Switching mileage tracking apps sounds like a bigger deal than it is. If you have been using MileIQ and you are done paying $79.99 a year — or you want more control over your location data — the migration process takes about 10 minutes.

This guide walks you through exactly what to do: exporting your MileIQ history, setting up License to Deduct, recording your odometer, and making sure you do not lose a single documented business mile.

Before You Switch: What to Preserve

The most important thing to preserve when switching apps is your mileage log for the current tax year. You may also want records from prior years if they are still within the IRS audit window (three years from the return due date).

Here is what you need:

  • A complete export of your MileIQ data (CSV or PDF)
  • Your current odometer reading
  • The date you are switching

You do not need to import your MileIQ history into License to Deduct — you are keeping MileIQ's export as a standalone record. License to Deduct will track from the switch date forward.

Step 1: Export Your MileIQ Data

MileIQ lets you export your trip history as a CSV file from the web dashboard.

  1. Open a browser and go to dashboard.mileiq.com
  2. Log in to your MileIQ account
  3. In the top navigation, click Reports
  4. Set the date range to cover your current tax year (January 1 to today)
  5. Click Export and select CSV
  6. Download the file and save it somewhere secure

Also export a PDF: For each month of the current tax year, generate a PDF report. PDFs are easier to read if you need to reference a specific trip later, and they serve as a clear, presentable backup.

Export prior years too: If you have MileIQ data from the last 2–3 years (within the audit window), export those as well. Do this before you cancel your subscription, as you may lose access to historical data afterward.

Step 2: Save Your MileIQ Exports Securely

Your mileage log is a tax document. Treat it accordingly:

  • Save the CSV and PDF files in a folder labeled with the tax year (e.g., Mileage Records / 2026)
  • Back up the folder to your personal cloud storage (iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox)
  • Optionally, email the PDF exports to yourself for an additional copy

Keep these records for at least three years from the tax return due date (so your 2026 records need to be kept until at least April 2030).

Step 3: Record Your Current Odometer

Before you start License to Deduct, write down your current odometer reading. This establishes a baseline for:

  • The boundary between your MileIQ-tracked period and your License to Deduct period
  • Your full-year odometer data (you'll need a January 1 reading from MileIQ and a December 31 reading from License to Deduct)

Take a photo of your odometer as a timestamped record.

Step 4: Download License to Deduct

Download License to Deduct from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).

  • App Store: Search "License to Deduct" or use the link in our footer
  • Google Play: Search "License to Deduct" or use the Google Play link

The app offers a free 20-trip trial. Pro ($2.99/month or $24.99/year) unlocks unlimited tracking, IRS Smart Sync, IRS-compliant exports, and smart classification. Pro Plus ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) adds Full Cloud Sync with GPS waypoints.

Step 5: Create Your Account and Choose a Privacy Tier

When you first open License to Deduct, you will be prompted to:

  1. Create an account — We only need an email address. No phone number required.

  2. Choose your data privacy tier:

    • Local Privacy Shield (Pro) — All trip data stays on your device. You control backups manually (encrypted export to your iCloud/Google Drive). Nothing is ever uploaded to our servers. Best for maximum privacy.

    • IRS Smart Sync (Pro) — Only the IRS-required fields (date, distance, purpose, origin and destination address) sync to our servers for backup. Your GPS coordinates and route traces stay on your device. This covers everything the IRS requires for compliance — most users find this is all they need.

    • Full Cloud Sync (Pro Plus) — Complete trip data including GPS waypoints syncs to the cloud. Best for multi-device access or if you want full backup coverage of your routes.

You can change your privacy tier at any time from Settings. There is no penalty for starting on a lower tier and upgrading later.

Step 6: Set Up Your Vehicle

In the app, add your vehicle:

  1. Go to Settings → Vehicles → Add Vehicle
  2. Enter your vehicle's year, make, and model
  3. Enter your current odometer reading (the one you recorded in Step 3)
  4. Save

If you use multiple vehicles for business (common for some contractors), add each one separately. License to Deduct will track which vehicle was used for each trip.

