18 May 2026
Mileage logs that survive an application audit
Odometer readings, route notes, and why a map screenshot alone rarely satisfies a careful reviewer.
Personal-car mileage still appears on many travel expense applications for site visits outside Seoul. The amounts are often modest; the documentation is often thin.
Minimum viable log
A defensible mileage line usually includes:
- Start and end odometer readings (photo or handwritten log signed by the traveler)
- Date and destination address or site name
- Business purpose tied to a meeting or work order
- The rate per kilometer from the policy appendix in force that month
Why map screenshots fall short
A map printout shows a possible route, not that the trip occurred. Without odometer evidence or a contemporaneous log, auditors treat the line as unsupported — even when the destination is plausible.
Shared vehicles and pool cars
When several staff share a pool car, applications sometimes copy the same mileage block. We look for overlapping timestamps and identical start/end readings across travelers. Duplicates are listed for the finance lead rather than assigned blame in the findings pack.
Small amounts, same standard
Low won amounts do not lower the documentation bar if your policy requires a log. Consistency across claims matters more than the size of any single line.