You can keep track of your trips in several ways: manually, with a device in the car, or with an app. On this page we set the options side by side with their pros and cons, so you can make a choice that suits you.
Last updated: 7 September 2026
There is no single method that is best for everyone. What suits you depends on how much you drive, whether you use a fixed vehicle and how much time you want to spend on it. Below we compare the three most common ways.
| Method | Strength | Point of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Manual (paper/spreadsheet) | Cheap and simple | Takes discipline, risk of gaps |
| Device in the car | Automatic, tied to the vehicle | Installation, tied to that car |
| App on your phone | Automatic, little manual work | Phone needed, depends on settings |
With manual tracking you note every trip yourself on paper or in a spreadsheet. It is the cheapest way and you need no equipment. The downside is that it takes discipline: a forgotten trip or a mistyped odometer reading can later cause gaps or illogical data, and it is precisely that completeness that matters.
A device is a fixed unit in the vehicle that records trips automatically. The advantage is that the registration is tied to the car and therefore continues, regardless of who is driving. Points of attention are the installation and that the system is tied to that specific vehicle. For fleets this can actually be convenient.
An app runs on your phone and can recognise and classify trips automatically. The advantage is ease of use: you have to do little yourself and you need no fixed installation. Points of attention are that your phone needs to be with you and that how well it works depends on the settings on your device. RitGenie is such an app: trips are recorded automatically and classified as business, private or commuting, and you can adjust a classification yourself.
A few questions that can help your decision:
Whatever you choose, the goal stays the same: a complete and verifiable administration. The method is mainly a matter of ease of use and cost.
A device is a fixed unit in the vehicle that records trips based on the car. An app runs on your phone and can recognise trips based on your device. Both aim to record trips automatically; the difference is mainly in installation, whether it is tied to the vehicle or the person, and ease of use.
In practice a mileage registration may be kept in different ways, including with an app. More important than the chosen method is that the administration is complete and verifiable. For the requirements that apply in your situation, we refer to the Tax Administration.
Keeping it manually, on paper or in a spreadsheet, is still possible. It is cheap, but takes discipline and is prone to gaps and copy errors. An automated solution can reduce that chance of errors.
There is no single method that is best for everyone. What suits you depends on how much you drive, whether you use a fixed vehicle and how much effort you want to spend. Weigh ease of use, completeness and cost against each other.
RitGenie records trips automatically with your phone and classifies them. No device needed, no tracking on paper.
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