Step 7: Enable Background Location Access

For automatic trip detection to work, the app needs location access set to "Always":

On iOS:

  1. Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services
  2. Find License to Deduct and tap it
  3. Select Always
  4. Also enable Precise Location

On Android:

  1. Open Settings → Apps → License to Deduct → Permissions → Location
  2. Select Allow all the time
  3. Ensure precise location is enabled

This is the same permission level required by every automatic mileage tracking app, including MileIQ. The difference with License to Deduct is what happens to that location data — with Local Privacy Shield, it never leaves your device.

Step 8: Take a Test Drive

Take a short drive to verify trip detection is working:

  1. Lock your phone and leave it in your car
  2. Drive for at least a few minutes
  3. Return home
  4. Open License to Deduct — you should see the trip logged automatically

If the trip did not appear:

  • Check that location permissions are set to "Always"
  • Check that Battery Optimization / Low Power Mode is not restricting the app (on Android especially)
  • Check that Background App Refresh is enabled on iOS

Step 9: Classify Your First Trips

When a trip appears in the app, swipe or tap to classify it as Business or Personal. You can add a purpose note (for example: "Client meeting — quarterly review").

License to Deduct learns your patterns over time and will suggest classifications for recurring routes, reducing the work of reviewing each trip.

Step 10: Cancel Your MileIQ Subscription

Once you have confirmed License to Deduct is working and your MileIQ exports are safely backed up, cancel your MileIQ subscription.

On iOS:

  1. Open Settings → Your Name → Subscriptions
  2. Find MileIQ and tap it
  3. Select Cancel Subscription

On Android:

  1. Open the Google Play Store
  2. Tap your profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions
  3. Find MileIQ and tap Cancel Subscription

On the web:

  1. Log in to dashboard.mileiq.com
  2. Go to Account → Subscription
  3. Cancel from there

You will retain access through the end of the billing period you have already paid for.

Keeping a Complete Record for the Full Tax Year

Since you switched apps mid-year, your mileage log will come from two sources:

  • January 1 through [switch date]: Your MileIQ CSV/PDF export
  • [Switch date] through December 31: Your License to Deduct export

When tax time comes, export your License to Deduct report and combine it with your MileIQ export for a complete picture of the year. Both apps export CSV files, so you can append the data in a spreadsheet if needed.

Your total annual business miles = MileIQ business miles + License to Deduct business miles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import my MileIQ history into License to Deduct?

Not at this time. We recommend keeping your MileIQ export as a standalone tax document. License to Deduct will track from your switch date forward.

I switched mid-year. Do I need to note my odometer for both periods?

Yes. You need:

  • January 1 odometer reading (from your MileIQ export or your own record)
  • Odometer reading on the day you switched (your baseline for License to Deduct)
  • December 31 odometer reading

Most mileage apps record the start and end odometer for each trip or let you log it manually. Your total annual mileage is December 31 odometer minus January 1 odometer.

I lost my beginning-of-year odometer reading. What do I do?

Check your vehicle's service records, oil change receipts, or annual inspection documents — they often include odometer readings. Dealership service records are another source. If you genuinely cannot reconstruct it, your tax professional can advise on how to estimate it and document that estimate.

What happens to my MileIQ data when I cancel?

You should download all your data before canceling. Most subscription apps retain your data for some period after cancellation, but policies vary and you should not rely on continued access. Download first, then cancel.

Does License to Deduct export in IRS-compliant format?

Yes. License to Deduct exports PDF and CSV mileage logs that include all IRS-required fields: date, destination, business purpose, and miles driven. The PDF format is suitable for sharing with a tax professional or attaching to records if you are audited.

The Bottom Line

Switching from MileIQ to License to Deduct takes about 10 minutes if you follow these steps in order. The key is to preserve your MileIQ data before you cancel, record your odometer at the transition point, and verify that automatic tracking is working before you walk away from your old app.

At $24.99 per year for Pro (versus MileIQ's $79.99), you will save $55 every year going forward — and with IRS Smart Sync, you get everything the IRS requires without your GPS data ever leaving your device. If you need full cloud backup of GPS routes, Pro Plus is $39.99 per year — still half the price of MileIQ.

Questions? Reach out to our support team at [email protected]. We're happy to help you through the migration.

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