RoadStance journal

How your mileage total is calculated

Why a Business Total includes only business-classified trips, even when a record also retains personal driving for context.

September 20, 2026

A mileage report needs one number that is easy to identify: the distance being claimed or submitted for reimbursement. In RoadStance, that number is the Business Total.

Business Total means business trips only

RoadStance adds the distance from trips classified as Business. A Personal trip can remain in the underlying vehicle history, but it does not increase the Business Total, a mileage reimbursement request, or a business-distance figure in an audit package.

This distinction matters when a vehicle is used for more than one purpose. A complete history may show a client visit, a grocery errand, and another client visit on the same week. Only the client visits belong in the business-distance total.

Why keep personal trips at all?

Personal trips can provide useful context for a broader vehicle-use record. They make the classification visible instead of leaving the impression that every recorded drive was business use.

That context is not a claim. The report separates the two ideas:

A simple example

Suppose a vehicle has three recorded drives:

Classification Distance
Business client visit 42 km
Personal errand 12 km
Business supplier visit 18 km

The Business Total is 60 km, not 72 km. The personal row remains a record of the 12 km drive, but it is not added to the business figure.

What to review before exporting

Confirm the classification and purpose for each business trip before you share a report. A report can organize the record, but it cannot decide whether a journey qualifies under your particular tax or reimbursement rules.


RoadStance is a record-keeping tool, not a tax advisor. Confirm the treatment of your trips with a qualified professional.