Car maintenance tracker
A car maintenance tracker is the record of every service, repair and fill-up a vehicle has had. Use the blank maintenance log template below to start one on paper today, or track maintenance tasks digitally in a free VehicleIQ garage, where each job, part and cost is stored per vehicle and odometer-based reminders and running costs are worked out for you.
The blank log template
Copy these columns into a notebook or spreadsheet. Every row is one visit to the workshop or one job you did yourself.
| Column | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Date | Anchors the service to a point in time for warranty and resale proof. |
| Odometer reading | Service intervals are distance-based; without it you cannot tell what is due. |
| Work performed | Oil change, brake pads, timing belt — the actual line items, not just 'service'. |
| Parts and fluids used | Part numbers and oil spec matter when diagnosing a later fault. |
| Who did the work | Dealer, independent workshop or DIY — buyers and warranty claims ask. |
| Cost | Turns the log into a running cost record you can budget from. |
| Next due | The date or odometer reading that triggers the next visit. |
| Notes / receipt | Observations and proof of purchase in the same place as the entry. |
Print this page to get the template on paper.
Keeping the log in VehicleIQ instead
The same fields, kept per vehicle in your garage — plus the parts a paper log cannot do.
Service history per vehicle
Log each job with date, odometer, cost and notes. Every vehicle in your garage keeps its own history, so a second car or a bakkie does not muddle the first.
Fuel expense log
Record fill-ups with litres, price and odometer. VehicleIQ works out consumption and cost per kilometre from the entries instead of you doing the arithmetic.
Reminders that watch the odometer
Set a service, licence or tyre reminder by date or distance and get told when it comes due — the one thing a glovebox notebook will never do.
Start from the VIN
Decode your VIN to fill in make, model and year before your first log entry. Try the free VIN lookup without an account.
Starting a log on a car you already own
- 1. Gather what you have. Old invoices, the service booklet, and any dates you remember. An incomplete history is still worth recording.
- 2. Write today's odometer down first. Every interval you set from here counts from a known number.
- 3. Backfill the last major services. Oil, brakes, timing belt and tyres are the ones buyers and workshops ask about.
- 4. Set the next due dates. Check your maintenance schedule guide for typical intervals, then confirm against the manufacturer handbook for your model.
- 5. Log every fill-up from now on. Fuel entries are what make the running cost picture real rather than estimated.
Common questions
- What should a car maintenance log include?
- At minimum: date, odometer reading, the work performed, parts and fluids used, who did the work, the cost, and when the next service is due. Attach or reference the invoice so the entry is verifiable.
- How long should I keep maintenance records?
- Keep them for as long as you own the vehicle, and hand them to the buyer when you sell. A continuous record is what turns a claim of 'full service history' into something a buyer can check.
- Is a digital maintenance log better than a paper one?
- A paper log works, but it cannot remind you, it cannot be searched, and it is lost with the glovebox. A digital log keeps the same fields, adds reminders based on date or odometer, and stays with your account across vehicles.
- Is VehicleIQ's maintenance log free?
- Yes — you can create a free garage, add a vehicle and start logging service and fuel entries without paying. See the pricing page for what the paid plans add.
Keep your maintenance log where it cannot get lost
Add a vehicle, log services and fuel, and get reminders when the next one is due — free to start.