Glossary of Car Terminology

Car terminology can be confusing and even the most seasoned motorist can be left baffled. Whether you’re booking a car in for its annual service, searching for a new or used car, or simply want to renew your car insurance, it may well result in you Googling some of the automotive terms thrown in your direction.

But, fear not! Here at Wilsons Epsom, we are on hand to help. As one of the oldest and largest new car and used car dealerships in the South of England, we pride ourselves on our years of experience as a trusted car supermarket, by many thousands of customers. 

Our experienced and helpful team have shared their wisdom, which we’ve compiled into this handy A to Z guide of car terminology. From MPV to VED, we hope our glossary of car terms by category, leaves you feeling a little less confused and all the more educated. Read on to find out more…

Car types terminology

Cabriolet

A Cabriolet is an alternative term used for a convertible car. These are vehicles that are fitted with a folding roof - making it an ‘open top’ - that can be manually or electronically operated. 

Coupé

Typically, a coupé car is one that has two doors and a fixed roof, often characterised by a lower height and sporty-looking shape. 

Crossover

A crossover car is larger than a standard size hatchback, but small than an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle).

EV = Electric Vehicle

To be a truly 100% electric vehicle, the car must have zero emissions and be powered by electricity only. 

FCEV = Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

Unlike EVs, FCEVs are powered by hydrogen.

Hybrid

A hybrid car combines the power of a standard combustion engine with one or more electric motors.

LREV = Long Range Electric Vehicle

Sometimes also referred to as an EREV (Extended Range Electric Vehicle), electric cars are now being built to go even further on a single charge.

MPV - Multi-Purpose Vehicle

An MPV is designed to carry over five passengers and is usually fitted with a third row of seats. Some MPVs have sliding side doors for easy loading of passengers or luggage.

PHEV = Plug-in Hybrid Electric vehicle

PHEV cars use both fuel and electric power, where the weighting of electricity is greater than the reliance of fuel.  

Supermini

A car that is small and compact, while also being cheap to run.   

SUV = Sports Utility Vehicle

Larger in size than a hatchback and crossover, an SUV is higher off the ground, with ample room for passengers and luggage.

General car terminology 

AdBlue

Drivers of diesel cars will be all too familiar with this one. AdBlue is a liquid which is manually added to diesel cars, to help reduce the amount of harmful gases emitted from the exhaust pipe.

CO2 emissions

Emitted from the exhaust of a car, CO2 refers to the gas carbon dioxide which is a result of a vehicle’s engine burning fuel. 

Cut and shut

Commonplace on the secondhand car market, cut and shut cars are those that combine two previously damaged cars to form one vehicle. This is an illegal practice.

HPI Check = Hire Purchase Investigation Check

An HPI checks the background of a used vehicle if you want to buy it, and provides information about its history.

List price

The list price is the cost of the car from new at purchase, before it is driven off the forecourt. 

MPG = Miles Per Gallon

MPG is a term used to describe how many miles a car can travel per gallon of fuel it uses. 

PX = Part Exchange

A means of selling your car by using the value of the vehicle against the purchase of a new car - hence the phrase ‘part exchange’.

SORN = Statutory Off Road Notification

If a car is no longer in use, it must be registered as SORN to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) to prove it doesn’t need road tax anymore.  

Car manufacturer terminology

Euro NCAP = European New Car Assessment Programme

Introduced across the UK and Europe in 1997, Euro NCAP provides consumers with information based on the safety of new cars by using a five-star system.

Kerb weight

The kerb weight of a car is the total weight of the vehicle with fuel, oil and water inside, but without the additional weight of passengers or cargo. 

Marque

A marque simply refers to the make - or brand - of a vehicle, such as Fiat or Renault. 

Platform sharing

Platform sharing is when different car manufacturers use the same elements within one or more of its models.

Range

Range refers to the distance a vehicle can travel with a full tank of fuel or a full charge if it’s an EV.  

Torque

Pronounced ‘tork’, a car’s torque is a measure of force which relates to how much ‘pulling power’ an engine generates. 

Trim

The trim of a car refers to the specification of a particular model, which identifies it as different to others in the range.

VIN = Vehicle Identification Number

Every car has a unique VIN at time of manufacture, in order to identify it from others. 

