A car is a four-wheeled motor vehicle that people use to travel from one location to another (transportation). Cars typically operate on roads and consist of seating for one to eight people, four wheels, and is mainly the transport of people.
Historically, the first automobile, named the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, was created by German inventor Carl Benz in 1886. Subsequently, the automobile was rapidly adopted by the world and was available in a wide range of models by the 20th century.
A car typically has controls to manage the driving, parking a car, and the comfort of passengers while occupying the many parts of a car. When you open your engine hood, or view underneath your automobile, you will most likely find the engine, transmission, axles, differential, suspension, etc.
Moreover, while we discussed the internal components of a car, we want you to think about the external parts. In general, many can’t identify the car body parts and their function.
Thus, we’ve created the following comprehensive list of car body parts and their function. So, let’s outline all the car body parts one by one.
Car Body Parts Names List
Here are the list of main car body parts names:
- Body shell
- Hood or bonnet
- Front bumper
- Rear bumper
- Bumper grille
- Crash guard or bullbar
- Head light
- Fog lamp
- Indicator lights
- Wiper blade
- Radiator
- Radiator supports
- Cowl panel
- Quarter panel
- Fender
- Fender liners
- Roof
- Sunroof
- Mirrors
- Doors
- Door handle
- Window glass
- Quarter window
- Trunk or decklids
- Mud flaps
- Wheels
- Hubcap
- Dashboard
- Number plate
- Tail lights
Car Body Parts Diagram
Parts of Car Body
#1. Body Shell.
The body shell of a vehicle is the functional backbone. It is the body of a vehicle that rests in the chassis and fits all components: engine, electrical systems, mechanical systems, seats, etc.
It is designed for weight of the various components of the car and even weight of the passenger.
#2. Hood or Bonnet.
The car hood or a bonnet (in some countries) is just a thin sheet of material that is hinged and rests over the engine of nearly all motor vehicles. Under the hood, you will find the engine, battery, coolant, windscreen fluid, cooling fan and compressor, alternator, and many more.
It is an element of the vehicle that allows immediate access for servicing, repair, and maintenance. Furthermore, it protects components from direct sunlight and dirt.
An added mechanism (hidden latch) is used along with the hood to hold it securely in place when you are looking or inspecting your car.
#3. Front Bumper.
Although it may seem an outside or add-on part of the vehicle, the bumper (front) performs an important function in a car design. Typically, a bumper is a bar that protects a vehicle when it hits something.
The front bumper is the part of the vehicle that protects the car on impact, should an incident happen. The bumper absorbs the majority of the impact due to the speed of incident, should it happen at low speed.
#4. Rear Bumper.
The rear bumper is designed to reduce heavy damage when you, unfortunately, have an accident when you back up into a wall. The rear bumper reduces damage or may prevent damage depending on the severity of impact on both the front and rear sides of vehicles.
The bumpers are another component in the assembly of a vehicle that absorbs energy of the collision. Generally, the rear bumper is constructed of steel, aluminum, or rubber or plastic to protect components such as the trunk, grille, fuel, exhaust, and cooling system.
#5. Bumper Grille.
The bumper grille, another part of the front structure of the vehicle (which allows ventilation), is used in many cases as another safety feature to allow your engine to keep cool. As you drive your car, it creates a vacuum, sucking air through the grille to provide ventilation into the engine bay.
The bumper grille helps protect the radiator and facilitates the intake of cold air to the radiator of your vehicle. Based on locations, the bumper grille is also commonly used in the front wheel for brake cooling, cowl for passenger compartment ventilation, or out near the rear trunk lid in rear-engine vehicles.
#6. Crash Guards or Bullbars.
Crash guards mount to the car’s front frame or chassis – most frequently found on the brazen SUV model, and will protect your car in the event of an accident. These are vital vehicle body parts designed to keep on moving after a crash.
Crash guards are typically all (heavily) steel and will prevent damage to the front of the vehicle. Not to mention, this accessory has a good design for looks as well as protection.
#7. Head Lights.
Everyone is familiar with the main job that headlights do – it can help you see the roadway and drive fatigue-free and safely. Low beam headlights and high beam headlights.
The headlights are attached to the front of the car. The headlights help the driver see the roadway at night but also alert other drivers the car is present. There are types of lights on cars and each light type serves its own purpose.
#8. Fog Lamp.
Fog lamps are used to add bright light when visibility is less than 100 meters. They are used to light under fog to see the road surface without the beams reflecting off the fog. There are two main types of fog lamps used in vehicles.
