A method for checking a total distance travelled by a motor vehicle and displaying the total distance in the motor vehicle includes: detecting a change in a component of a control device of the motor vehicle, change in the component being irreversible and taking place over a time period; assigning the magnitude and/or type of the change in the component to a comparison distance, related to the time period, travelled by the motor vehicle; comparing a distance detected by an odometer of the motor vehicle during the time period with the comparison distance; and an operator of the motor vehicle retrieving a result of the comparison or the operator receiving an automatic transmission of the result of the comparison.