A shift indicator system for a vehicle comprises an engine speed sensor, an engine speed comparator for comparing the engine speed detected by the engine speed sensor with a preset value, an indicator which provides an indication for directing upshifting when the engine speed is not lower than the preset value, a delay circuit which inhibits the indicator from providing the indication for directing upshifting until the engine speed continues to be not lower than the preset value for a predetermined time interval, an engine speed increasing rate detector for detecting the rate of increase of the engine speed, an engine load increasing rate detector for detecting the rate of increase of the engine load, and a delay time setting circuit which receives the outputs of the engine speed increasing rate detector and the engine load increasing rate detector, and makes the predetermined time interval shorter as the engine speed increasing rate increases and longer as the engine load increasing rate increases.