- Front Fog Lamps: Most front fog lights have a yellow (or selective yellow) light because the color filters out the blue component of white light, which causes the most glare and shine. However, not all yellow lamps are fog lamps and not all fog lamps are yellow.
- Rear Fog Lamps: The rear fog lamp is much more helpful than the front fog lamp; they are a bright red light, similar to that of a brake light, is turned on in limited visibility to make your vehicle more specific for low-traffic situations. Rear fog lamps are particularly valuable when you are driving much slower than other vehicles and one is behind you to tell the other driver you are vacant in taking some visible consideration and, thus, can impress on other drivers to stop.
#9. Indicator Lights.
Indicator lights come in red, orange, and sometimes white in color.
They can be found on the front, rear and often on each left and right side of the vehicle.
They are there to communicate an intention to change direction (left or right or into the flow of traffic).
You must use them properly to make sure that other drivers have appropriate time to react and adjust. After you make the turn, make sure you turn the indicator off immediately after you complete the turn to avoid confusing other drivers.
#10. Wiper Blade.
Wiper blades are present on almost all vehicles including cars, trucks, buses, etc. and are very important for driver visual clarity.
Wiper blades are used to remove snow, water, and/or debris from the front window of the vehicle so the operator can see what may be ahead of them.
They are very useful during rain weather because water droplets on the windshield can continually interfere with the driver’s vision, which can cause major accidents.
Wiper blades are made of rubber that is degradable and diminishes in effectiveness over time. Therefore, it is important to replace them every 6-12 months.
#11. Radiator.
The radiator is located behind the front grille of the car. It is part of the cooling system that keeps the engine temperature regulated and prevents the engine from overheating.
The radiator is responsible for maintaining coolant fluid level for the engine. The coolant circulates through the engine, becoming hot, and then flows over the cooling fins inside the radiator that cool the liquid.
#12. Radiator Supports.
The radiator support is a way to secure and mount the vehicle’s radiator. It is typically made from steel, plastic, or aluminum and serves the purpose of securing the radiator under the hood of the vehicle to protect it from being damaged.
The radiator support also houses the condenser assembly as well as the cooling fan system to protect while the vehicle is operational.
#13. Cowl Panel.
Cowl panels are also significant, as they are the cover which fills the gap between the hood and windshield of the car. Cowl panels also brace the dashboard whilst preventing unwanted accesses to the windshield wiper system. Also, they prevent access to the cabin filter system.
#14. Quarter Panel.
A side section of an automobile body that generally goes around the wheel well, usually positioned between the door and trunk lid, or the door and hood.
Supports the back panel and other rear panels, which may constitute the trunk of the automobile, rear fenders, and/or bumpers.
#15. Fender.
The fender is the curved body part above the wheels of a car. The fender is both a safety item and adds to the overall appearance of your car.
The fender’s main purpose is to protect and shield the passenger compartments by preventing road debris, mud, rocks, liquids, and other road spray that can be thrown in the air by the rotating tire.
#16. Fender Liner.
Every vehicle wheel has separate fender liners. The fender liners are designed to help keep dirt, mud, water, environmental toxins, and other contaminants from getting into the engine bay and ultimately causing damage to the car.
It will also help to keep the wires and components within the wheel well from corroding as well.
It is not recommended to drive a vehicle with bad or no fender liner because the liner works as a buffer and barrier between your car’s engine, hood, radiator, headlights, and windshield.
#17. Roof.
The roof is the parts of a vehicle or automobile situated above the passenger compartment designed to protect occupants from sunlight, wind, rain, and outside elements.
Vehicle roofs commonly come with headliners to insulate against heat and noise, as well as hide wiring and hardware for electrical components, antennas, and other accessories; also, some roofs are removable for recreational purposes.
#18. Sunroof.
The sunroof provides a clean view of the sky, ventilation, and sunlight which provides an open feeling to the car. This is a type of panel on the roof of a car which can either slide or pop out to allow light into the vehicle.
The sunroof is also quite pricey because you pay for all the mechanisms which operate the sunroof. They are also very expensive to fix because rubber, glass, motor, and many other components require frequent service maintenance.
#19. Mirrors.
There are two types of mirrors commonly found on vehicles, side-view mirrors, and rear-view mirrors.
#1. Side-View Mirror.
Also called wing mirrors, side-view mirrors are set on the outside of the vehicle, allowing the driver to see behind and beside the vehicle, or outside of the driver’s line of sight. This alerts the driver to hazards or possible accidents that occur behind them.
The benefit of side-view mirrors being convex is that they provide more overall visibility of the side of the car, reducing blind spots.
#2. Rear-View Mirror.
