35 Basic Car Body Parts Names and Their Function

Your car’s body is more than just an aesthetic feature; it serves as a protective shell for its internal components and passengers. Every car is made up of various body parts that work together to provide structural integrity and enhance performance.

Understanding the different body parts of your car‘s helps you identify potential issues and maintain your vehicle effectively.

From the chassis to the fenders and bumpers, each body part plays a crucial role in protecting and enhancing your car’s performance. Regular maintenance and prompt repairs of these body components are vital for your car’s safety and longevity.

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. Chassis.

A chassis for a car is analogous to the skeleton for a human body. A chassis, also known as ‘Frame’, is the foundation structure of any car that supports it from underneath. The purpose of the chassis is to bear the weight of the car in its idle and dynamic states.

This chassis is usually made of iron or steel with a certain composite. Given that, most people don’t get to choose the chassis of their car and many may not really care about them as much.

You might be wondering if a car chassis and car frame are the same thing because they’re used to refer to similar parts of the car.

The chassis is the part of the “skeleton” that takes on and supports the weight of the car.

The car frame is the rest of the car that’s fitted onto the chassis. You could think of it like your body’s skin and muscles!

#2. Body Panels.

Car body panels refer to the assortment of large steel sections installed around the vehicle. These steel sections provide a solid covering for the car’s parts and systems as well as protect the passengers from environmental elements during collisions.

Thanks to decades of innovation in the automobile industry, modern car body panels are now designed to enhance the passenger and driver’s overall riding and driving experience. This is as opposed to early vehicles that were uncomfortable.

#3. bumper.

A bumper is a structure attached to or integrated with the front and rear ends of a motor vehicle, to absorb impact in a minor collision, ideally minimizing repair costs.

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.

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.

#4. 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.

#5. Bonnet Grille.

The grille covers the area opening in the front of a car body to allow air to enter or exit. This is located in front of the engine bay and is often found between the headlights. The main reason car grilles are made out of metal is because of there lightweight but have a sturdy design.

This allows car grilles to protect the radiator and other parts of the engine bay from damage when colliding with another car or an object from the road. It also acts as a piece of trim with a mesh pattern that is decorative.

It may also be referred to as “latticework”, “nose panel”, and “radiator grille”. There may be a “lower grille” at the base of your vehicle’s front (either as one long piece of mesh or as several sections). Every single vehicle has a different grille design.

#6. Car Trunk.

The car trunk or the car boot, is a dedicated storage compartment located at the rear of a vehicle. It serves as a secure and enclosed space for storing luggage, groceries, tools, and various items.

This essential feature enhances safety by preventing loose cargo from becoming hazards during sudden stops, improves weight distribution, minimizes noise, and contributes to the overall aesthetics and functionality of the vehicle.

#7. 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.

#8. Fenders.

A fender is a curved panel that sits above the wheels of a car and runs from the bumper to its doors. It protects the car by picking up all the dirt and other things on the road, which would otherwise damage the car.

Fenders are used in cars to prevent mud, slush, and other debris from coming into contact with the tires, braking systems, and other parts of the vehicle, making them work more effectively. It stops the mud and dirt from being flung up at other vehicles and pedestrians on the road.

Furthermore, fenders also act as a shield, protecting your vehicle’s paint from scratches by preventing the mud from splashing all over the car.

#9. Doors.

A car door is a type of door opening, typically hinged on its front edge, but sometimes attached by other mechanisms such as tracks, for entering and exiting a vehicle. Doors most often integrate side windows for visibility from inside the car and can be locked to secure the vehicle.

Car doors may be manually operated or with power assist supplied by the vehicle. Powered doors or power doors may be found on minivans, luxury vehicles, or modified cars.

#10. Windshield.

Windshields protect the vehicle’s occupants from wind and flying debris such as dust, insects, and rocks, and provide an aerodynamically formed window towards the front. UV coating may be applied to screen out harmful ultraviolet radiation.

However, this is usually unnecessary since most auto windshields are made from laminated safety glass. The majority of UV-B is absorbed by the glass itself, and any remaining UV-B together with most of the UV-A is absorbed by the PVB bonding layer.

#11. Side Mirrors.

A side-view mirror (or side mirror), also known as a wing mirror, is a mirror placed on the exterior of motor vehicles for the purposes of helping the driver see areas behind and to the sides of the vehicle, outside the driver’s peripheral vision (in the “blind spot”).

Almost all modern cars mount their side mirrors on the doors—normally at the A-pillar—rather than the wings.

The side mirror is equipped for manual or remote vertical and horizontal adjustment so as to provide adequate coverage to drivers of differing heights and seated positions.

#12. Pillars.

A car is like a building supported by roofs, pillars, and a floor. A car stands on six pillars or columns, sometimes called posts.

• Pillar A- The first pillar of the car is the one that holds the windshield from side to side. The design of the window between the front glass and the first side window of most cars has gone under various modifications over time. To ensure safety and compliance, manufacturers add airbags to this pillar.
• Pillar B – The pillar right behind the front seats with the safety mechanism and locks for the front doors is Pillar B. If we look at older cars, this pillar did not exist at all in many cases. However, for safety reasons and to make the vehicle sturdier and more stable, manufacturers gradually incorporated B pillars in car designs over the past few decades. It is the most complex pillar in the car because it holds the locks for the front door, the hinges for the rear door, and supports the roof. Most manufacturers make this pillar as sturdy as possible because the car roof rests on it. It is vital to the structural support of the car.
• Pillar C – The Rear Pillar. It is the last pillar in most cars. This pillar holds the latches of the rear door, the safety mechanism for the passenger seats, and supports the rear glass.
• Pillar D – The last pillar for SUVs and station wagons is not pillar C, but pillar D. Pillar D is not common in all cars. It only features in vehicles which have a third seating row. It does for SUVs what the C pillar does for sedans, hatchbacks, and smaller cars.

#13. Rocker Panels.

Rocker panels, also known as rockers, strengthen your ride’s structure and prevent the middle portion of the body from sagging. They serve as structural reinforcement so that your cabin won’t deform in case of a collision. These panels help form your ride’s structural toughness, which is a crucial factor for vehicle safety.

Rocker panels are subject to rust and corrosion, particularly when attacked by road salt. If the rocker panels are rusty, you probably have much bigger problems, such as rusty brake lines and other rust-compromised structural components.

#14. Spoiler.

Spoilers are supposed to change airflow above, around and underneath vehicles to reduce wind resistance (or drag) or use the air to create more downforce and enable more grip at high speeds. They’re designed to “spoil” the airflow to reduce its negative effects.

#15. Mudflaps.

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.

#16. 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.

#17. 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.

#18. 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.

#19. 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.

#20. 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.

#21. Front Panels.

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

#22. 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.

#23. 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.

#24. Bearings.

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

#25. 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.

#26. Body Trim.

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

#27. 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.

#28. Cables.

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

#29. 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.

#30. 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.

#31. 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.

#32. 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.

#33. 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.

#34. Cowl Panels.

The cowl panels sit beneath the lower windshield trim of your car, above the firewall and right at the pivot point for your vehicle’s hood. They typically provide a place for windshield wipers when not in motion and prevent flying debris and excess moisture from entering the cowl and vent panel.

#35. Firewall.

The firewall is a hugely important piece of every car that separates the frame and engine from the passenger compartment. In the event of a collision, the firewall protects drivers and passengers from the bulk that is the vehicle’s engine compartment.

FAQs.