Question: My insurance company is asking for a recent odometer reading. How do you read your car mileage?
Answer:
To check car mileage on an older vehicle, look at the numbers on the small display on your dashboard called the odometer. That number shows the total miles the car has driven.
To check mileage on cars with digital dashboard displays, find the odometer in the digital gauge cluster or info screen.
Checking mileage on older vehicles
To check car mileage on an older vehicle, locate the odometer on your dashboard. It’s usually analog, meaning the odometer has mechanical numbers that rotate as you drive.
Steps:
- Locate the odometer: It’s usually situated near or within the speedometer.
- Read the numbers: Look at the row of numbers. This is your car’s total mileage.
- Note the decimal: Older odometers may show one decimal place, indicating tenths of a mile.
Checking mileage on newer vehicles
For newer vehicles with digital dashboards, the odometer is part of the digital gauge cluster or information screen. The mileage display is usually bright and easy to read.
Steps:
- Turn on the ignition: Start your car or turn the ignition to the accessory position.
- Locate the digital display: Look for the digital screen that shows various vehicle information.
- Find the odometer reading: The total mileage is displayed on this screen, often labeled as “ODO” or “Mileage.”
Using the trip meter
Most vehicles come equipped with a trip meter, which can be reset to measure the distance traveled during a specific trip. This is useful for tracking the distance of a journey or calculating fuel efficiency.
Steps:
- Locate the trip meter: This is often a smaller set of numbers near the main odometer. There may be two trip meters, labeled as “Trip A” and “Trip B.”
- Read the trip distance: The trip meter shows the number of miles driven since it was last reset.
- Reset the trip meter:
- Find the reset button, usually labeled Trip or Reset.
- Press and hold the button until the trip meter resets to zero.
Additional tips for checking mileage
- Regularly monitor your mileage: Keeping track of your car’s mileage can help with maintenance schedules and fuel efficiency monitoring.
- Use an OBD-II scanner: For a more detailed mileage report and other diagnostics, you can use an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II) scanner. This device plugs into your car’s diagnostic port and provides various data points, including mileage.
- Consider car maintenance apps: Many modern vehicles and smartphones have apps that sync with your car’s computer system, offering mileage tracking and maintenance reminders.
Understanding the importance of mileage
Knowing your car’s mileage is crucial for several reasons:
- Maintenance: Most car maintenance schedules are based on mileage. Regularly checking your odometer helps you stay on top of oil changes, tire rotations, and other essential services.
- Resale value: A car’s mileage is a key factor in its resale value. Lower mileage usually indicates less wear and tear, making the vehicle more attractive to buyers.
- Fuel efficiency: Tracking mileage can help with monitoring your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. If you notice a sudden drop in miles per gallon (MPG), it could indicate an underlying problem that needs addressing.
Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car. Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.
Everett Cook is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 10 years of experience across a variety of industries. In editing for Jerry, Everett’s mission is to help readers have a better understanding of the costs of owning or leasing a car and to better understand their vehicle in terms of insurance and repairs. Prior to joining Jerry, Everett was an editor for Axios. His previous work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Atlantic, Atlantic Re:think, The Boston Globe, USA Today, and others. He’s also been a freelance writer and editor with experience in SEO, audience building, and long-term content roadmaps. Everett is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
