How to Read the Car Odometer?
3 Answers
Start the engine, press and hold the top of the toggle lever on the right side of the steering wheel for more than 5 seconds, and the odometer will be displayed on the dashboard. The following is an introduction to the odometer: 1. Introduction: The speedometer indicates the speed of the car in km/h (kilometers per hour). The car odometer consists of two meters, one is the speedometer, and the other is the odometer. The car odometer is generally located directly in front of the driver's position. 2. Operation modes: The odometer has two operation modes: the total odometer and the trip odometer. The total odometer records and displays the total mileage of the vehicle, which is the distance traveled since the vehicle was put into use. The trip odometer shows the distance traveled since the last reset of the trip odometer. Press the instrument button briefly to switch between the displays of the two odometers.
As a new car owner, when I first learned how to read the odometer, it felt simple but a bit nerve-wracking. After getting in the car, start the engine first, and the dashboard lights up. Look for the most obvious digital display area, usually located next to the speedometer or tachometer. The total mileage is displayed as a sequence of five to seven digits, read from left to right. For example, if it shows 125670, it means the car has traveled 125,670 kilometers. Mechanical odometers have gears that rotate, and the numbers slowly roll; digital ones are more intuitive, flashing directly on the screen. A quick tip: it's best to check when the car is stationary in neutral or Park (P), just glance at it after starting the engine—the numbers might disappear after turning off the ignition. The odometer is crucial as it reminds you of maintenance intervals, like changing the oil every 5,000 kilometers, and helps avoid buying a tampered car in used car transactions. Over time, you'll get used to checking it regularly to ensure your vehicle runs healthily, so don’t wait until problems arise to regret it.
I've been driving for over a decade, and reading the odometer is second nature to me. I remember when I was younger, my first classic car had a mechanical odometer with rolling number wheels, requiring careful digit counting. Nowadays, most new cars feature digital displays that light up, allowing you to directly view the total mileage on the screen in the center of the instrument panel. The location varies by vehicle model—sedans usually have it right in front of the steering wheel, while SUVs might place it on the right side of the dashboard. It's important to distinguish between the total mileage and the trip mileage, the latter being used for short-distance counting, such as resetting after refueling to track fuel consumption. In practice, all you need to do is turn the key to start the car and take a quick glance—just don't get distracted while driving. Fellow drivers often use it to estimate maintenance intervals, like replacing brake discs at 100,000 kilometers, or calculating average fuel consumption based on refueling amounts. Make it a habit to glance at it before driving each day to prevent small issues from turning into big problems.
