According to a method for initializing an indicating instrument for a vehicle, zero-reset processing is performed. In the zero-reset processing, a control device is made to control a drive signal to rotate a pointer in a zero-reset direction in order to force a step motor to lose synchronization. Furthermore, synchronization loss detection processing is performed. In the detection processing, a physical phenomenon generated in a rotary drive system due to forcible synchronization loss of the motor during the zero-reset processing, is detected. Then, an electrical angle of the drive signal at a time of detection of the phenomenon is selected as a synchronization loss electrical angle. Finally, zero point setting processing is performed. In the setting processing, the electrical angle phase-shifted from the synchronization loss electrical angle in an indication value increasing direction by 180 degrees or less, is set as a zero point stored in the control device.