30 Basic Car Body Parts Names and Their Function

Just like a human body operates with different body parts, a car has its distinctive parts that, when brought together, complete a car.

Have you ever looked at the engine of your car and wondered what the names of car parts were? In this article, we will dive into different car body parts and learn their name along with their functions.

Car Body Parts Names List

The following are the main parts of the car body:

Car Body Parts Diagram

The Parts of Car Body

The Body Parts of a car include:

#1. Body Shell.

The Body of the car is the main part of the motor vehicle that normally sits on the Chassis and hosts the engine, mechanical, electrical systems, seats, etc.

Bodyshells are known as the outer part of the body of the Automobile without windows, doors, internal fittings, and mechanical parts, which are south and north of the body.

#2. Hood/Bonnet.

Another Name for the Car Hood is bonnet in some nations. A car hood is the hinged cover in front of the car, which is over the engine of the front area vehicle.

Enables access to the car’s engine and other components so proper repairs and maintenance can be done, saves from harsher conditions, and protects the engine and other parts.

The hoods of most cars are usually made of metal, and some have portions made of aluminum. Other types of car hoods, such as those in performance cars, can be custom-made from carbon fiber, fiberglass, or even dry carbon.

While on the road, the car hood is held in place by a concealed latching mechanism. The dash located beneath the steering wheel has a release button installed that allows access to the lock. Cars designed for racing or those with custom hoods may use stubborn exposed pins to hold the hood in place.

In American muscle cars, hoods have a power bulge or scoop that improves airflow into the engine and helps increase power.

#3. Front bumper.

Bumpers are protruding bars attached to the lower side of the car horizontally. aka frontal and rear guards. Front and rear bumpers help minimize damage to the car’s body.

While the front bumper is the primary shield of the car, its sides are also fortified with bumpers, which offer cushioning around the front and lower sides of the car.

#4. Rear Bumper.

The rear bumper of the vehicle is much alike the front. It maintains the position for the rear taillights. Every automobile has front and rear bumpers that absorb the impact of low-speed collisions. They also protect the trunk and exhaust systems from costly damage.

#5. Bonnet Grill.

The space between the headlights of a car contains a car grille. In addition to framing the engine compartment, it is often arranged in a mesh pattern.

There are different kinds of grilles, for example: main grilles, lower grilles, kidney grilles (only available on BMW vehicles), and fog grilles.

As car designs evolve, different vehicles will be released with new grille shapes. When buying a grille, you have to verify if it will fit your vehicle.

The primary purpose of the grille is to provide sufficient airflow to cool the car’s engine. While a vehicle is moving, air enters through the grille and aids in ventilation within the engine compartment.

The design of the grille can also determine how effectively the engine is cooled.

#6. Bullbars or crash guards.

Bull bars or crash guards are the metallic grid accessories placed on the front and rear of a car to protect it from damage during accidents.

#7. Headlight.

A headlamp is a lamp fitted on the front side of a motor vehicle for lighting the road in clearer detail.

In everyday conversations, headlamps are called headlights, but to be more technical, a headlamp is the device itself, while the beam produced and emitted by the device is referred to as a headlight.

#8. Fog Lamp.

Fog lamps are always placed lower than headlights and can aid visibility while driving through bad weather conditions like rain, mist, snow, or fog. Fog lamps cut through snow, rain, fog, or even dust.

#9. Signal Lights.

These are a set of lights mounted at both the rear and front sides of your car. When hit, each one of them blinks independently to let other drivers know of the directional intention of the car.

On a normal basis, controls for signal lights are located to the left of the steering wheel column, especially if it’s a right-hand drive car.

Modern vehicles are equipped with front and rear indicators as well as emergency beacons, which flash all signaling lights simultaneously for enhanced visibility of the automobile.

#10. Roof and Pillars.

The roof is the top section of your vehicle, which encapsulates you and your passengers, protecting them from external factors like harsh weather. Depending on the make and model of your car, roofs come in a wide range of types and styles.

Pillars are the vertical rods located at the four angles that form the car’s roof. They provide additional car frame strength that supports the upper frontal sections like the windshield, and the upper parts of the vehicle frame.

The number of pillars a car has is determined by the length of the vehicle. Some types of vehicles, such as the hatchback, have angled pillars which change the crisp outline of the frame.

#11. Doors and Windows.

When it comes to part of the exterior of vehicles, doors and windows are a clear cut. Doors are movable parts of the automobile that you can use to enter and exit the vehicle. In addition, the doors play a major role in securing your safety while driving.

Car doors have several components that include a door panel, door lock, handle, and a storage compartment. Depending on the model of your vehicle, it could have anywhere from two to four doors.

