What is the death car called?

It’s commonly called a hearse—also known as a funeral car or funeral coach—the specially equipped vehicle used to transport a deceased person in a casket or coffin from a funeral home or place of service to the cemetery or crematorium. The term “death car” is informal and sometimes sensational; in professional and cultural contexts, “hearse” is the standard term.

Definition and Purpose

A hearse is a purpose-built or professionally converted vehicle designed to carry a casket with dignity and stability. It features a long, flat cargo area with rollers or a bier, securement straps, and often privacy glass. In a funeral procession, the hearse leads or appears near the head of the cortege, symbolizing the final journey.

What it’s called around the world

While “hearse” is widely understood in English, many regions and languages use distinct terms that reflect local customs and funeral traditions. Below is a concise look at common names.

• United States/Canada: hearse, funeral car, funeral coach
• United Kingdom/Ireland: hearse (funeral hearse)
• Australia/New Zealand: hearse
• France: corbillard
• Italy: carro funebre
• Spain/Latin America: coche fúnebre / carro fúnebre
• Germany: Leichenwagen or Bestattungswagen
• Netherlands/Belgium (Dutch): lijkwagen
• Scandinavia: likbil (Sweden/Norway), ligbil (Denmark)
• Poland: karawan
• Russia: катафалк (katafalk)
• Japan: 霊柩車 (reikyūsha)
• China: 灵车 (língchē)
• India and South Asia (English usage): hearse van or mortuary van
• South Africa: hearse

These terms vary with language and tradition, but all describe the same specialized vehicle serving a solemn role in funeral rites.

Types and Designs

Hearses come in several configurations, reflecting cultural preferences, terrain, and family requests. The following outlines the most common types seen today.

• Limousine-style hearse: A stretched, coach-built vehicle (often based on Cadillac, Lincoln, Mercedes, or Jaguar chassis) with an extended rear compartment.
• Glass-sided hearse: Features large side windows to display the casket and floral tributes, popular in parts of Europe and Latin America.
• Horse-drawn hearse: Traditional carriage used for ceremonial or heritage funerals; still chosen for its pageantry and symbolism.
• Motorcycle hearse: A motorcycle with a sidecar or trailer bier, often selected by motorcycle clubs or for personalized tributes.
• SUV/pickup-based conversions: Common in rural areas or regions needing higher ground clearance and cargo space.
• Electric hearse: Emerging eco-friendly options converted from EV platforms to reduce emissions during ceremonies.
• Ambulance/hearse combination (historical): Earlier multipurpose vehicles sometimes served both roles, now largely obsolete.

Across formats, the defining feature is a stable, respectful platform with securement systems designed for dignified transport.

Historical Background

The hearse traces its roots to horse-drawn carriages of the 17th to 19th centuries, when ornate black coaches signaled social status and community mourning. With the rise of the automobile in the early 20th century, coachbuilders adapted luxury car frames into motorized hearses, integrating rollers, hushed suspensions, and ceremonial styling. Today’s models balance tradition with modern safety and accessibility features, including wider doors, powered loading decks, and climate control for flowers and attendants.

Cultural Associations and Etiquette

Hearses carry deep symbolic meaning, and many regions observe customary practices to show respect during funeral processions. The points below summarize common expectations and symbolism.

• Procession etiquette: Drivers often yield to a marked funeral procession, which may use headlights, hazard lights, flags, or police escort; local traffic laws vary.
• Symbolism: The hearse signifies the finality of death and the community’s collective respect for the deceased and family.
• Roles and placement: Pallbearers and immediate family often travel in vehicles directly ahead of or behind the hearse.
• Safety: Modern hearses emphasize secure casket restraints and smooth handling to maintain dignity and safety en route.
• Regulation: Funeral vehicles may be subject to commercial vehicle standards, local permits for processions, and professional driver guidelines.

While specific customs differ, the shared aim is an orderly, respectful journey that honors the deceased.

When “Death Car” Means Something Else

Beyond the general nickname for a hearse, “death car” is sometimes used in media and folklore to describe vehicles linked to famous fatalities or crimes, or fictional cars associated with violence. The examples below illustrate the broader cultural usage.

Bonnie and Clyde’s Ford V8

The bullet-riddled 1934 Ford V8 in which outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed is widely dubbed the “Bonnie and Clyde death car.” It has been exhibited by private collectors and museums, symbolizing a violent chapter in U.S. crime history.

James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder

James Dean’s 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, nicknamed “Little Bastard,” is often called a “death car” in popular lore after the crash that killed him. Rumors of a “curse” surrounding salvaged parts amplified the legend, though such claims remain unproven.

Pop Culture and Fiction

Films, TV, and novels—such as Stephen King’s “Christine” (a possessed car) and the 1979 TV movie “The Death Car on the Freeway”—have reinforced the dramatic phrase, even when the vehicle involved is not a hearse.

Summary

The vehicle colloquially called a “death car” is properly known as a hearse, or funeral car/coach—a specialized vehicle for transporting the deceased. Names vary globally, and designs range from limousine-style and glass-sided models to horse-drawn and electric variants. While the term “death car” sometimes refers to infamous vehicles in history and fiction, in everyday and professional contexts “hearse” remains the accurate, respectful term.

What is the name of the killer car?

Christine
Christine: The Frankenstein Fury
Due to the nature of the killer car, at least 20 Plymouth models were needed on set, and not all of them were genuine 1958 Furys. In order to match the look and feel of the original, crew members used earlier versions of the Plymouth Fury, Belvedere, and Savoy cars.

What is the car coffin goes in?

hearse
The role of the hearse is to carry the coffin so it will make the journey to the funeral service and the burial/cremation location if they are in two different places. You can discuss with your funeral director whether you’d like the funeral car carrying mourners to transfer them to the wake or back home.

What is a dead body car called?

A hearse (/hɜːrs/) is a large vehicle, originally a horse carriage but later with the introduction of motor vehicles, a car, used to carry the body of a deceased person in a coffin to a funeral, wake, or graveside service. They range from deliberately anonymous vehicles to heavily decorated vehicles.

What is a funeral home driver called?

A Mortuary Transport Driver is responsible for the safe and respectful transportation of deceased individuals from homes, hospitals, or accident scenes to funeral homes, morgues, or medical facilities.