# Record Expenses (https://docs.carlio.app/docs/expenses/record-an-expense)

Add a cost paid by the dealership to the ledger from the Expenses page



Recording an expense adds one ledger entry with the direction money out.

## Requirements [#requirements]

The permission **Record Payments & Costs** is required. The **New Expense** button does not appear without it.

## Steps [#steps]

1. Open **[Expenses](https://carlio.app/dashboard/finance/expenses)** in the **Finance** group of the sidebar.
2. Select **New Expense**. The **Record Transaction** dialog opens. The dialog has no direction switch, because every entry on this page is money out.
3. Enter the **Amount**. Select a currency in the field when the cost was paid in another currency.
4. Select the **Category**. The default is **Other Expense**.
5. Select **More** to open the optional fields.
6. Set the **Date**. The default is today. A date in the future cannot be selected.
7. Select the **Method**.
8. Enter a **Reference** such as an invoice number, and a **Note**.
9. Select **Record**.

![The Record Transaction dialog opened from New Expense, with an amount of 480 and the category Other Expense.](https://storage.carlio.app/public/docs/f19fef5c-f222-4078-8572-90c139b4a29e.webp)

The dashboard shows the toast **Amount out recorded**. The entry appears in the table and in the totals when its date falls inside the reporting period.

## Category default [#category-default]

When exactly one category is ticked in the category filter, the dialog opens on that category. With none or several ticked, it opens on **Other Expense**.

## Link an expense to a car [#link-an-expense-to-a-car]

Under **More**, the **Vehicle (Optional)** field links the cost to a car. The cost then counts toward the profit of that car.

The field appears only for Direct Costs categories. Rent, Salary, Utilities, Marketing, Tax & Licensing, Software & Subscriptions and Other Expense belong to the business and never link to a car.

## Notes [#notes]

* An entry of money in is recorded on the Transactions page.
* Foreign currency amounts follow the rules in the guide on foreign currency transactions.
* Files can be attached under **More**. The limits are three files, 10 MB each, in JPEG, PNG, WebP or PDF format. A team member without the edit permission for transactions sees a note in place of the attachment area.
* An amount must be greater than zero. Otherwise the dashboard shows **Enter An Amount.**