Whether you are behind the wheel or riding shotgun as a passenger, navigating the roads requires a very specific set of vocabulary. In English, native speakers heavily rely on phrasal verbs to describe everything from starting a journey to handling a sudden roadside emergency.
To help you move your English to the advanced level, we have broken down 18 essential driving phrasal verbs. By mastering these expressions, you will be able to talk about your daily commute naturally and confidently.
🚙 The Golden Rule of Commuting: “Get In” vs. “Get On”
Before diving into the full list, there is one crucial grammatical distinction that every English learner must master:
Private Vehicles vs. Public Transportation
- Use Get in / Get out for private vehicles (e.g., cars, cabs, trucks).
- Use Get on / Get off for public transportation (e.g., buses, subways, trains, airplanes).
The 18 Driving Phrasal Verbs: A Complete Visual Guide
Here is a detailed explanation of each phrasal verb, complete with clear definitions and contextual examples.
1. Pick up
- Meaning: To go somewhere by car, collect a person, and give them a ride. It can also be used for collecting objects or groceries.
- Example: “I offered to pick her up from the airport after her flight landed.”
2. Get in
- Meaning: To enter a private vehicle.
- Example: “I got in my car, adjusted the mirrors, and started the engine.”
3. Back out
- Meaning: To exit a parking spot, driveway, or garage using reverse gear.
- Example: “Be careful of pedestrians when you are backing out of the driveway.”
4. Drive off
- Meaning: To drive away and completely leave a specific location.
- Example: “The courier delivered the package and then immediately drove off.”
5. Speed up
- Meaning: To accelerate, go faster, or gain speed.
- Example: “As I entered the highway, I tried to speed up to match the flow of traffic.”
6. Slow down
- Meaning: To decelerate, reduce your speed, or go slower.
- Example: “The road signs warn drivers to slow down when approaching a school zone.”
7. Pull over
- Meaning: To steer your vehicle to the side of the road and bring it to a complete stop. This is common when allowing emergency vehicles to pass or when stopped by law enforcement.
- Example: “The police officer flashed his lights, so I pulled over to the side of the road.”
8. Shut off
- Meaning: To turn off, switch off, or completely stop the operation of an engine or electrical equipment.
- Example: “Remember to shut off your headlights when you park so you don’t drain the battery.”
9. Break down
- Meaning: When a mechanical machine, engine, or vehicle suddenly stops working.
- Example: “My worst nightmare is having my car break down in the middle of a busy intersection.”
10. Run out (of)
- Meaning: To completely exhaust your supply of something, leaving a container or fuel tank empty.
- Example: “I forgot to check the fuel gauge and unfortunately run out of gas on my way home.”
11. Pass by
- Meaning: To go past a specific location, object, or person on your way to another destination.
- Example: “Another driver happened to pass by and noticed I was stranded on the shoulder.”
12. Get out
- Meaning: To exit a private vehicle like a car or a taxi.
- Example: “As soon as the car stopped, I got out of my car to inspect the flat tire.”
13. Flag down
- Meaning: To signal a moving vehicle to stop by actively waving your arms or hands.
- Example: “I managed to flag down a passing tow truck to ask for emergency assistance.”
14. Drop off
- Meaning: To take a passenger or an object to a specific destination and leave them there.
- Example: “Can you drop me off right in front of the main entrance?”
15. Fill up
- Meaning: To add gasoline or fuel until the vehicle’s fuel tank is completely full.
- Example: “That small amount of fuel was just enough to make it to the station and fill up.”
16. Take off
- Meaning: To leave a location very quickly (colloquially adopted from an airplane leaving a runway).
- Example: “As soon as the light turned green, the sports car took off at full speed.”
17. Turn around
- Meaning: To make a U-turn or completely reverse the vehicle’s physical direction of travel.
- Example: “I realized I was heading the wrong way on a one-way street, so I turned around.”
18. Drive back
- Meaning: To return to a previous location by car along the same route you just traveled.
- Example: “After a long weekend at the beach, we had to drive back to the city.”
Interactive Practice Quiz
Test your comprehension of these phrasal verbs by selecting the correct expression for each scenario below:
Scenario A
You are driving down a quiet neighborhood road and notice a flashing speed limit sign near a playground. What should you do?
- Best Phrasal Verb: Slow down
Scenario B
An ambulance with loud sirens and flashing red lights appears directly behind your car on a two-lane road. What action must you take?
- Best Phrasal Verb: Pull over
Scenario C
Your car engine makes a strange popping noise, black smoke pours from the hood, and the vehicle completely loses power on the highway. What has happened?
- Best Phrasal Verb: Your car has broken down.
Speaking Time: Share Your Experience!
Active practice is the key to mastering advanced grammar and vocabulary. Think about a time you had a frustrating or eventful road trip or daily commute.
Write a short 3-sentence story about your commute in the comments section below using at least three of these driving phrasal verbs, and our advanced English team will review your usage!
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