The object of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus for a vehicle in which luminance of the display pattern of letters, graduations, a pointer, and the like are increased without unevenness in the luminance but also the distance between a front face of a pointer plate and a rear face of the movement of the display apparatus is shortened. A circular pointer plate with a transmitting slit is disposed on front a portion of the display apparatus. An outer periphery of the pointer plate is toothed and is engaged with a driving gear fixed to a driving shaft of the movement to be directly driven by the movement. A dial is disposed on a back face of the pointer plate. A portion where the dial overlaps the pointer plate, and other portion for graduations and the like which surrounds the portion are formed as light transmitting portion, but, other portions are formed as light intercepting portion. Behind the pointer plate is installed a discharge lamp with a reflector.