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Lugnut user guide
Everything you can do in Lugnut, step by step. Can't find an answer? See Support or email the developer.
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Getting started
- Agree to the terms. The first time Lugnut opens, it shows a short summary of the Terms of Use. Lugnut is a record-keeper, not a mechanic: your owner's manual and a qualified technician come first.
- Choose your country and language. Your country sets the recall source, the tax options on receipts, the currency, the temperature scale and the usual units for new vehicles. You can change both later in Settings.
- Add a vehicle. Enter the make, model and year, or tap the list button beside Model to choose from the official model list. Add the VIN by typing it or taking a photo of it, then tap Look Up VIN to fill in the factory details from NHTSA's free decoder.
- Enter the odometer and choose kilometres or miles for that vehicle.
The vehicle's dashboard shows the odometer, the next service due, and four quick actions: Scan Receipt, Service, Fill-Up (or Charge for an EV) and Odometer.
Logging a service
Tap Service on the dashboard. Describe what was done, or tap the list button to pick common services such as an oil change or brake fluid. Set the date and odometer, and the shop, or turn on I did it myself.
Under Parts & Labour, add each part, labour, fluid or fee. The subtotal follows the items, and each tax line follows the subtotal. Without items, type the subtotal and total directly.
Warranty work: turn on Covered by Warranty in the Cost section and enter the deductible, if any. The work stays in your history, but only the deductible counts toward spending.
Under Reset Reminders, the reminders this service covers are already selected. Saving restarts them from this date and odometer.
Scanning receipts
- Tap Scan Receipt. On iPhone, the camera finds the page edges for you; you can also choose a photo or a PDF. On Mac, drag a file onto the window.
- For a multi-page invoice, scan every page in one go. The totals are usually on the last page.
- Check the review screen. Fields Lugnut wasn't sure about are highlighted. Edit any item, tax or date, then save.
Fuel and charging receipts are recognized automatically and saved as fill-ups. To read the receipts attached to a service again, open the service, tap Edit, then Read Details from Receipt. To see exactly what was read, open a receipt and choose Show Scanned Text.
Reminders
Open Reminders from the dashboard. Add Common Reminders offers typical services with starting intervals; adjust each one to your owner's manual. A reminder can be by distance, by time, or whichever comes first.
Lugnut estimates the due date from how far you actually drive, and sends a notification two weeks before and on the day. From the notification you can mark it done or snooze it. The Due Soon window is set in Settings. See our car maintenance schedule for typical intervals.
Odometer
Tap Odometer on the dashboard to update the reading. With Siri, say "Lugnut odometer" and speak the number. If you use an OBD adapter with automatic checks, Lugnut can update the odometer itself on cars that report it.
Fuel and charging
Tap Fill-Up or Charge. Enter any two of amount, price per litre (or gallon) and total, and Lugnut works out the third. Fuel economy is measured from one full tank to the next; if you skipped logging a fill-up, turn on the missed fill-up option so the next figure isn't skewed.
Costs
The Costs screen shows monthly spending by category, cost per kilometre or mile, and totals. Use Add Other Cost for insurance, registration, loan or lease payments, parking, tolls and washes. Repeating costs add themselves on their due date.
Documents and specs
In Documents, tap Add Document to keep registration, insurance, warranty booklets, manuals and wiring diagrams with the vehicle. Set an expiry date to get a reminder. The Specs card holds the oil specification and capacity, filter and plug part numbers, sizes, torque values and paint code.
Tires
Use Add Tire Set for each set (for example summer and winter), with sizes, the DOT date code and where it's stored. Add Tread Reading records depth at each corner. When you change sets, use Swap Tires: the swap is logged and the seasonal reminder restarts.
With Lugnut Pro, seasonal tire advice uses the 6 a.m. forecast for a city you choose (Add Your City for the 6 a.m. Forecast), your province's or state's tire laws and your insurer's dates to say when to swap. See winter tire laws in Canada.
Recalls and vehicle info
Recalls & Vehicle Info lists recalls for your vehicle's make, model and year, from Transport Canada or NHTSA depending on your country, and checks again once a week. Mark a recall done once it's been repaired. Whether a recall applies to your specific vehicle depends on the VIN; a dealer can confirm.
Warranties (Lugnut Pro)
Open Warranties and tap Add Warranties. Typical factory coverage is offered for recent model years, and you can add extended warranties. Coverage is tracked by date and distance, whichever ends first, with an alert 60 days before it ends. Your warranty booklet or contract is what counts.
OBD2 diagnostics (Lugnut Pro)
- Plug a Bluetooth LE OBD-II adapter (for example Vgate iCar Pro BLE or Veepeak BLE) into the port under the dashboard, and turn the ignition on.
- Open the vehicle's Diagnostics page and tap Connect Adapter. Allow Bluetooth when asked.
- Run a check to read trouble codes, readiness monitors and battery voltage. Turn on automatic checks to have Lugnut check each time the car starts.
You can also import a scan tool's report (a PDF or photo) or CSV logs from other OBD apps, or choose a folder those apps sync to. Never set up or use the app while driving. More about OBD2 diagnostics.
Backup, export and new devices
Settings → Backup & Import → Back Up Everything… saves one file with every vehicle, record, photo and document. Keep it in Files, iCloud Drive or on a Mac. On a new device, install Lugnut and choose Restore From Backup….
From a vehicle's Export screen you can save CSV files, and with Lugnut Pro a printable service history PDF. Pro also adds Import From Another App… for logs from Fuelly, Drivvo, Fuelio, Simply Auto, aCar, Road Trip MPG, LubeLogger or a spreadsheet, and service history from a PDF or photo.
Lugnut Pro
The free version includes one vehicle with all its records, receipt scanning, reminders, recalls, fuel, costs, documents, tire sets, CSV export and backups. Lugnut Pro adds unlimited vehicles, OBD2 diagnostics, seasonal tire advice, warranty tracking, the service history PDF and imports. It's CA$2.99 a month or CA$19.99 a year in Canada, with one month free for new subscribers, and it works with Family Sharing.
Manage or cancel it in Settings → Subscription. If Pro ends, nothing is deleted; extra vehicles stay viewable and exportable.
Settings
- Language: English, French or Spanish, or follow the device.
- Region: country, currency, recall source, receipt taxes and default units.
- Appearance: light, dark or system, and seven colour themes. On iPhone the app icon can match the theme.
- Notifications and the Due Soon window for reminders.
- Help & Feedback: Contact the Developer sends an email with your device and app version filled in.