Forget "vibe coding" - here are 5 car culture words that should be in the dictionary

Collaborative Post | Like it or not, “vibe coding” - the act of using AI to create apps without the need for coding knowledge, was recently, officially, added to the Collins Dictionary. Whether or not that actually means anything is entirely up for debate, but you could argue that this signals yet another step forward (or backward) for the English language, as we adopt more and more internet slang into our everyday interactions.

In response to this, the team at private plate supplier Regtransfers think it’s time the English language caught up with car culture too. They’re here to spill the tea, spit facts and lowkey try to manifest these words into the dictionary - no cap. (Editor’s note: the author of this article is in their mid-30s, and hopes this sentence slaps hard).

Photo by Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash

Wise words

Plenty of motoring slang has already parked itself in the dictionary. Beemer, the “affectionate” nickname for BMWs and their drivers sits, proudly alongside banger and gas-guzzler, both long-standing tributes to Britain’s love affair with the road. Even so, these words are fairly antiquated at this point, and while range anxiety - the fear that an electric car will run out of power before reaching its destination- was officially added in 2021 there are still more everyday terms that could be added.

​Here are five modern motoring terms that deserve dictionary status  -  because language, like cars, should keep moving forward. Cars should also be able to reverse and turn left and right, but that’s beside the point.

1. EV-Curious (adjective)

Definition: Describing someone who hasn’t yet bought an electric vehicle but is seriously considering one  -  intrigued by the tech, tempted by the torque, but still clinging to a petrol past.
Why it should be in the dictionary belongs: “EV-curious” captures a real psychological stage in the modern driver’s journey. As the world transitions to electric, millions of motorists are hovering in this in-between space: watching, learning, occasionally Googling “best hybrid SUVs.” It’s a phrase that blends environmental awareness with a wink of self-deprecation, a perfect snapshot of today’s shifting attitudes to car ownership.

2. ICE-ing (verb)

Definition: The act of blocking an electric vehicle charging space with an internal combustion engine (ICE) car  -  usually unintentionally, sometimes defiantly.
Why it belongs: Few acts rile EV drivers more than turning up to a charging bay only to find it occupied by a diesel SUV. The term “ICE-ing” isn’t just practical jargon  -  it’s social commentary. It encapsulates the growing etiquette gap between old and new automotive worlds, where charging spaces have become the new petrol pumps, and manners matter as much as mileage. 
If ‘photobombing’ can make the dictionary, ‘ICE-ing’ certainly deserves its charge.

3. Tesla Wave (noun)

Definition: The subtle nod, wave, or raised hand exchanged between Tesla drivers as they pass each other on the road  -  not unlike the time-honored “jeep wave” and “biker nod”.
Curiously, if you google the term “biker nod”, one suggestion of “how to do the nod” (in case you needed guidance) is not to overdo it, stating that “excessive bobbing can look like you are having an issue with your neck”.
Why it belongs: Like the Jeep wave or the biker nod, this spontaneous ritual marks belonging within a tribe. The “Tesla wave” symbolises the rise of tech-based camaraderie  -a quiet acknowledgement between people who share not just a car brand, but a worldview built around innovation and status. It’s language in motion: a physical expression so widespread it’s earned linguistic form.

4. Garage Queen (noun)

Definition: A car so pristine it spends more time being polished than driven  -  pampered, protected, and rarely exposed to the indignities of rain, traffic, or car parks.
Why it belongs: Every car enthusiast knows one  -  the collector who treats a Sunday drive like an Olympic event. “Garage queen” encapsulates a particular kind of passion: the love of preservation over performance. It’s evocative, humorous, and vividly descriptive. The phrase has lived in enthusiast forums and auction listings for decades; it’s high time the lexicographers opened the garage door and let it out.

5. Autonowashing (noun)

Definition: The marketing practice of exaggerating a car’s self-driving capabilities  -  suggesting full autonomy when it’s really just advanced driver assistance.
Why it belongs: As cars become rolling computers, “autonowashing” has become as an essential term in consumer awareness. Coined in the spirit of “greenwashing,” it calls out the blurred lines between innovation and illusion. With regulators now debating what “self-driving” truly means, this word has weight, purpose, and linguistic longevity  -  precisely the kind of modern coinage dictionaries exist to record.

It's time to take off the linguistic L-Plates

Car culture has always shaped how we talk  -  from “boy racers” to “Sunday drivers” - but as vehicles become smarter, cleaner, and more connected, the words we use evolve just as fast. EV-curious, ICE-ing, Tesla wave, garage queen, and autonowashing reflect not just driving habits, but the shifting identity of modern motorists.
​
If vibe coding can make the dictionary, surely it’s only fair to let car enthusiasts have their say too. After all, language, like driving, is all about moving with the times.


Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.