While the majority of doors can be operated manually, cars these days come equipped with remote-controlled doors that can be opened from a distance.

Car doors are important because they act as a mount for the windows. They also protect the occupants from external elements. Unlike the windshield, however, the windows can be rolled up or down using a mechanism located inside the door.

#12. Rear Panels.

Towards the back of the vehicle, the rear panels are located. These incorporate the tailgates, rear bumpers, rear brake lights, rear hatchbacks, and even the exhaust system of the vehicle.

Side panels on the rear of the vehicle often contain the rear door along with the wheel wells that enclose the rear wheels of the vehicle, including the suspension components.

#13. Front Panels.

Front panels often house a car’s bumper, grille, headlight assembly, fenders, and other components such as fog lights or turn signals.

Front panels are usually used to house the bumper and grille of the car, however, other mechanisms such as headlights, turn signal lights, fog lights, headlight assembly, and fenders are also installed there.

#14. Steering Wheel and Car Wheels.

The steering system comprises the steering wheel, column, and the wheels of the vehicle. This system is connected to the wheel cylinders of the vehicle and permits the driver to rotate them as necessary.

Additionally, the front wheels are equipped with their own set of suspension that maintains balance when in motion.

#15. Front and Rear View Mirrors and Windows.

Sustained by the vehicle’s engine, the system of windshield wipers is in charge of sweeping away all rain and debris resting on a car’s windshield. The wiper system consists of several parts that make sure the driver’s vision is unobstructed when driving.

These components are the wiper motor, the wiper blades, the arms, linkages, and the washer reservoir.

#16. Bearings.

Wheel bearings are categorized as body parts that make up the wheels which includes the axle as well.

#17. Body Kits.

Sometimes body kit can simply be termed as a body kit refers to a collection of customized or additional components to be fitted to a car. Body kits typically include the front and rear bumpers alongside side skirts, spoilers, hoods or hood scoops, and come with front and rear side guards and sometimes roof scoops.

#18. Body Trim.

Trim refers to the component that can be fitted onto the exterior and inside of the vehicle to enhance its appearance.

#19. Bumper Guards.

You just can’t avoid scuffs and scratches when it comes to your vehicle, but for those who want to keep their vehicle in as mint a condition as possible, they offer a plethora of bumper guards on the market.

#20. Cabin Parts.

Inner components of the cabinet.

#21. Cables.

These cables serve as the wiring harness that links all electronic devices within a vehicle to the battery.

#22. Coolant Bottle.

Coolant bottle refers to the container which holds coolant in the automobile’s engine system. Because the engines go through cycles of heating and cooling, their parts require cycles of expelling and absorbing coolant.

#23. Dashboard.

A dashboard, also known as the instrument panel (IP), or bezel, is a control panel placed at the center console of a car or small airplane. The wine region is directly ahead of the driver or pilot, where they can take advantage of the instruments and controls of the vehicle.

#24. Fenders.

Fender defines the part of an automobile, motorcycle or any other vehicle, that encloses the arch of a wheel.

Fenders are designed to enhance the vehicle’s aerodynamics and prevent sand, mud, pebbles, oil, and other road rancid waste from getting ejected by the moving tires.

#25. License Plate And Brackets.

A number plate is commonly referred to as the license plate of a vehicle. It is a metallic plaque affixed onto a vehicle that carries the official registration number of the automobile.

#26. Mud Flaps.

Car owners understand the need for mud flaps on cars, SUVs, and even trucks. This automotive device shields sensitive, vulnerable areas of a car from collecting dirt, especially the underpart of the car, which is more susceptible to rust and corrosion.

In other regions, mudflaps are known as mudguards or splash guards.

#27. Quarter Panels.

A quarter panel is the metal surface of a vehicle located between the back door and the trunk which also usually constitutes the wheel arch or wraps around the wheel. In British English, this is referred to as rear wing.

#28. Sunroof.

A sunroof is an automobile accessory that is characterized by a sliding window that can be moved to allow in air or light into the passenger’s compartment. Sunroofs can be motorized or manually operated, and come in numerous styles, shapes, and sizes.

#29. Wheel.

The rim refers to the outer circular portion of a wheel, which encompasses the tire. It is the external component of the wheel where the tire is fitted in vehicles like cars.

#30. Windshield Washer Motor.

The windshield washing pump (motor) is found at the bottom of the tank where the windshield washer fluid is stored. In many cars, the windshield washer tank is behind the front bumper in front of a front wheel; refer to the illustration.

#31. Wiper.

A wiper is an implement used to remove rain from the windscreen of the vehicle.

FAQs.