When buying a car or discussing vehicles, you’ll come across the terms “make” and “model” frequently. While they may sound similar, make and model have distinct meanings when talking about cars. The make refers to the manufacturer or brand of the vehicle while the model is the name of the specific car version produced by that make. Knowing both the make and model allows you to precisely identify a particular vehicle.
What is the Make of a Car?
The make of a car refers to the company or brand that manufactures, assembles and sells the vehicle. The make is the most basic way to categorize groups of cars by their originating manufacturer or automaker.
Some examples of major car makes include:
- Toyota
- Ford
- Honda
- Chevrolet
- Hyundai
- Nissan
- Jeep
- Tesla
- BMW
- Mercedes-Benz
The make often corresponds to the logo badging displayed on a vehicle, although rebranding can sometimes blur those lines. The make also tends to define the country of origin — Japanese cars come from makes like Toyota and Honda while American makes include Ford, Chevrolet and Jeep.
Knowing the make provides the most fundamental classification of a vehicle by its originating brand and manufacturer. But two vehicles can share the same make yet exhibit vast differences. That’s where the model comes in.
What is the Model of a Car?
While the make refers to the broad brand, the model indicates the name of the specific vehicle version under that make. The model allows you to precisely identify and differentiate cars even when they come from the same manufacturer.
Some examples of models under their respective makes:
- Toyota Camry, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Prius
- Ford Mustang, Ford F-150, Ford Explorer
- Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Honda Odyssey
- Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model S
Makes produce many models — Ford offers over 20 different model nameplates currently. The model designates the distinct vehicle type, allowing you to compare and choose from the lineup of a given brand.
Knowing the model in tandem with the make gives you the complete identification of a car. The make and model together pinpoint the precise version of a vehicle.
Where to Find a Car’s Make and Model
The make and model can be found in several places when dealing with a vehicle:
Vehicle Nameplate
A nameplate is usually located on the rear of the car, often under the trunk latch. The make and model name are listed on the nameplate.
Vehicle Title and Registration
The specific make and model also appear on legal documents like the vehicle title, registration and insurance documents.
VIN Lookup
Entering a vehicle’s unique VIN or Vehicle Identification Number into an online VIN decoder tool provides detailed specifications including the precise make and model.
So checking the physical nameplate, paperwork and VIN all allow you to conclusively identify the precise make and model of any car.
Key Differences Between Make and Model
While the terms may sound interchangeable, understanding the distinction between make and model is important:
- The make refers to the broad brand name or manufacturer of the vehicle.
- The model is the specific product name of an individual car version made by the broader brand.
You first look to the make — the source brand. Then the model tells you the detailed product. The model comes from the make.
For example, the Toyota RAV4 indicates:
- Toyota — This is the make, the overarching brand for the vehicle.
- RAV4 — This is the specific model produced under the Toyota make.
Properly differentiating between make and model allows clear communication about vehicles — you can’t precisely identify a car without both attributes.
Why is Knowing the Make and Model Important?
Understanding a vehicle’s exact make and model is useful for many reasons:
Car Shopping
Comparing makes and models while shopping helps determine which specific vehicle best fits your needs and preferences.
Parts and Accessories
You need the exact make and model to get correctly fitting aftermarket parts and accessories for your car.
Maintenance and Repairs
Vehicle make and model guides mechanics in servicing and fixing your specific car configuration and parts.
Insurance Coverage
Insurance providers factor in the make and model to assess collision repair costs and set premiums.
Resale Value
Makes and models have varying reputations and desirability that determine projected resale values.
Clearly identifying the precise make and model is crucial for everyone from owners to insurers to mechanics. Misidentifying or miscommunicating make and model information can have major consequences.
The make and model provide the fundamental identity of every car. Those two attributes make each vehicle uniquely identifiable in the automotive world.
Examples of Different Car Makes
To further illustrate the concept of car makes, here are some of the major auto manufacturers along with the core brands under each:
Toyota
- Toyota
- Lexus
- Scion (defunct)
Volkswagen Group
- Volkswagen
- Audi
- Porsche
- SEAT
- Škoda
General Motors (GM)
- Chevrolet
- Buick
- GMC
- Cadillac
Ford Motor Company
- Ford
- Lincoln
- Mercury (defunct)
Honda Motor Company
- Honda
- Acura
Hyundai-Kia
- Hyundai
- Kia
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
- Nissan
- Infiniti
- Renault
- Dacia
- Mitsubishi
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)
- Chrysler
- Dodge
- Fiat
- Jeep
- Ram
BMW Group
- BMW
- Mini
- Rolls-Royce
This list names just a sampling. There are over 40 major automotive makes worldwide when including all manufacturers that produce multiple models under a brand name.
