Odometer: meaning and examples
An odometer is the instrument that shows the total distance a vehicle has travelled, in kilometres or miles. Services, warranties and resale value are usually tied to the odometer reading.
How it works
The odometer shows the total distance a vehicle has travelled since it was built. It sits in the instrument cluster as a mechanical or digital counter, in kilometres or miles depending on the market. Many vehicles also have a trip meter, which can be reset and only counts one journey.
Services, warranty terms and part replacement are usually tied to the odometer, so it is the reading to write down each time you service a car, van, truck or bike.
Distance intervals in a maker's manual
Toyota's 2023 US Corolla guide asks for oil and filter every 10,000 miles or 12 months with the right oil, and a tyre rotation every 5,000 miles or 6 months. Yamaha's 2021 MT-07 schedule has the first oil change at 1,000 km and then every 10,000 km or once a year. Both are summarised from the maker's manual on our schedule pages.
How to track it in Loggy
Each log and inspection records the odometer reading at the time. You choose kilometres or miles for each vehicle when you add it.
- Add the vehicle and choose kilometres or miles.
- Enter the odometer reading on every log and inspection, so each job has a distance next to it.
- Set a date reminder for the next service, based on how far you usually drive in a month.
Loggy is a free maintenance logbook app for iOS and Android. The free plan has unlimited vehicles, reminders, PDF export and vehicle transfer, and no ads.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an odometer and a trip meter?
The odometer is the lifetime total and cannot normally be reset. A trip meter counts one journey and can be reset.
Does Loggy remind me by distance?
No. Loggy reminders go off on a date. Pick the date from how far you drive.
What if the odometer stops working?
Have it repaired and write a note in the log with the last good reading and the new one.