Car jargon explained

There are a lot of terms used in the car industry that can be confusing. Whether it's a new piece of car safety or entertainment technology, or how a car works, our experts are here to explain it all.

• 

  8 questions to ask before buying an electric car

  Let's bust some common myths with 8 key questions you probably have if you're thinking about buying an electric car

  Feature11 months ago

• 

  In-car voice assistants: how do they work and which ones are best?

  Cars are increasingly voice-activated these days. How does the tech work, which cars do it best, and is it very useful?

  Advice1 year ago

• 

  Excess mileage charges on a lease car explained... and how to avoid them

  Excess mileage charges needn’t be a barrier to getting a great lease deal – they're easy to avoid if you plan ahead

  Guide1 year ago

• 

  Tyre sizes and markings: How to read your tyre

  Checking your tyre size can be confusing, so we’ve created a simple step-by-step guide to all the numbers and letters and what they all mean.

  Advice3 years ago

• 

  How does the Motability scheme work? (2025 update)

  Find out whether you're eligible for the Motability scheme, how you can order your car, and what's included in your regular payments.

  Feature3 years ago

• 

  Electric Car Jargon Busted: The A to Z of EV

  Considering an electric car? We explain all the electric acronyms and jargon in one place, so you can start shopping in confidence.

  Feature4 years ago

• 

  Approved used car scheme: benefits and deals

  Top-quality, manufacturer-guaranteed approved used cars can take much of the anxiety out of buying a second-hand car, but are approved used cars...

  Advice4 years ago

• 

  Bad credit and car finance

  Bad credit doesn’t prevent you getting car finance. Here, we look at your car finance and leasing options if you have a bad credit rating.

  Guide4 years ago

• 

  Electric car batteries explained (2025 update)

  Learn about electric car batteries: from how they work and how long they last, to EV battery range, leasing and what happens at the end of their...

  Feature5 years ago

• 

  How to charge an electric car

  Learn all about charging an electric car, including how charge points work, which cables and connectors you’ll need, and how to work out charging...

  Feature5 years ago

• 

  Electric car – EV range on a single charge

  Range anxiety is common with electric cars. Read more about the average electric car range and how far an EV can go on a single charge.

  Feature5 years ago

• 

  Personalised Number Plates

  Everything you'd want to know about private number plates, all in one place.

  Advice5 years ago

• 

  Car Leasing Jargon Buster

  Need to improve your understanding of car leasing and make sure you're getting the right car leasing deal for you? Here's car leasing jargon...

  Guide5 years ago

• 

  What is car wrapping?

  Fancy changing the look of your car, but don’t want a full paint respray? Car wrapping is a great way to refresh your car’s appearance.

  Guide6 years ago

• 

  Self-Driving Cars

  The complete guide to self-driving and driverless cars in the UK, including self-driving cars on sale now.

  Feature6 years ago

• 

  What is tyre speed rating?

  A tyre speed rating shows the maximum speed a tyre is legally approved for. Learn where to find it, how to test it and more in Auto Trader’s...

  Guide6 years ago

• 

  What are LED and xenon car lights?

  Many modern cars come with xenon or LED lights, and, in some cases, both. But what are they and how do car headlights work?

  Advice6 years ago

• 

  Cars with Apple CarPlay in 2025

  If you’re looking to buy your next car, you might want to know if it has Apple CarPlay connectivity available. Many cars across all budgets now come...

  Advice6 years ago

• 

  Company cars: everything you need to know

  Whether you've already had several company cars, or are looking to get your first one, we answer all the questions you might have, including what a...

  Advice6 years ago

• 

  What is a Cat A, Cat B, Cat S or Cat N write-off? (2025)

  Learn the difference between Category S and Category N cars, whether you can drive them after they’ve been written off and what you should consider...

  Advice6 years ago