Estimated Odometer Logic Explained
Steer estimates a vehicle’s current odometer value to enable precise, vehicle-specific maintenance reminders. The estimation adapts based on the amount and quality of data available.
This guide explains how Steer uses values to calculate the odometer estimate, depending on the vehicle data we have.
Click the examples below to view calculations for different scenarios:
- Vehicle with 2+ Invoices
- Vehicle with 1 Invoice
- New Vehicle — No Known Odometer
- Vehicle with New Invoice Showing 0 Odometer
Each use case uses a different combination of usage classification, projection, and actual data to maximize accuracy.
Example: Vehicle with 2+ Invoices
Type: Actual Pattern + Classification
How it works:
- Calculate the actual daily rate between the two most recent invoice odometer readings.
- Classify the vehicle into a usage category based on this rate.
- Use the actual pattern, along with the category’s standard daily rate, for future projections.
Formula:
Step 1: Actual Daily Rate = (Recent Odometer – Previous Odometer) ÷ Days Between Invoices
Step 2: Classify the vehicle into a usage category based on the actual daily rate
Step 3: Estimated Odometer = Most Recent Odometer + (Days Since Last Invoice × Category Daily Rate)
Example:
Vehicle: Honda 2022
Previous invoice: July 1, 2023, odometer 20,000 miles
Recent invoice: January 1, 2024, odometer 25,000 miles
Days between invoices = 184 days
Actual Daily Rate = (25,000 – 20,000) ÷ 184 ≈ 27.17 miles/day → Classified as Normal Usage (33 miles/day for estimate)
Days since last invoice to today (August 20, 2025) = 596 days
Estimated Odometer = 25,000 + (596 × 33) = 25,000 + 19,668 = 44,668 miles
Example: Vehicle with 1 Invoice
Type: Classification + Projection
How it works:
- Calculate the actual daily mileage rate from the invoice odometer and days elapsed since July 2nd.
- Classify the vehicle into a usage category based on this rate.
- Use this category’s standard daily rate for future estimates.
Formula:
Step 1: Actual Daily Rate = (Invoice Odometer – 0) ÷ Days Since July 2nd
Step 2: Estimated Odometer = Invoice Odometer + (Days Since Invoice × Category Daily Rate)
Example:
Vehicle: Honda 2022
Invoice date: January 15, 2024
Invoice odometer: 15,000 miles
Days since July 2, 2022 to invoice date = 562 days
Actual Daily Rate = 15,000 ÷ 562 ≈ 26.7 miles/day → Classified as Normal Usage (33 miles/day for estimate)
Days since invoice to today (August 20, 2025) = 583 days
Estimated Odometer = 15,000 + (583 × 33) = 15,000 + 19,239 = 34,239 miles
Example: New Vehicle — No Known Odometer
Type: Usage-Based Estimate
How it works:
- Determine the vehicle usage category based on driver habits (e.g., Low, Moderate, Normal, High, Very High).
- Use the vehicle’s midpoint year (July 2nd) as a reference point.
- Calculate the days elapsed since July 2 to today.
- Multiply days by the standard daily rate for the usage category.
Estimated Odometer = Days Since July 2nd × Daily Rate for Usage Category
Example:
Vehicle: Honda 2022, assumed Normal Usage (33 miles/day)
Date today: August 20, 2025
Days since July 2, 2022 = 1164 days
Estimated Odometer = 1164 × 33 = 38,412 miles
Note: All vehicles start in the Normal Usage category by default; this setting can be customized by either the tenant or the vehicle.
Example: Vehicle with New Invoice Showing 0 Odometer - Unusual Values
Type: Unusual Values
How it Works:
- Skip new invoices where the odometer reading is zero (invalid/outlier).
- Do not reset or alter the vehicle odometer history or estimate based on this information.
- Continue using the last valid odometer value and established usage category.
Example:
Vehicle: Honda 2022
Last valid odometer (January 1, 2024 invoice): 25,000 miles
New invoice (August 10, 2025) reports odometer = 0 → Ignored
Estimate continues from the last valid value of 25,000 plus projected usage according to the established category.
Summary
Steer predicts Odometer for vehicles using intelligent, layered logic tailored to the amount and quality of data to produce highly accurate, vehicle-specific odometer estimates. This continuous improvement, as new invoice data arrives, enables smarter and more precise maintenance reminder campaigns.