection), and drive as normal. After your first few trips, open the app, review what has been captured, and start classifying. Most users find a rhythm within a couple of days.
If you have driven some trips before installing the app, you can also add historical trips manually — useful for catches in the same income year.
The best kilometre tracking app for Australia is one you actually use consistently. Automatic detection removes the barrier that causes most people to fall behind on their records.
Download Tripbook and keep a logbook that holds up at tax time.
