Car Dealer Slang, Jargon & Acronyms - Ultimate Guide, UK Edition

Whether you're stepping into a shiny showroom or scrolling late-night AutoTrader with a brew, car dealer speak can sound like a different language. If you've ever heard a salesperson say, "The punter's upside down on his PX, so we've PTP'd it with a strong balloon", and thought they were casting a spell – this guide is for you.

This is the most comprehensive UK car dealer slang and acronym glossary on the internet, covering sales, finance, stock, VAT margin, and backroom banter. No acronym left behind. Let's get stuck in.

People & Roles

• Punter – The customer.
  "Punter's booked in at 2 – sounds flaky."
• Closer – A sales pro who steps in to finalise a deal.
  "Get Dave on it – he's a closer."
• GM / DP (General Manager / Dealer Principal) – The boss.
• BM / F&I (Business Manager / Finance & Insurance) – Handles finance, insurance, warranties, etc.
• Admin – Paperwork people. Often the unsung heroes.
  
  

The Metal (Cars & Condition)

• Metal – Just means "cars".
  "Moved a lot of metal this month."
• Motor / Wagon / Jam Jar / Bus / Whip – Generic slang for 'car'.
• Minter – An immaculate car.
  "1 lady owner, full service history – absolute minter."
• Shed / Rotbox / Dog / Lemon – A rough or dodgy car.
• Lairy – Loud, bright, or modified car.
• Standing Order – Car that won't sell and just sits on the forecourt.
• Clocked – Mileage tampered with (illegal).
• Cut-and-Shut – Two damaged cars welded together. Very dodgy.
• Stanced / Slammed – Lowered suspension, aggressive stance. Showy, not always road-friendly, or road legal.
  
  

The Deal & The Money

• PX / Part-Ex / Trade In – Part exchange (trading in your old car).
• Over-Allowing – Giving inflated PX value to fudge the deal.
• Strong Money / Weak Money – High/low resale value.
  "BMWs still holding strong money."
• Upside Down / Negative Equity – Owing more than the car's worth.
  "He's £3k upside down on the 3 Series."
• Stickered Up – Forecourt signs: "1 Owner", "LOW MILES!", etc.
• Bargain Basement / Bangernomics – Low price budget motoring.
• Box Ticker – Has all the desirable optional extras.
  
  

Finance & Acronyms

• PTP – Proposal to Purchase – Finance application submitted to lender.
  "PTP came back approved – get it signed."
• HP – Hire Purchase – You pay it off monthly and own it at the end.
• PCP – Personal Contract Purchase – Lower monthly payments with an optional "balloon" payment at the end.
• Balloon – Final lump sum on a PCP.
• GAP – Guaranteed Asset Protection – Covers finance shortfall if the car's written off or stolen.
• VT – Voluntary Termination – Return the car halfway through a finance term.
• APR – Annual Percentage Rate – Annual interest rate including all charges.
• FCA – Financial Conduct Authority – Regulates finance and sales conduct, a dealer must be FCA authorised to offer you finance.
• Finance Heavy – Little deposit, lots of finance.
• Buy Rate / Buy Rate – Potentially out-dated terms for the interest rate the lender offers the dealer, and the interest rate offered to customer.

VAT Margin Scheme & Tax Terms

• VAT Margin Scheme – Only pay VAT on the profit margin, not full sale price. Used for second-hand cars.
• Eligible Vehicles – Second-hand vehicles bought from private individuals or traders not registered for VAT.
• Gross Margin – Selling price minus purchase price (for VAT margin calculation).
• VAT Due – One-sixth of the gross margin under the scheme.
• Stock Book – Required record of margin scheme vehicles, ideally managed using car dealership stock management software.
• Disbursements – Payments made on the buyer's behalf that aren't taxed (e.g. DVLA fee).
• Sale or Return (SOR) – Selling a car on behalf of third party who only gets paid if it sells, with the vehicle eventually returned to them if it doesn't sell.
• Exempt / Zero Rated – VAT classifications for specific sales scenarios.
• Bad Debt Relief – VAT relief if customer doesn't pay.
  
  

The Sales Process

• Forecourt / Pitch / Yard / Lot - Where the cars are stored, typically in front of the dealership.
• Ducks on the Pond - Customers on the forecourt.
• Test Pilot / Bum in Seat – Getting the customer to test drive. Essential for closing.
• Sit-Up Car – Photogenic or appealing car on the forecourt.
• Pump It Out – Shift it quickly, usually low profit.
• Unit – Just means "a car".
  "Did 12 units last week."
• Rubber on the Road – Deal's signed, car delivered.
• Skinned / Grossed Up – "Skinned" = no margin, "Grossed Up" = high margin.
• Chop It In – Slang for part-exchanging.
• No-Show – Customer who ghosts their appointment.
  
  

Trade-Only Talk & Backroom Banter

• CAP / Glass's Guide – Trade valuation guides.
• CAP Clean – Good condition valuation bracket.
• Recon / Prep – Repairs, MOT, cleaning – all before sale.
• Tyre Kicker – Timewaster. Won't buy.
• Screamer – Difficult or loud customer who complains a lot.
• Scutter - Someone who's not going to get finance.
• Ghost Booking – Fake booking to look busy or pad the board.
• The Board / Deal Board – The tracking board for staff sales performance.
• Target Car – Stock unit the dealer must sell to hit targets.
• Manufacturer Bonus / Dealer Bonus – Extra cash from hitting targets – can be huge.
  
  

Real-Life Sales Phrases, Translated

• "He's upside down, so we over-allowed and bumped the balloon."
  He owes too much, so we inflated the part-ex value and adjusted the finance to make it work.
• "PTP's gone in, but Experian's flagged a default."
  Finance application was submitted, but credit report flagged issues.
• "PX's rough, but he's finance heavy – let's chop it in and get rubber on the road."
  The part-ex is in bad shape, but he's borrowing most of the deal – let's just close it.
  
  

Terms to Keep an Eye On

• Admin Fee – Often used to boost margin. Ask why it's there.
• Warranty Included – May not cover much – always check the details.
• One Owner (But) – Could be an ex-fleet or rental. Ask who the "one" was.
• Ex-Demo – May have been thrashed on test drives.
  
  

Final Word

If you've made it this far, you now speak fluent dealer-ese. Whether you're buying, selling, or managing a forecourt, this guide has you covered.

Next time someone says,
"We PTP'd the punter but he's £2k upside down and wants strong money on his PX,"
you'll just nod and reply:
"Sounds like a stickered-up shed to me, mate."

Think we've missed any useful jargon or slang?  Please let us know and we'll add your suggestions above.

Are you starting a used car dealership?  Please check out our How To Start A Used Car Dealership Guide.