Getting Started

Getting Started with SmartMiles

Getting Started with SmartMiles SmartMiles tracks your driving automatically so you can claim mileage deductions at tax time without keeping a paper log. How it works 1. Install the app on your iPhone or Android phone. 2. Sign in with your email or Google account. 3. Grant location permissions when prompted (the app needs "Always Allow" to track drives in the background). 4. Drive. SmartMiles detects when you start and stop driving and records each trip automatically. 5. Classify your trips as Business, Personal, Medical, Charity, or Moving. 6. Export a report when you need it for taxes or reimbursement. First things to set up After your first few trips are recorded, take a minute to configure these: - Add your vehicles — Go to Settings > Vehicles and add the cars you drive. SmartMiles can auto-assign trips to vehicles using Bluetooth. - Save your frequent locations — Name places like "Home" and "Office" so trip summaries are easier to read. - Set up Work Hours — Tell SmartMiles your typical work schedule and it will auto-classify trips during those hours as Business. - Create Frequent Trip Rules — After classifying a trip, you can save that route as a rule so future trips between the same locations are classified automatically. What SmartMiles tracks Each trip records: - Start and end locations - Start and end times - Driving route (snapped to roads) - Distance in miles - Dollar value based on the current IRS mileage rate SmartMiles does not track your location when you are not driving.

How Automatic Trip Tracking Works

How Automatic Trip Tracking Works SmartMiles uses your phone's GPS and motion sensors to detect driving automatically. You do not need to press start or stop — it all happens in the background. Trip detection The app listens for vehicle motion using your phone's activity recognition. When it detects that you are in a vehicle, it begins recording GPS points. When it detects that you have stopped (based on a period of no movement), it ends the trip. Trips are processed on our servers after they end. Processing includes: - Snapping the GPS path to actual roads using map matching - Calculating the driving distance - Reverse-geocoding start and end addresses - Generating a map image of the route This usually takes a few seconds. You will receive a notification when a new trip is ready to classify (if notifications are enabled). Background tracking For automatic detection to work, SmartMiles needs to run in the background. This requires the "Always Allow" location permission on both iOS and Android. The app uses efficient background tracking that minimizes battery impact. It only records GPS points while you are actively driving — it does not continuously track your location throughout the day. What counts as a trip A trip is recorded when: - The app detects vehicle motion - The driving distance is at least 600 meters (about 0.4 miles) - The trip has a clear start and stop Very short movements (like moving your car in a parking lot) are filtered out automatically. When tracking might not work - Location permissions are not set to "Always Allow" - Battery saver or low power mode is restricting background apps - The phone was powered off during the drive - The app was force-closed from the app switcher See Troubleshooting: Why a trip might not appear for more details.

Setting Up Location Permissions

Setting Up Location Permissions SmartMiles needs location access set to "Always Allow" to detect and record trips automatically while the app is in the background. Why "Always Allow" is required Unlike apps that only need your location while you are using them, SmartMiles needs to detect when you start driving — even if the app is not open on screen. Without background location access, the app cannot start recording a trip until you manually open it. iOS setup 1. Open Settings on your iPhone. 2. Scroll down and tap SmartMiles. 3. Tap Location. 4. Select Always. 5. Make sure Precise Location is turned on. If you only see "While Using the App" and "Never," open the SmartMiles app first. iOS sometimes shows the "Always" option only after the app has requested it. iOS location prompt When you first install SmartMiles, iOS asks for location permission in two steps: 1. First, it offers "Allow While Using App" or "Don't Allow." 2. After using the app briefly, iOS shows a second prompt asking to upgrade to "Always Allow." If you dismissed the second prompt, you can change the setting manually using the steps above. Android setup 1. Open Settings on your phone. 2. Tap Apps (or Apps & notifications). 3. Find and tap SmartMiles. 4. Tap Permissions, then Location. 5. Select Allow all the time. Additional Android settings Some Android manufacturers add extra battery restrictions that can stop background apps. If trips are not being detected: - Battery optimization — Go to Settings > Battery > Battery optimization, find SmartMiles, and select "Don't optimize" (or "Unrestricted"). - Samsung — Disable "Put unused apps to sleep" in Settings > Battery > Background usage limits, and add SmartMiles to the "Never sleeping apps" list. - Xiaomi / Redmi — Enable "Autostart" for SmartMiles in Settings > Apps > Manage apps > SmartMiles. - Huawei / Honor — Add SmartMiles to the "Protected apps" list in Settings > Battery > App launch. - OnePlus — Disable "Battery optimization" and enable "Allow background activity" for SmartMiles. Motion & Fitness (iOS) On iOS, SmartMiles also uses Motion & Fitness data to detect when you are in a vehicle. Make sure this is enabled: 1. Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Motion & Fitness. 2. Turn on Fitness Tracking. 3. Make sure SmartMiles is turned on in the list below. Physical Activity (Android) On Android, SmartMiles uses the Physical Activity permission to detect driving. This is requested during setup. If you denied it: 1. Go to Settings > Apps > SmartMiles > Permissions. 2. Tap Physical Activity and select Allow.

Welcome to Smart Miles

Welcome to Smart Miles Smart Miles automatically tracks your drives and helps you maximize your mileage tax deduction. This guide covers everything you need to know to get started. How Trip Tracking Works Once you enable location permissions, Smart Miles runs quietly in the background. When we detect you've started driving, we begin recording your route. When you stop, the trip is saved automatically. There are three things to know: 1. Trips are detected automatically — you don't need to open the app before driving 2. GPS accuracy improves outdoors — trips starting in parking garages may take a moment to lock on 3. Battery impact is minimal — we use iOS and Android's native activity detection, which is highly optimized Tip: For the most accurate tracking, keep location permissions set to "Always Allow" rather than "While Using." Classifying Your Trips Every trip needs a purpose. You can classify trips as: - Business — commuting to client sites, running work errands, traveling between offices - Personal — grocery runs, school pickup, weekend drives - Medical — trips to doctor's appointments or hospitals - Charity — driving for volunteer work or charitable organizations Swipe right on any trip to mark it as Business, or swipe left for Personal. For other categories, tap the trip to open the detail view. Setting Up Work Hours If you have a regular schedule, Work Hours can classify trips for you automatically: 1. Go to Settings → Work Hours 2. Toggle on the days you work 3. Set your start and end times 4. Enable "Auto-classify during work hours" Any trip that starts during your configured work hours will be marked as Business. Trips outside those hours can optionally be marked as Personal. Adding Your Vehicle Tracking which vehicle you use helps with IRS reporting. To add a vehicle: 1. Go to Settings → Vehicles 2. Tap Add Vehicle 3. Search for your make and model 4. Set it as your default if it's your primary car FeatureFree PlanPro PlanAutomatic tracking✓✓Trip classification✓✓Work hours✓✓CSV export—✓IRS-ready reports—✓ Need More Help? If you can't find what you're looking for, tap the chat icon in the bottom right to reach our support team. We typically respond within a few hours. Covers headings (h2, h3), bold, lists (ordered + unordered), blockquote, table, and inline formatting. Paste it into the article editor and see how it renders.