Free mileage log – what is real and what is marketing
"Free mileage log" is a popular search, but the answer is more complicated than yes or no. Let's break down what the cost consists of, what we can genuinely give away free and where a promise of "free" would cost you.
Why an automatic mileage log cannot be entirely free
An electronic mileage log does not fill itself in out of thin air – it is built from real GPS data. For that data to exist, three things must be in place and each of them costs something.
1. A device in the vehicle. Someone has to manufacture and someone has to buy the GPS unit that measures and transmits the position.
2. A data connection. The unit sends the position over the mobile network. A SIM card and data are not free, even if the sums are small.
3. A server and software. The data has to be received, turned into trips, stored securely and displayed. That means a server running around the clock, backups and attention to security.
Anyone promising a mileage log completely free is either hiding one of these costs or covering it with something else – for instance by selling your data or by tying you in.
What can genuinely be free
Realistically, the third cost can be absorbed – the server and the software. That is exactly what our free plan does: tracking with no monthly fee, position every 5 minutes, on your device and your SIM card.
The first two costs stay with you, because there is nobody else to pay them. But at least you know precisely what you are paying for and what you are not.
An important note on expectations: the free plan gives you the current position only – no mileage log, no route history and no reports.
Why a 5-minute interval is not enough for a mileage log
A mileage log stands on distances, and those have to match the odometer. At a five-minute interval the route between two points gets "straightened out" – bends, detours and city loops disappear.
The result is that the reported distance comes out shorter than the real one. And a discrepancy between the sum of the trips and the odometer reading is one of the first things an inspection notices.
With a refresh every 60 seconds while driving the route is continuous and the distances match reality. That is why the automatic mileage log is part of the paid plan – it is not an artificial restriction but a technical condition of accuracy.
A paper mileage log is only "free" in appearance too
There is a free alternative: writing the mileage log by hand. A notebook costs a few euros, but the real price lies elsewhere.
Time. A few minutes a day per vehicle adds up to hours a month that somebody works through.
Errors. Estimated distances, trips written up afterwards and a missing purpose of the journey are the most common objections during an inspection. The risk of an additional assessment is a real cost, it is just not visible upfront.
Credibility. A paper record can be rewritten afterwards without a trace. Electronic records with an audit trail of changes stand up better.
When the free plan pays off and when the paid one does
The free plan makes sense if you mainly want to know where the vehicle currently is, have one or two cars and already own a unit. Or if you want to try tracking without commitment.
The paid plan pays off the moment you report distances – that is, when you claim vehicle costs, deal with the ratio of private to business trips or need records that stand up to an inspection.
It starts at €6 per vehicle per month, with annual payment the GPS unit is included and there is no lock-in. A loyalty discount gradually lowers the price from €6 to €5 and down to €4. For a single car that is roughly the price of two coffees a month against hours of manual rewriting.
How not to get caught out
When you come across something advertised as a "free mileage log", check three things.
Is the device and the SIM free too? If so, ask how that is financed. Free hardware tends to come tied to a multi-year contract.
How often is the position refreshed? A sparse interval means inaccurate distances and a mileage log that will not be usable for tax.
What happens to your data? A vehicle's position is sensitive information – it reveals where your customers are and where an employee lives. If a service is free and you cannot see what pays for it, read the data processing terms.
FAQ
Is there a completely free electronic mileage log?
Not free of all cost. You always need a GPS device, a SIM card with data and a server where the data is stored. We can provide the software and the server free – the device and the data stay with you.
Why is the mileage log not part of the free plan?
On the free plan the position refreshes every 5 minutes, so the route between points gets straightened out and the distances come out shorter than the real ones. For tax records that is unusable.
Is writing the mileage log by hand not enough?
It is enough, but it is not free – you pay with time and with the risk of errors. Estimated distances and trips written up afterwards are among the most common objections during an inspection.
How much does the mileage log cost with SaveTrack?
From €6 per vehicle per month. With annual payment the GPS unit is included, Europe is included and you are not tied in. A loyalty discount lowers the price down to €4.
What should I watch out for with free offers?
Check whether the device and the SIM are free too, how often the position is refreshed and what happens to your data. A vehicle's position is sensitive information.
Want a mileage log that stands up to an inspection? SaveTrack keeps it automatically from GPS – from €6 a month, unit included with annual payment. Write to info@savetrack.sk or call +421 908 918 880.
GPS tracking from €6/month, with the GPS device included on annual payment.
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