So while Ford and Honda are two distinct makes, a Ford Fusion and Honda Civic represent different models but of the same broad car type — 4-door sedans. Understanding make vs model gives you precise terminology to compare and contrast different vehicles.
Examples of Different Car Models
Now that you understand car makes, let’s look at some examples of popular models offered within given brands:
Toyota Models
- Camry
- Corolla
- Prius
- Tacoma
- RAV4
Ford Models
- Mustang
- F-150
- Explorer
- Escape
- Focus
Honda Models
- Civic
- Accord
- CR-V
- Odyssey
- Pilot
BMW Models
- 3-Series
- 5-Series
- X3
- X5
- 7-Series
Mercedes-Benz Models
- C-Class
- E-Class
- S-Class
- GLA
- G-Class
Tesla Models
- Model S
- Model 3
- Model X
- Model Y
- Roadster
These represent just a sample of the diversity found within a single make. While the make describes the automaker, the model gives you the specific vehicle name and attributes. Makes and models work hand in hand to identify cars.
How Make and Model Relate to Trim Levels
We’ve covered how make refers to the automaker brand while model is the product name. But model specifics are broken down even further into trim levels:
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Malibu
Trim Levels:
- LS
- RS
- LT
- Premier
Make: Honda
Model: Civic
Trim Levels:
- LX
- Sport
- EX
- Touring
The trim denotes additional feature variations of the same model — usually differentiated by engine, amenities, interior upgrades and technology packages. So a Chevrolet Malibu Premier has more luxuries than a base Malibu LS. But trims all share the same underlying model and make.
Why Properly Identifying Make and Model Matters
Precisely indicating the make and model is crucial for many automotive purposes:
Parts and Accessories
You need make and model to buy correctly fitting parts, tires, tuner components or accessories for your car.
Service and Maintenance
Make and model guides repair technicians in properly servicing your specific vehicle based on factory specs.
Insurance Coverage
Insurers calculate premiums partly based on make and model loss statistics, repair costs and parts prices.
Buying and Selling
Make and model determine resale value forecasts and comparisons when buying or selling a used vehicle.
Registration
The specific make and model must be included when legally registering a vehicle.
Inventory Management
VINs containing encoded make/model data help dealers track inventory.
Whether you own, sell, build or repair vehicles, properly exchanging make and model information is a universal necessity in the automotive world.
Tips for Identifying Make and Model
When trying to conclusively determine the make and model of a vehicle, here are some tips:
- Check the nameplate, usually located under the trunk latch or on the driver’s side door jamb
- Examine registration paperwork like title, insurance card and financing docs for specifics
- Look for exterior nameplate badging on the rear and sides
- Enter the VIN into an online decoder tool to retrieve exact specs
- Search the interior for make and model mention in the user manual or on seat tags
- Consult reference guides that catalog makes and models based on body style and generation
- Ask the owner if the paperwork is unavailable for you to check
With make and model precisely pinned down, there will be no confusion when discussing, researching, buying or repairing vehicles. Correct terminology makes communication precise.
So remember — the make describes the manufacturer brand while the model denotes that specific car version under the brand banner. Together they identify every car on the road.
FAQs
What are some examples of popular car makes?
- Toyota
- Ford
- Honda
- Chevrolet
- Nissan
- BMW
- Mercedes-Benz
- Audi
- Volkswagen
- Subaru
What is the difference between make and model of a car?
The make of a car refers to the brand or manufacturer of the vehicle, such as Toyota or Ford. The model of a car refers to the specific product name or product line from that brand, such as Camry or Mustang.
Where do I find the make and model of my car?
You can typically find the make and model of your car on the vehicle’s registration documents, insurance documents, or on the title of the car. It is also usually displayed on the exterior and interior of the car, such as on the front grille, trunk, or dashboard.
Why is it important to know the make and model of a car?
Knowing the make and model of a car is important in many situations. When purchasing a new vehicle, it helps to do market research and compare different models across brands. It also helps when obtaining car insurance, as the make and model provide insurers with information about the type of vehicle you’re driving. Additionally, knowing the make and model can be useful for maintenance and repairs, as different models may have specific parts or requirements.
Can the same model name be used by different makes?
No, the same model name is typically not used by different makes. The model name is specific to a particular brand or manufacturer. For example, the Honda Civic is a model produced by Honda, while the Ford Mustang is a model produced by Ford.
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