Building Confidence in Car Knowledge: A Beginner’s Guide

If you have ever stood in a car park nodding along while someone rattled off technical terms you didn’t quite understand, you are not alone. Whether they're just overexcited or deliberately out to confuse, car enthusiasts often love chucking around a technical engine name, car component or car identifier. Trust me, we even do it in the automotive industry.

But, language like this does us no good, even if it's someone who wants an ego trip from using it_^. If we want more people to join us, we have to make it accessible. Hence, one of the reasons behind Belinda Automotive being all about accessible content.

The car culture and community can feel intimidating, especially if you are new to it. The good news is you do not need to be an expert mechanic, understand an engine or know every stat about a car to feel confident talking about cars. I'm a huge advocate for "I love the colour" or "those wheels are stunning" to be perfectly sensible conversation starters.

Confidence comes from being unafraid to ask questions when you're unsure what someone's talking about, finding your own voice and embracing the fact that the car world has space for everyone. Here’s how you can build that confidence as both a newcomer and someone who may have limited knowledge about cars.

How to build confidence when it comes to car knowledge

There's no harm in asking questions or for clarification. Most people are more than happy to help, and if they laugh at you for asking, they're the people I mentioned who are on an ego trip. Cluelessness is seen as a sign of weakness only by a small minority. The rest of us are just here to enjoy the cars.

1. Start with the basics

There’s a lot of jargon in the automotive world. The best thing you can do is to ask if you don't understand something or do a little bit of research.

You can start with simple terms like horsepower, torque, trim and drivetrain. Many of these terms are also handy when you plan to buy a car or support someone else in doing so. Think of it like learning a new language. You don’t need to know everything, just enough to hold a conversation or follow a review without feeling lost.

Make a note of words you come across in articles or at car events and look them up later. Over time those words will stop feeling alien and start making sense. You’ll soon find yourself explaining them to someone else.

It also goes without saying that you may be looking at the wrong places for reviews or content. If someone keeps using technical terms without helping you understand them, there are plenty more people out there who provide accessible and inclusive content (me - I'm one of them!) Now, these reviewers may continue to use technical terms because they know the audience they are targeting, and that's great. They're not being snobby, they just know their audience is more technically minded and experienced in their subject matter.

Besides, if you enjoy their content, other than the technical terms, you can always use them as an additional source of research or understanding

2. Ask questions without apology

One of the quickest ways to build confidence is by asking questions. Nobody knows everything, not even seasoned enthusiasts. 8 years ago, I knew nothing - other than how to drive and the highway code -, now, I still don't know everything, but that's not a problem. Whether you’re at a car show, in a dealership or scrolling through automotive forums, never feel embarrassed to ask for clarification. Again, most people want to help. Those that laugh are just on an ego trip.

Genuine curiosity often sparks the best conversations. You might even make a few new friends in the process. If you prefer a quieter way to learn, browse beginner-friendly blogs like Insights & Stories where terms and trends are explained in simple language. You can also peruse YouTube, where you can often see car content creators use the technical terms as they show you the cars, giving you a point of reference. I'll be honest, I actually learnt how to tell how many cylinders a car engine has through one of these videos!

3. Experience cars first-hand

Reading and watching videos are great, but nothing builds confidence like seeing and feeling a car in person. Attend local car meets, visit a showroom or join an open day. Some of my favourite car events, to see a whole range of cars, include Goodwood Festival of Speed, Brooklands American Car Day and Gravity Show. You'll see something that takes your fancy, and you don't have to talk to the owners, if you don't want to, but you can test your knowledge or just enjoy yourself. Even if you’re only looking, the experience will help you put the things you’ve read about into context.

Bring a friend along if that makes you more comfortable. You’ll often find owners are more than happy to talk about their cars and share their knowledge in a way that’s easy to understand. Some even put pamphlets out and links to their social pages, helping you connect more with the car(s) on show. Most exhibitors are proud of what they are showing, so will want to have a conversation about it.

4. Find your community

Confidence grows in safe spaces. Look for communities where questions are encouraged and everyone is welcome. That could be a local club, a Facebook group or even the comments section on any of my Belinda Automotive posts.

When you’re surrounded by people who share your enthusiasm and respect your learning curve, you’ll feel more comfortable exploring topics that once felt off-limits. You may also meet people who are just as eager as you to learn about cars, and who may become dear friends in the long run.

Not to toot my own horn or anything, but that works really well for me.

5. Celebrate small wins

Every bit of progress counts. Maybe you correctly guessed the make of a car from its badge or explained a feature to a friend. You might have plucked up the courage to ask your favourite creator a question or tried starting a conversation on a car you like the look of. Those small wins build up until one day you realise you’ve stopped second-guessing yourself.

Take me, for example. I've been celebrating all the wins for Belinda Automotive, whether it was 1 year of content creation, inspiring others to dream, creating a safe community or achieving follower goals. The more you show up for yourself, the more confidence you will build.

Remember, confidence isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about trusting that you belong in the conversation.

Keep builing confidence in your car knowledge

Building confidence in car knowledge doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small, stay curious and surround yourself with welcoming spaces. The more time you spend around cars and people who enjoy them, the more natural it will feel.

The car world is vast, but it has room for everyone. Your journey is yours to define, and that’s what makes it exciting.

And, if you're looking for a car community to be part of, why not check me on out Instagram. I'm also across LinkedIn, TikTok, Threads, Facebook and YouTube.