Rear-view mirrors serve multiple purposes that help to keep you, the driver, safe. It gives the driver an alert driving experience by providing a view of behind the driver without turning their head. Rear-view mirrors are also especially important in when a vehicle is in reverse.
#20. Car Doors.
A door is an opening, usually hinged on the outside of a vehicle, secured to a frame, and potentially to a device, for entering or exiting the vehicle. There are other door types you may not know about.
Doors typically have windows, allowing an inhabitant to see from the interior of the vehicle, and may be locked. Most doors can be operated manually; however, some doors have a power source, typically part of a minivan or luxury vehicle, or some type of modification.
#21. Window Glass.
The primary reason for the use of window glass in cars is vision. On any side of a car, the vision controlled by the glass is incredibly useful. With the glass, a passenger can see where they are going, and the glass lets in natural sunlight or even artificial street lighting.
The types of window glass used are usually either single-layer toughened glass or laminated safety glass.
#22. Quarter Window.
A side window is located in front of the front-door glass or behind the back-door glass. In some cases, the fixed quarter window is located in the corner of the vehicle also known as the “C-pillar” of the vehicle.
They are designed to give a quick view of the road around the vehicle for the driver to safely turn, accelerate, park, or change lanes. These windows are typically found on old vehicles. These are small triangular in shape at the front and separate from the main window.
#23. Door Handle.
Door handles enable the driver or passengers to enter or exit the car and are the most functional part of a car because they house the door locks.
Normally we unlock the vehicle from the outside or inside using the door handle. There are a variety of door handle types available based on the car make and model.
#24. Trunk or Decklids.
The trunk lid (also known as dickey) is referred to when the car has space for luggage, and usually is on the rear of the vehicle like sedan, coupe, or convertible.
In general, the trunk is not simply storage, but should be utilized for its intended use of carrying cargo. However, the trunk is important storage and should be cleaned from time to time too.
Keep in mind that if you are loading excess luggage, then the engine will have to work harder which means using more fuel.
#25. Mud Flaps.
No matter if you have a car, SUV, or truck, mud flaps for your vehicle are a must if your tires are constantly exposed to mud, dirt, rocks, salt, water, and any other elements on the roads.
As the name represents, mud flaps are intended to catch dirt and stones and prevent it from coming to your vehicle from back or front. A vehicle without mud flaps will need to be maintained more regularly and that loss of time can be used for things that matter.
#26. Wheels.
Wheels have always been the most basic and important components of a car body. The wheels are round objects that create rotary motion, and provide motion for a car to travel from one point to another.
The rubber part wrapped around the wheel is called a tire, and the tire is the part of the wheel that grips the road. Even though the wheels can rotate without a tire, the car will not go very far.
If tires didn’t exist, the wheels of a car would spin faster on the road without any forward movement. Nowadays, there are many different types of tires sold in the market.
#27. Hubcap.
A hubcap is a decorative disk found on a wheel of an automobile that covers the center of the wheel. The primary purpose of a hubcap is to cover the wheel hub and fasteners to keep dirt and moisture from entering the wheel itself and also improve the appearance of the wheel.
If you are driving with no hubcap on your wheel, then dirt and debris can collect in the tire, which can cause increased tire wear. A hubcap helps keep foreign substances from damaging your wheel, prolonging its life.
#28. Dashboard.
The dashboard, or instrument panel, is the control panel of any vehicle. It is in the central console of a vehicle and is usually placed directly in front of the steering wheel.
The dashboard presents the driver with tools and controls for operation of the vehicle. It has simple controls (for example, steering wheel) and instruments to display speed, fuel level, and oil pressure. Modern versions often have information and climate controls and entertainment systems.
#29. Number Plate.
The Motor Vehicle Act of the government mandates every vehicle must have a number plate. The number plate has certain specifics about the vehicle and four important factors.
The number plate numbers also serve as a unique identity to the vehicle. Today, all the vehicles on the road must show registration at both the front and back sides of the vehicle.
#30. Tail Lights.
The taillights are a vital element of vehicle safety, as they allow your vehicle to be viewed in low visibility conditions and inform other drivers that are slowing down. The tail light is usually red and the brake light is a primary illuminated red light.
The taillights stay ON when the vehicle is on with headlights ON, or the parking brake is ON. However, when braking your brake light (not the tail lights) will become illuminated right away. So brake light and tail lights are NOT the same.
Wrapping It Up
In conclusion, the car is essential for convenience by having wheels. The car body parts listed above are very important for every car. Without the car body parts listed above, a vehicle may not perform well and that can lead to severe breakdowns or accidents.