The automotive world is full of unusual technical terms that can leave many of us lost in translation. This includes a great deal of acronyms ranging from ABS to VIN. While these are mostly used by petrolheads, others can be quite important to know if you’re a regular car owner shopping for a new vehicle or trying to diagnose faults. We’ve rounded up 20 examples below and what they mean so that you can start speaking car, too.
photo cred: Pixabay. CCO Licensed
1. ABS - Anti-Lock Brakes
A safety feature all modern cars have to stop them from skidding when braking.
2. AEB - Autonomous Emergency Braking
Another safety system that uses sensors to detect potential collisions, automatically causing the car to come to an emergency stop.
3. AWD - All Wheel Drive
In AWD cars, the engine powers all four wheels at the same time for extra stability.
4. BSW - Blind Spot Warning
A safety system that alerts drivers when a vehicle or pedestrian is in the blind spot by flashing a light on the wing mirror or making a noise.
5. DMV - Department of Motor Vehicles
This is the US government agency responsible for issuing all licenses and vehicle registration plates.
6. ECU - Electronic Control Unit
The ECU is the car’s main computer - often referred to as the ‘brain’ of the vehicle.
7. EV - Electronic Vehicle
Any car that can run on electricity instead of petrol or diesel is classed as an EV (vehicles known as ‘hybrids’ can run off petrol or electricity and are sometimes known as PHEVs - which stands for ‘plug-in hybrid electric cars’).
8. FWD - Front Wheel Drive
In FWD cars, the engine powers only the front wheels for better fuel efficiency.
9. HP - Horsepower
This is a unit used to describe how powerful the engine is. ‘HP’ can also stand for ‘Hire Purchase’ - a common type of car finance.
10. ICE - Internal Combustion Engine
A traditional vehicle powered by petrol or diesel might be referred to as an ‘ICE car’ to distinguish it from an EV.
11. LKA - Lane Keeping Assist
A safety feature that keeps the vehicle in its lane with the aim of preventing people drifting into other lanes on highways when tired.
12. MPG - Miles Per Gallon
A fuel efficiency measurement used to indicate how many miles a car can travel on a single gallon of petrol or diesel.
13. MPV - Multi Purpose Vehicle
Another term for a ‘people carrier’, an MPV typically has more seats and interior space than a regular car.
14. OBD - On Board Diagnostics
A computer built into modern cars that can be used by repair technicians to diagnose faults.
15. PCP - Personal Contract Purchase
A type of car finance in which a person pays a smaller monthly payment. At the end of the term, you either return the car or pay a single large ‘balloon payment’ to keep it.
16. PPF - Paint Protection Film
A protective film that is added to your car paint to prevent scratches. It’s typically installed by professional PPF services.
17. RWD - Rear Wheel Drive
In RWD cars, the engine powers only the back wheels for added acceleration.
18. SUV - Sports Utility Vehicle
A popular type of car with a higher driver position that combines family car features and off-road car features.
19. TPMS - Tire Pressure Monitoring System
A safety feature in modern cars that monitors air pressure inside tyres to ensure optimum performance.
20. VIN - Vehicle Identification Number
A 17-character alphanumeric code used to identify every individual vehicle. You can find it printed on the car or in title documentation.
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