30 Basic Car Body Parts Names and Their Function

Body Parts of a car are just like the body parts of a human body, which complete a car and without them, a car cannot exist.

Have you ever looked at the engine of your car and wondered what the names of car parts were? In this article, you’re going to explore the major components of a car and learn not only what the part is called, but also what it does.

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.

Body (plural bodies) The main body of a motor vehicle rests on the chassis and into which the engine is fitted, mechanical and electrical systems, seats, etc.

The bodyshell is the outer shell of an automobile body, excluding doors, window glass, interior fittings, and all mechanical components.

#2. Hood/Bonnet.

A car hood, also referred to as a “bonnet” in some countries, is the hinged cover that rests over the engine bay of a front-engine vehicle.

The car hood protects the engine and connected parts from the elements while providing easy access for repairs and maintenance.

Car hoods are typically constructed from steel and sometimes from aluminum. Aftermarket car hoods may be constructed from various other materials, including carbon fiber, fiberglass, or dry carbon.

A concealed latch is typically used to lock the hood in place while driving. A release for the mechanism can be accessed from the dash below the steering wheel. On race cars and vehicles with an aftermarket hood, exposed pins may be used to secure the car hood.

Hoods sometimes contain a hood scoop or a power bulge to allow for greater engine capacity and airflow to increase the car’s performance output.

#3. Front bumper.

A bumper is a bar attached transversely in front of or behind a car body to prevent contact between an obstruction and the car body or to cushion the shock of collision between vehicles.

The front bumper absorbs the impact from minor collisions with other cars or objects like walls or guardrails. It wraps around the front sides of the vehicle and encases part of the wheel arch for the front wheels.

#4. Rear Bumper.

The rear bumper of the vehicle is much like the front. It holds the rear taillights in place. Bumpers are an essential component of any car, protecting the front and rear ends in low-speed collisions. They also safeguard trunks and exhaust pipes from expensive damage.

#5. Bonnet Grill.

A car grille is what you’ll find between the headlights of your vehicle. It’s a piece of trim, often designed in a mesh pattern, that sits in front of the engine bay.

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

A grille is a unique thing to each vehicle and will likely be designed in line with the specific shape of the front of the car. This means when you’re buying a grille, it’s essential you check if it will fit your vehicle.

The primary function of a grille is to allow your vehicle’s engine to keep cool. As you drive, air is pulled through the grille which serves to provide ventilation through the engine bay.

The way the grille is designed can have a considerable impact on its ability to cool the engine.

#6. Bullbars or crash guards.

Bull bars or crash guards are a piece of metal grill that is usually placed in front /rear of the Vehicle to prevent it from getting damaged during collision.

#7. Headlight.

A headlamp is a lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead.

Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage, headlamp is the term for the device itself and headlight is the term for the beam of light produced and distributed by the device.

#8. Fog Lamp.

Fog lights are designed to aid visibility when bad weather conditions reduce your ability to see the road ahead. Front fog lights can cut through mist, fog, rain, or even dust as they are mounted lower down than headlights in the front of the car.

#9. Signal Lights.

Signal lights are a collection of lights found at the front and rear of your car that blink when switched on. They are responsible for informing other motorists of the direction you intend to head towards.

Usually, the controls for signal lights are found on the left of your steering wheel column if you have a right-hand drive vehicle.

New cars have front and back turning signals and emergency lights that work by blinking all turning signals at once to increase your car’s visibility.

#10. Roof and Pillars.

The roof is the top part of your car responsible for protecting you and your passengers from external elements. These come in many variations, depending on your vehicle’s make and model.

Pillars are the support beams that hold up your car’s roof. They also provide a significant amount of structural rigidity for the roof, windshield, and other upper frame parts.

The number of pillars your vehicle has will depend on the vehicle’s length. Additionally, vehicle designs like the hatchback will have slanted pillars.

#11. Doors and Windows.

As far as car exterior parts go, doors and windows are straightforward. The doors are the parts of your vehicle that you open to get in and out of your car. They are also responsible for keeping you safe while driving.

