What Is a Car With 3 Wheels Called?

A car with three wheels is most commonly called a “three-wheeler” or “three-wheeled car.” Depending on design and local laws, you may also hear “trike” (often motorcycle-based) or “autocycle” (a legal category in many U.S. states). While the basic idea is simple—three wheels instead of four—the terminology, configurations, and regulations vary by region and vehicle type.

Common Terms and What They Mean

Several overlapping terms are used for three-wheeled vehicles, and each carries a slightly different nuance. The explanations below clarify how enthusiasts, regulators, and the public typically use them.

• Three-wheeler / Three-wheeled car: A general, widely accepted description for passenger-oriented vehicles with three wheels and car-like controls or bodywork.
• Trike: Short for “tricycle,” commonly used for motorcycle-derived three-wheelers. It often implies a rider straddling the seat, though some people apply it broadly.
• Autocycle: In many U.S. states, a legal category for a three-wheeled vehicle with a steering wheel and car-like seating (no straddling). Licensing, helmet, and safety requirements can differ from standard motorcycles and cars.
• Auto rickshaw / Tuk-tuk: A three-wheeled taxi or light utility vehicle prevalent in Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America—more commercial than personal-car in purpose.

In practice, “three-wheeler” is the safest catch-all term, while “trike” and “autocycle” describe specific design or legal contexts that may not apply universally.

How They’re Built: Configurations and Design Choices

Three-wheeled vehicles come in two main layouts and may include design features that affect stability, handling, and comfort.

• Tadpole (reverse trike): Two wheels in front, one in back. Favored for stability and braking performance—common on sporty models.
• Delta: One wheel in front, two in back. Simpler packaging and often found on utility or classic designs.
• Enclosed vs. open cockpit: Some models have fully enclosed, car-like cabins; others are open like motorcycles or roadsters.
• Tilting mechanisms: A minority of designs allow the body to lean into turns, improving cornering feel and stability.

These choices influence how a three-wheeler drives and how it’s classified: a tadpole layout with a steering wheel and seat belts may be regulated differently than an open, straddled delta trike.

What the Law Says: Classification and Safety

Regulations vary widely. In the United States, three-wheeled vehicles are generally classified as motorcycles at the federal level, meaning motorcycle safety standards apply. Many states have added an “autocycle” category for three-wheelers with car-like controls, adjusting helmet rules, licensing, and registration. In the European Union and the U.K., most three-wheeled motor vehicles fall under L-category rules (notably L5e for three-wheelers), which differ from passenger-car (M1) standards. The result: a vehicle that looks like a car may face motorcycle-like regulations, depending on where you live.

Notable Examples Around the World

From classic curiosities to modern commuters, these vehicles illustrate the range of three-wheeler designs and uses.

• Reliant Robin (U.K.): A lightweight, delta-layout classic known for its distinctive styling.
• Morgan Super 3 / Morgan 3 Wheeler (U.K.): Retro-styled, enthusiast-focused models with open cockpits.
• Polaris Slingshot (U.S.): Often categorized as an autocycle; tadpole layout with a steering wheel and side-by-side seats.
• Can-Am Spyder/Ryker (Canada): Reverse-trike motorcycles with straddled seating and handlebar steering.
• Aptera (U.S.): A highly aerodynamic, three-wheeled, solar-assisted electric vehicle positioned as an efficient commuter; often treated as an autocycle in the U.S.
• Piaggio Ape and Bajaj RE (Italy/India): Workhorses and taxis—classic examples of three-wheeled utility and urban transport.

These examples show that “three-wheeler” spans everything from sporty weekenders to practical city movers, with legal labels shifting by market.

Which Term Should You Use?

If you’re speaking generally, “three-wheeler” or “three-wheeled car” is clear and widely understood. Use “trike” when the machine is motorcycle-based with straddled seating or handlebars, and “autocycle” when referring to vehicles that, under many U.S. state laws, have a steering wheel and car-like seating but still sit in a three-wheel category.

Summary

A car with three wheels is commonly called a three-wheeler or three-wheeled car. Depending on design and jurisdiction, it may also be described as a trike or classified as an autocycle. Configurations (tadpole vs. delta), body style, and local regulations shape both how these vehicles perform and what they’re legally called.

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What exactly is a Slingshot vehicle?

The Slingshot is federally classified as a three-wheeled motorcycle. Most states classify it as an Autocycle, which means that only a valid driver’s license is needed to drive the vehicle.

Why are 3 wheeled cars so rare?

Because three wheeled cars are inherently unstable, also can’t transport anywhere near as much. Three wheelers are usually 1 person cars, occasionally 2 people. So they’re unsafe and too small.

Are 3 wheel cars legal in the US?

No, three-wheelers are not illegal to own in the U.S., but the sale of new three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) was banned in 1988. You can still own and operate a used three-wheeled ATV, though you must follow local laws for licensing and operation. Modern three-wheeled vehicles, such as autocycles and some three-wheeled motorcycles, are also legal to own and operate with the proper licensing. 
What was banned? 

• Three-Wheeled ATVs: In 1988, a consent decree between federal regulators and ATV manufacturers effectively ended the sale and production of new three-wheeled ATVs due to high injury rates.

What is legal to own?

• Used Three-Wheeled ATVs: You can still legally own and operate a used three-wheeled ATV. 
• Modern Three-Wheeled Vehicles: Vehicles like the Can-Am On-Road (a three-wheeled motorcycle) and autocycles are legal to own and operate. 

Key things to remember:

• State-by-State Regulations: While the sale of new three-wheeled ATVs is banned nationwide, licensing and registration requirements for all types of three-wheelers vary by state. 
• Driver’s License: You may only need a standard driver’s license for some models, while others require a motorcycle license or a special three-wheel motorcycle endorsement. 
• Used Market: You can legally buy, sell, and operate a used three-wheeled ATV.