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Let’s be honest – your car isn’t just a machine; it’s practically a member of the family. For nearly half of Gen Z drivers in the UK, that bond is so strong they’ve even given their cars nicknames. And why not? A car isn’t just a way to get from A to B; it’s where memories are made, music is blasted, and late-night drive-thru trips happen.

At Shift Driving School, we’ve noticed this trend firsthand. Some of our learner cars even have nicknames – and yes, the rule is clear: they must be a girl’s name starting with the same letter as the car brand. (Mercedes? She’s Monica. Ford? Obviously Francesca.) If your car doesn’t have a name yet, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!

According to Honda UK’s research, nearly half (47%) of Gen Z drivers in the UK have nicknamed their cars – because, of course, why wouldn’t they? Meanwhile, Baby Boomers are less about the nicknames and more about the function (though don’t be fooled; there are still plenty of Boomers cruising around with a “Betsy” or “Big Bertha”).

Ten Most Popular Car Names 2024

1

Betty

2

Bob

3

Bert

4

Dave

5

Amy

6

Bertie

7

Alfie

8

Peggy

9

Katy

10

Tilly

Let’s be real – once you name your car, it’s no longer just a vehicle; it’s got a personality, a vibe, and maybe even a soul (we’re looking at you, “Herbie”). So, what are the most popular names among the younger generation? Think sweet, sassy, and a little nostalgic:

  • Baby – because your car deserves all the love.
  • Betty – reliable, classic, and with major “bestie” energy.
  • Beast – for that small car with big personality.
  • Babe – who doesn’t want a cute name that’s easy to yell in a car park?
  • Rocket – when your car feels fast (even though it couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding).

And then there are the wildcards like Herbie, Elvis, and Churchill, proving that creativity knows no bounds. Sure, these might not follow the unspoken rule (girl names starting with the car brand’s letter, obviously), but we’ll let it slide.

Naming your car isn’t just fun – it’s practically a rite of passage. So, if your ride doesn’t have a name yet, what are you waiting for? Get creative!

Do We Name Our Learner Cars? Absolutely!

At Shift Driving School, we’re not immune to the car-naming craze. A few of our trusty learner cars even have their own personalities:

If you’ve had lessons with us, you’ve probably spent time in one of these legends. Maybe you’ve even named her something new? Let us know – we’re always up for hearing your creative car nicknames!

Monica: A hard ride but worth it – nippy, fuel-efficient, and just a bit posh.

Delilah: Clunky but lovable; she’s a diesel diva who takes her sweet time warming up on frosty mornings.

Bertie: Smooth operator, almost too comfy – perfect for long legs and long journeys.

Francesca: Total drama queen – a stunner when she works, but her battery tantrums got her retired early. Naughty girl!

What’s Your Car’s Name?

Do you have a nickname for your car? Whether it’s a trusty “Rocket” or a beloved “Babe,” nicknames can make your car feel like part of the family. Let us know your favorite car nicknames on Instagram or Facebook by tagging us @ShiftDrivingSchool.

I passed my driving test last weekend, I want to say huge thanks to my instructor Lisa baour, she's been amazing mentor throughout the process. I'm from different country and I didn't have any driving experience before, so I had to learn everything from the scratch, she's been calm and polite from the very beginning, that help me lot to boost my confidence and take out my driving nervousness. Thank you so much Lisa and shift for making me a better driver, i higly recommend Lisa and shift, you won't be disappointed..cheers 🍻🍻
100% recommend Shift to anyone looking to learn. Simon is an excellent instructor, so calm and confident, took his time to understand me and how I learn best so that I could become a confident driver. Passed today with only 1 minor fault!
I highly recommend Shift Driving School Gateshead for beginners or anyone with some prior experience. Their website is excellent, and the app is incredibly user friendly, it makes booking lessons, tracking progress, making payments, and setting your availability so simple.

One of the things that impressed me most was how quickly Shift matched me with an instructor. Within a week of purchasing my package, I was driving. Other companies I contacted took over two weeks just to respond and told me I’d be waiting up to five weeks for an instructor. Choosing Shift was definitely the best decision I made.

I had Simon as my instructor, and he was fantastic. He was super flexible with my hectic schedule, gave me honest and constructive feedback, and used the app to track my progress so I could clearly see what I needed to work on and what I was already doing well. This made the lessons streamlined and efficient.

Simon also gave me the confidence to believe I was ready before I even felt it myself and he was right. Thanks to his teaching, I passed my driving test with zero faults (not even a single minor!).

Overall, Shift offers great cars (Mercedes 😉), an easy to use system, and most importantly, excellent instructors. Huge thanks to Simon for making the learning experience such a positive one!
Highly recommend Shift Driving School. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with from start to finish. Special shout out to my instructor Hassan, who taught me from scratch in just under 6 months. I had no previous driving experience at all and he talked through the steps and skills needed clearly, always supportively pushing me to be my best. Delighted to have passed at first attempt! Couldn’t have done it without the team at Swift and Hassan. Thank you!
Passed with Simon today! He’s an outstanding instructor, so much patience and understanding, especially for neurodivergent learners. My confidence developed massively whilst learning with Simon. Also big shout out to the whole team, especially Lewis, for being so reassuring when I first reached out about lessons. I’d recommend these guys to anyone.
I 10000000% recommend this driving school my instructor has been appsalutly amazing he had so much patience and really helped me through all my lessons then he recommend me a nervous course which really helped me as I really struggled with my nerve on my test but I finally done it and passed my test and I wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't for lewis so thank u sooooo much :)
Lewis is a great instructor very patient, clear, and encouraging he made learning to drive feel easy and enjoyable highly recommend.
What a great company to not only learn to drive with, but to actually work with too. We would highly recommend Shift without a doubt.
Highly recommend Shift Driving School. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with from start to finish. Special shout out to my instructor Hassan, who taught me from scratch in just under 6 months. I had no previous driving experience at all and he talked through the steps and skills needed clearly, always supportively pushing me. Delighted to have passed at first attempt! Couldn’t have done it without the team at Shift and Hassan. Thank you!
I just passed my driving test. With many thanks to Simon instructor at Shift driving school. I learned a lot and Simon was very patient and guide me well. I am grateful for the excellent teaching and kind lessons I had. Definitely recommend.