Wheelbase

The wheelbase of a vehicle is the distance measured between the centre point of the front wheels and the centre point of the back wheels.  

Car technology terminology

4WD = Four Wheel Drive

A 4x4 car or truck is powered by 4WD technology that powers all four wheels equally. Particularly useful for tough terrain and difficult driving conditions. 

ABS = Anti-lock Braking System

When a vehicle has ABS, the technology allows it to maintain steering control when the brakes are applied in slippery conditions. This prevents the wheels from locking up which can cause skidding. 

ACC = Adaptive Cruise Control

ACC is a more advanced version of standard cruise control, where the car automatically adjusts its speed to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

AEB = Autonomous Emergency Braking

To assist the driver in the event of a potential collision, an AEB safety system will detect that contact may be made with another vehicle, and audibly warn the driver, or automatically brake. 

AWD = All Wheel Drive

When faced with challenging driving conditions, such as heavy rain, AWD is a system that will automatically send power to all four wheels of your vehicle to assist the driver.

Cross-traffic alert

By using sensors around the car to monitor its environment, cross-traffic alert technology will identify any passing traffic which may be in a driver’s blindspot. This is particularly useful when pulling out of parking spaces with poor visibility.  

Cruise Control

A very clever system designed to assist the driver, cruise control enables you to set the speed of a vehicle which the car will maintain. This is especially useful for motorway driving.

Electronic parking brake/automatic handbrake

Designed for driver assistance - especially when stationary and/or on a hill - an electronic parking brake holds the vehicle in place, and an electronic automatic handbrake means you can pull away without the risk of the car rolling backwards at all.   

ESC = Electronic Stability Control

ESC is a driving aid that automatically controls the engine power of your car, applying the brakes if it detects a loss of traction in the wheels.

GPS = Global Positioning System

Many new cars are now fitted with GPS navigation designed to monitor the location of your car, allowing it to be tracked.  

HP = Horse Power and BHP - Brake Horse Power

A unit of power used to measure a car’s power output, or braking ability. 

HUD = Head Up Display

To increase driver safety, an HUD system projects important vehicle information (such as speed) onto the windscreen, which can be seen just below the driver’s natural line of sight, without impairing their vision.

LED = Light Emitting Diode

New cars are fitted with LED headlamps which glow when the voltage is powered, so gone are the days of changing and fitting fiddly bulbs.

MirrorLink

A system that cleverly allows you to share elements of your smartphone’s functions in your car, MirrorLink will quite literally ‘mirror’ what’s on your phone to the infotainment screen.

RWD - Rear Wheel Drive

Rear wheel drive vehicles are so called because the power from the engine is sent to the rear wheels only. 

Virtual Cockpit

A Virtual Cockpit is a thin-film screen which is positioned behind the driver’s steering wheel, where the speedometer and fuel gauge is usually found. Displaying information, such as sat nav maps, information is more easily viewed while driving. 

Xenon headlights

Also known as HID headlights (High Intensity Discharge headlights), Xenon headlights are even brighter than standard halogen bulbs, featuring a whiter beam for better night vision.  

Car servicing terminology

Dampers

Also known as ‘shock absorbers’, dampers are found in the car’s suspension system and work by taking the impact of a vehicle’s up and down movement. Effectively, they are in place to 'dampen' down the movement of the car.

FSH = Full Service History

When buying or selling a second-hand car, a vehicle should be advertised with an FSH detailing repairs and maintenance throughout the vehicle’s life. 

MOT = Ministry of Transport 

An MOT is a means of determining if a car is safe to drive on the roads and is a mandatory requirement for all vehicle’s aged three years and over.

Run-flat tyre

Designed to continue working for a short period of time after suffering a puncture, run-flat tyres buy enough time for a driver to make it to a safe destination or the nearest garage.

Car finance terminology

APR = Annual Percentage Rate

If you were to apply for car finance and borrow money from a lender, the APR is the standard rate of interest you’ll have to pay back on the loan, year on year. This rate may be fixed or flexible.

Balloon payment

A balloon payment is a lump sum amount of money owed to the lender at the end of a finance agreement. 

