Motoring guides

SARS Travel Logbook Template and Rules (2026/27)

If you receive a travel allowance or claim business travel, SARS expects a proper logbook. Here is what it must contain, and a free template.

Updated 26 September 2026 · TrackerPrices SA

General information only, not tax advice. Check sars.gov.za or a tax practitioner for your situation.

Quick answer: For each business trip, record the date, distance, where you started and ended, and the business reason. Also record your odometer reading on 1 March and on the last day of February. The SARS prescribed rate for 2026/27 is R4.95 per business kilometre.

Download the free template

Download the logbook template (CSV, opens in Excel or Google Sheets)

SARS also publishes its own eLogbook on sars.gov.za. Any format is fine as long as it contains the information below.

What SARS requires

Odometer reading on 1 March (start of the tax year) and at the end of February.
For every business trip: date, distance, starting point, destination and business reason.
Private trips do not have to be listed individually.
Keep your logbook for at least five years.

The 2026/27 rate per kilometre

From 1 March 2026 the SARS prescribed rate for reimbursive travel allowances is R4.95 per kilometre. SARS also publishes a cost-scale table based on vehicle value, used when you claim actual costs against a travel allowance.

AA rates per km vs SARS

The AA publishes vehicle-specific running-cost estimates through its rates calculator. These are useful for budgeting but are not tax rules: SARS uses its own prescribed rate and cost table.

Using a tracker as a digital logbook

Many trackers and fleet systems keep trip histories with dates, times and distances. You can use these reports to fill in your logbook; just add the business reason for each trip. See odometer and mileage.

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