Car doors have different parts, such as the door lock, panel, handle, and storage compartment. Your vehicle could have anywhere between two to four doors, depending on its model.

Also, while you can open most doors manually, it is not uncommon to have car doors that you can control from a distance.

Doors also serve as mounts for the windows, responsible for protecting you against external elements. However, unlike the windshield, you can roll these windows up and down using the window glass controller that you will find in the door.

#12. Rear Panels.

Rear panels are located towards the rear of the car’s back and can include brake lights, tailgates, bumpers, hatchbacks, and part of the car’s exhaust system.

A vehicle’s rear side panels often contain the rear door, and wheel wells that house a car’s rear wheels and 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.

#14. Steering Wheel and Car Wheels.

The steering system includes the steering wheel, the steering column, and the wheels. This system connects to the car’s wheel cylinders and allows drivers to turn them as desired.

The front wheels also have their own suspension system components that help keep them stable while driving.

#15. Front and Rear View Mirror and Windows.

Powered by the vehicle’s engine, the windshield wiper system is responsible for cleaning away rain and other debris from a car’s windshield. The wiper system is made up of several components that work together to make sure your vision is clear while driving.

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

#16. Bearings.

A wheel bearing is an integral part of the wheel assembly that connects the wheel and axle.

#17. Body Kits.

A body kit or body kit is a set of modified body parts or additional components that are installed in a production car. Typically consisting of front and rear bumpers, side skirts, spoilers, hoods (hood scoop), and sometimes front and rear side guards and roof scoops.

#18. Body Trim.

Car trim is the element that can be attached to the outside and inside of an automobile to make it more attractive.

#19. Bumper Guards.

Car bumper Guards: To keep your car free from scratches and scrapes. You simply cannot avoid this possibility, but you can safely shield your car’s bumper with some excellent guards or guards that are available in the market.

#20. Cabin Parts.

Inside parts of the cabinet

#21. Cables.

Cables are the wiring of the car to connect every electrical item to the battery.

#22. Coolant Bottle.

The coolant reservoir is the plastic reservoir mounted in the engine compartment in which the coolant for the engine is stored. Coolant tanks are required because of engines warm up and cool down through cycles that expel and absorb coolant.

#23. Dashboard.

A dashboard (also known as a dashboard, instrument panel (IP), or bezel) is a control panel located in the center console of a vehicle or small airplane. Usually located right in front of the driver (or pilot), it displays instruments and controls for operating the vehicle.

#24. Fenders.

Fender is the American term for the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames a wheel arch (the underside of the fender).

Its main purpose is to prevent sand, mud, stones, liquids, and other street sprays from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire.

#25. License Plate And Brackets.

A vehicle’s license plate is commonly known as ‘a number plate’. It is a metal plate that is attached to a vehicle and has the official registration number of a vehicle embossed on it.

#26. Mud Flaps.

Whether you have a car, SUV, or truck, getting a mud flap for your vehicle is a must. This automotive accessory helps prevent dirt and grime to reach sensitive parts of the vehicle, especially the undercarriage which is prone to rust and corrosion.

Mudflaps are also called mudguards or splash guards.

#27. Quarter Panels.

A quarter panel (British English: rear wing) is the body panel (exterior surface) of an automobile between a rear door (or only door on each side for two-door models) and the trunk (boot) and typically wraps around the wheel well.

#28. Sunroof.

A sunroof is a movable panel that opens to uncover a window in an automobile roof, allowing light and/or fresh air to enter the passenger compartment. Sunroofs can be manually operated or motor-driven, and are available in many shapes, sizes, and styles.

#29. Wheel.

The rim is the “outer edge of a wheel, holding the tire”. It makes up the outer circular design of the wheel on which the inside edge of the tire is mounted on vehicles such as automobiles.

#30. Windshield Washer Motor.

The windshield washer pump (motor) is located at the bottom of the windshield washer fluid tank. In most cars, the windshield washer tank is located behind the front bumper, in front of one of the front wheels; see the illustration.

#31. Wiper.

A wiper is a device that wipes rain from a vehicle’s windscreen.

FAQs.