BCH = Business Contract Hire

BCH is a form of vehicle leasing that is designed exclusively for businesses. The contract enables you to hire a vehicle for a set period of time, without ever owning it.  

Deposit contribution

Many manufacturers offer financial contributions towards the price of a brand new car, to make the purchase more affordable. For example, some will offer an amount towards the deposit.

HP = Hire Purchase

HP is a form of vehicle finance which means you’ll pay a relatively low upfront deposit to ‘hire’ the car, followed by ongoing monthly payments for an agreed period of time. You’ll also have the option to purchase the car at the end of the contract. 

LP = Lease Purchase

An LP finance agreement means you will pay an initial upfront deposit for the vehicle, followed by monthly payments. At the end of the contract, you are expected to purchase the car with a final balloon payment.

PCH = Personal Contract Hire

PCH is a form of car leasing where you effectively ‘rent’ a car on a long-term basis for a fixed monthly fee. As the hiring party, you won’t be able to purchase the vehicle at the end of the contract. 

PCP = Personal Contract Purchase

PCP is a vehicle finance arrangement where you pay an initial upfront deposit, followed by monthly instalments. At the end of the term, you will be offered the opportunity to purchase the car.

Residual value

As residual value is the estimated value of a car several years down the line.   

In-car terminology

Black box telematics

Now a requirement for young or new drivers, a black box is a device fitted to your car which monitors the way you drive and collects data. Using telematics (a method of monitoring using GPS - global positioning system - technology), the data can then be used to demonstrate you are a safe and low-risk motorists to the likes of car insurance companies.  

Bluetooth

Fitted to almost all new vehicles, bluetooth is a way of connecting your mobile phone to your in-car entertainment system in order to access apps such as Google Maps and Spotify. 

CVT = Continuously Variable Transmission

CVT is a simple alternative to an automatic gearbox. As a single-speed gearbox, they provide many more benefits and are more efficient than standard automatic transmissions. 

DAB = Digital Audio Broadcasting

Designed to improve the sound offered by an FM radio, DAB is a form of radio broadcast which relies on a digital signal - much like a digital TV.  

DSG = Direct Shift Gearbox

Developed by the Volkswagen Group, DSG is a form of automatic gearbox that was designed to use two clutches in order to change gear more rapidly. These usually come in the form of ‘paddles’ on the steering wheel. 

DTE = Distance To Empty

Most likely visible on a car’s ‘trip’ computer (which you’ll find in the menu on the digital dashboard) the DTE will show the remaining range - or miles left in the tank. This may be shown in miles or kilometres and is relevant to petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric cars.

Immobiliser

Designed to reduce car thefts, an immobiliser is an electronic device fitted within a vehicle. It works by preventing the engine from being turned on, unless the correct key is used. 

Isofix

An Isofix is a genius piece of equipment that allows a child’s car seat to be attached directly to the seat of a car, rather than just securing it with a seatbelt.

Car insurance terminology

Written-off

A car is deemed written-off by an insurance company if it has been involved in an accident or collisions resulting in the vehicle costing more to fix, than its overall value during the time of the incident. 

Car tax terminology

BIK = Benefit-in-Kind

A tax imposed on employees of businesses who receive perks such as a company car, BIK is a mandatory contribution that is calculated based on a person’s annual salary. 

VED = Vehicle Excise Duty

VED is more commonly referred to as car tax or road tax, and is a mandatory cost for any road-worthy vehicle.  

Road terminology

All lane running motorway

An ‘all lane running’ motorway is when the hard shoulder becomes a full working lane for a set period of time, meaning that vehicles are prohibited from stopping.

Controlled motorway

A controlled motorway is one that is subject to controlled schemes, such as lane control, speed control, with rolling signage of varying speed limits and lane restrictions.

Smart motorway

A bone of contention among many UK motorists, a smart motorway (also called an ‘actively managed motorway’) is one that uses an intelligence system in order to regulate the flow of traffic and ease congestion.

Dynamic hard shoulder

A hard shoulder on a motorway is referred to as a ‘dynamic hard shoulder’ when it is temporarily used as an extra lane.  

Are there any car terms you’d like to see featured? If there are any automotive words or phrases you’d like to see added to the list, simply drop us a message and we’ll be happy to include it.