Have you ever wondered about the different parts that make up your car? Just like the human body, a car has numerous components, each with a specific name and function. While many people are familiar with the front of their vehicle, understanding the Back Part Of The Car Called by various names can be just as important, especially when it comes to maintenance, repairs, or even just describing your car to someone.
This article will explore the various components located at the rear of a vehicle. Knowing these terms will not only enhance your automotive vocabulary but also help you communicate more effectively with mechanics and understand your car better.
Decoding the Rear Anatomy: Essential Back Car Parts
The rear of a car is a complex assembly of parts working together for safety, functionality, and aesthetics. Let’s break down the key components of what we commonly refer to as the back part of the car called.
#1. Rear Bumper: Protection and Style
The rear bumper is a crucial safety feature designed to absorb impact during low-speed rear-end collisions. Similar to its front counterpart, the rear bumper protects the vehicle’s body, trunk, and other components from damage.
Modern rear bumpers are often made of energy-absorbing plastic or reinforced materials and are designed to crumple in a controlled manner during an impact. This helps to dissipate energy and minimize damage to the car’s structure and, more importantly, to the occupants. Beyond functionality, rear bumpers also play a significant role in the vehicle’s styling and aesthetics, often integrating seamlessly with the overall design.
#2. Tail Lights (Taillights): Signaling and Safety
Tail lights, or taillights, are essential for vehicle safety, especially in low visibility conditions or at night. This cluster of lights at the back part of the car called serves multiple signaling purposes:
- Brake Lights: Illuminate brightly when the brakes are applied, alerting drivers behind you that you are slowing down or stopping.
- Turn Signals (Rear Indicators): Blinking lights indicating the direction you intend to turn or change lanes.
- Rear Position Lights (Running Lights): Less intense lights that are on whenever the headlights are on, making your vehicle visible from the rear in the dark or during poor weather.
- Reverse Lights (Backup Lights): White lights that illuminate when the car is in reverse, signaling your intention to back up and also providing illumination behind the vehicle.
- Fog Lights (Rear Fog Lights): Intense red lights, brighter than standard taillights, used in heavy fog or very poor visibility conditions to make your car more visible from behind. (Note: Not all vehicles have rear fog lights, and their usage may be regulated.)
Car Body Parts Diagram
#3. Trunk, Boot, or Decklid: Cargo and Access
The compartment at the back part of the car called is for storing luggage, groceries, and other cargo. Depending on where you are from and the car’s style, this area has different names:
- Trunk (American English): The most common term in the United States for the enclosed cargo space at the rear of a sedan or coupe.
- Boot (British English): The equivalent term in the UK and many Commonwealth countries.
- Decklid: Technically, the decklid refers to the hinged lid that covers the trunk opening. However, sometimes the term is used interchangeably with “trunk” or “boot.”
Different car body styles have varying trunk designs. Sedans typically have a separate, enclosed trunk space. Hatchbacks and SUVs often feature a liftgate or tailgate that opens upwards, providing access to a combined cargo and passenger area.
#4. Rear Windshield/Window: Visibility and Defrosting
The rear windshield, or rear window, provides rearward visibility for the driver. Like the front windshield, it is made of tempered glass for safety and may include features such as:
- Defroster Lines: Heating elements embedded in the glass to melt ice and frost, improving visibility in cold weather.
- Rear Wiper: Common on hatchbacks, SUVs, and station wagons, a rear wiper blade helps to clear rain, snow, and debris from the rear window.
- Tinting: Many rear windows are tinted to reduce glare and heat buildup inside the car.
#5. Rear Quarter Panels: Body Structure and Wheel Wells
Rear quarter panels are the body panels located on either side of the car, between the rear door (or the only door in two-door models) and the trunk. They extend around the rear wheel wells, housing the rear wheels and suspension components.
These panels are structural parts of the car’s body and contribute to its overall rigidity. They also define the shape of the rear of the vehicle and influence its aerodynamic properties.
#6. Rear Fascia/Rear Panel: A General Term
The term rear fascia or rear panel is often used as a more general term to describe the entire rearmost section of the car’s body. It can encompass the bumper, taillights, trunk opening, and the surrounding bodywork. Think of it as the “face” of the back part of the car called from a design perspective.
#7. Exhaust System (Tailpipe): Emission Outlet
While not strictly a body part in the same way as panels and bumpers, the tailpipe of the exhaust system is prominently located at the rear of most cars. It’s the visible outlet for the engine’s exhaust gases.
The exhaust system’s primary function is to safely channel combustion gases away from the passenger cabin and to reduce harmful emissions. The tailpipe is the final point of exit for these gases.
#8. License Plate Area: Identification
The license plate, or number plate, is legally required for vehicle identification. The area designated for mounting the license plate is typically located on the back part of the car called, often on the trunk lid, bumper, or rear fascia. It’s designed to be easily visible for law enforcement and identification purposes.
#9. Mud flaps/Splash Guards: Protection from Road Debris
Mud flaps, also known as splash guards, are often installed behind the rear wheels (and sometimes front wheels) to prevent water, mud, rocks, and other road debris from being thrown up by the tires. They protect the vehicle’s undercarriage and the vehicles behind from damage and spray.
#10. Rear Reflectors: Enhancing Nighttime Visibility
Rear reflectors are passive safety devices that reflect light from other vehicles’ headlights, making your car more visible from the rear at night, even if your taillights are not illuminated. They are typically red and are often integrated into the taillight assembly or bumper.
Conclusion: Knowing Your Car’s Rear
Understanding the names and functions of the parts at the back part of the car called is more than just automotive trivia. It empowers you to better understand your vehicle, communicate effectively about maintenance and repairs, and appreciate the engineering and design that goes into every car. From safety features like taillights and bumpers to functional elements like the trunk and rear window, each component plays a vital role in the overall operation and safety of your automobile.
