An odometer measures the total distance traveled by a vehicle since it was first used. It records the cumulative mileage of the vehicle and is typically displayed on the dashboard

. There are two main types of odometers:

• Mechanical odometers use a series of gears driven by the rotation of the vehicle's wheels to turn numbered drums that display the total distance traveled

• Digital odometers use electronic sensors to detect wheel rotations and a computer chip to calculate and display the mileage digitally. The data is often stored in the vehicle’s engine control module (ECM)

Unlike trip meters, which can be reset to measure distance over a specific trip, the odometer continuously accumulates distance and cannot be reset without committing fraud

. In summary, the odometer is an instrument that measures and displays the total distance a vehicle has traveled over its lifetime, providing important information for maintenance, resale value, and legal records.