Boots and bonnets: essential UK car terms for tourists

Do you know your boot from your bonnet? No, we're not talking fashion – we're talking UK car terminology. Brush up on British lingo with our guide.

Did you know this term dates back to the 18th century?

It goes all the way back to when horse-drawn carriages were the norm. The driver would sit on a chest that held his belongings, including – yes – his boots.

The original name was "the boot locker", which in time became shortened to just "the boot." 

"I thought bonnets were a type of hat"

When you think of a bonnet, you probably think of the old-fashioned hat that ties under the chin.

But in British English, there's another kind of bonnet. On our shores, the term is used to refer to the hood of a car.

The hat connection isn't completely off-mark, though. The term comes from the French word for the fancy hat: "bonet".

Another fun fact: this term is also used in Australia, New Zealand and India.

Gas vs petrol

It's time to fill up your car. But instead of looking or asking for directions to a gas station, you'll need to look for a petrol or service station. 

Once you're there, you can choose unleaded petrol or diesel. Be sure to fill your hire car with the right one!

Motorways and dual carriageways

A motorway is a high-speed road that's at least three lanes wide and has controlled access points. It's the equivalent of an American highway or freeway.

We can't stress this enough: UK road planners love roundabouts. They're everywhere. We have huge roundabouts with three lanes or more. We have mini-roundabouts, which are so small that they're difficult to actually go around. We have all the sizes in between.

Don't let the sheer variety make you shudder. Roundabouts are simple, really. Give way to the right and keep your wits about you and you'll be fine.

Did you know the UK's biggest roundabout is in Swindon? It's called the Magic Roundabout and is made up of five mini-roundabouts arranged in a circle. It looks like a nightmare even for UK road users…

We don't yield, we give way

Oops. Looks like we dropped a Britism there.

We said you should "give way" at a roundabout. But what does that even mean?

Easy. "Give way" is our equivalent to the stateside "yield". All it means is that you must yield to oncoming traffic before you proceed.

You'll often see signs around the UK stating that you must give way too. 

Speed cameras 

There's nothing worse than seeing a flash when you're driving – and then realising you're doing 34 miles per hour in a 30 zone.

While speed cameras can be found in every country, they're endemic in the UK. There are more than 7,000 speed cameras across our green and pleasant land. That's the fourth-highest amount in the world. Crikey!

America has around 5,000 cameras. This might make it sound like the US has its fair share – but remember that the UK is roughly the same size as the state of Oregon.

There's a much higher density of cameras per mile here. (Keep an eye on that speedometer…)

Car parks

A car park? Like… a park for cars?

If you're imagining a Volvo playing on a swing set, we're sorry to disappoint you. In the UK a car park is… (wait for it…) a place where you park your car.

The name only differs slightly from the American term "parking lot", but it can be useful to know the British English term when using road signs as a guide. 

Car parks in the UK are often denoted by signs consisting of a blue box with a white "P" inside. 

Congestion charges

In February 2003, the congestion charge was introduced in London, the UK's capital.

The purpose of the charge is to reduce the traffic flow at certain times of the day – and therefore air pollution. The thinking goes that if people have to pay, they'll think twice before using their cars. 

The charge is now in force in other UK cities such as Birmingham, Bath and Portsmouth. Be sure to check before you travel.

Do zebras cross the road in England? 

In the US, you have marked crosswalks. In the UK they're known as zebra crossings.

The reason for the name is that they're distinguished by black and white stripes painted on the road surface – just like a zebra!

If you see pedestrians waiting to cross the road using a zebra crossing then you are expected to yield. If they're already on the crossing then you must yield.

While pedestrians are meant to use these types of crossings and use correct judgement when crossing the road, be aware that jaywalking isn't a crime in the UK. So, don't be surprised if you see people crossing the road in all sorts of weird and wonderful places.

(Oh, and before we go – don't forget to drive on the left!)

Do you need a rental car for your visit to the UK? Are you flying into Newcastle International Airport? Don't hesitate to get in touch with Metro Vehicle Hire. We'll have you on the road in no time.