Plain-English definitions of the terms used in the UK vehicle salvage and car-parts export trade. Terms linked below have a fuller explanation of their own.
- Half cut
- A vehicle cut across the middle so that one complete end — front or rear — can be shipped intact with its components still assembled.
- Engine code
- The manufacturer code identifying an exact engine variant — the only reliable way to confirm that a replacement engine will fit.
- Gearbox code
- The manufacturer code identifying an exact gearbox variant, used to confirm fitment in the same way an engine code is.
- Container consolidation
- Combining many separate parts or orders into a single shipping container so the freight cost is spread across the whole load.
- End-of-life vehicle (ELV)
- A vehicle that has reached the end of its useful life and is destined for dismantling, recycling or breaking for parts.
- Spares or repair
- A condition label meaning the item is sold as faulty, incomplete or untested, and is expected to need work before use.
- Reconditioned
- A part that has been stripped, cleaned, repaired and restored back towards its original specification, usually with a working guarantee.
- Packing list
- The document itemising everything in a shipment, cross-referenced to the physical labels, used alongside the commercial invoice for customs clearance.
- Breaking
- Dismantling a vehicle to sell its parts individually, rather than selling or scrapping the vehicle whole.
- Front cut
- The front half of a half cut, carrying the engine, gearbox, radiator pack, loom, suspension, steering and front panels. Also called a nose cut.
- OE / OE-fit
- Original Equipment — a part made to the specification fitted by the vehicle manufacturer, as opposed to an aftermarket equivalent.
- Bench tested
- An electrical unit powered up and checked off the vehicle to confirm it functions before it is sold.
- Commercial invoice
- The document stating the goods, their value and the parties to the sale, required for customs clearance on any export shipment.
- LCL / FCL
- Less than Container Load (sharing a container) and Full Container Load (taking the whole container). LCL suits smaller loads; FCL costs less per item at volume.
- Salvage
- A vehicle written off or withdrawn from use, sold complete for repair or export, or broken for its parts.
- Part number
- The manufacturer reference identifying an exact component — the most reliable way to confirm a part matches the one you need.
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