Car Glossary for Expats & Foreigners in France
Here’s our glossary for ex-pats and foreigners driving or wanting to buy a car in France. We have done our best to create a concise and informative guide that will assist you in understanding the most used words and phrases translated into English.
A to Z of Car Words & Terms translated into English
- Alternateur – Alternator
- Amortisseurs – Shock absorbers
- Assurance – Insurance
- Automobile – Automobile
- Autoroute – Highway
- Batterie – Battery
- Boîte de vitesses – Gearbox
- Bougies d’allumage – Spark plugs
- Capot – Hood
- Carburant – Fuel
- Carrosserie – Bodywork
- Carte grise – Registration certificate (grey card)
- Catalyseur – Catalytic converter
- Cédez le passage – Yield sign
- Ceinture de sécurité – Seatbelt
- Certificat de situation administrative – Proof of ownership certificate
- Clé de contact – Ignition key
- Clignotant – Turn signal
- Climatisation – Air conditioning
- Coffre – Trunk
- Compteur de vitesse – Speedometer
- Conduite – Driving
- Contrôle de vitesse – Speed camera
- Contrôle Technique (CT) – Mechanical inspection report (similar to MOT)
- Crick – Jack
- Démarches administratives – Administrative procedures
- Démarreur – Starter
- Direction assistée – Power steering
- Embrayage – Clutch
- Essence – Petrol (gasoline)
- Feu de croisement – Dimmer lights
- Feu stop – Brake lights
- Feux arrière – Taillights
- Freins – Brakes
- Garage- Garage (workshop)
- Jauge d’essence – Fuel gauge
- Kit de premiers secours – First aid kit
- Limite de vitesse – Speed limit
- Mandataire auto – Car broker
- Mécanique – Mechanics / Techician / Engineer
- Moteur – Engine
- Négocier – Negotiate
- Occasion – Used car
- Panne -Breakdown
- Pare-brise – Windshield
- Parking – Parking lot
- Péage – Tollbooth
- Permis de conduire – Driver’s license
- Phares – Headlights
- Plaque d’immatriculation: License plate
- Pneus – Tires
- Pompe à essence – Gas pump
- Préfecture – Government office dealing with car registration
- Priorité à droite – Priority to the right
- Radiateur – Radiator
- Régulateur de vitesse – Cruise control
- Réservoir d’essence – Gas tank
- Rétroviseur – Rearview mirror
- Rond-point: Roundabout
- Roue de secours – Spare tire
- Roues – Wheels
- Route – Road
- Rue – Street
- Siège – Seat
- Station-service – Gas station
- Suspension – Suspension
- Transmission – Transmission
- Triangle de signalisation – Warning triangle
- Tuyau d’échappement – Exhaust pipe
- Véhicule neuf – New car
- Vignette Crit’Air – Pollution control sticker
- Voie rapide – Express lane
- Voiture – Car
- Volant – Steering wheel
- Zone de stationnement – parking area
A handful of Useful phrases:
Je cherche une voiture d’occasion.
I’m looking for a used car.
Puis-je faire un essai sur la route?
Can I test drive?
Combien coûte l’assurance?
How much is the insurance?
Où se trouve la station-service la plus proche?
Where is the nearest gas station?
Je suis en panne!
I have a breakdown.
We hope that this guide is helpful to you. For more information, please visit our complete guide to driving in France and our emergency numbers page.
