What Does STD Stand For?

When it comes to cars, “STD” is an abbreviation for “standard” and could have two separate meanings. On one hand, it could mean that a particular feature is standard on a given car or trim level. On the other hand, it could mean that a car is equipped with a manual transmission, which is known as a standard transmission in certain regions.

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Standard features are those that are included with a car no matter what. In some cases, features are standard across all of a vehicle’s trim levels. In others, a higher trim level may include features as standard that were optional on a lower trim level. These features could be anything from standard safety technologies such as automatic emergency braking or LED headlights to a more powerful engine or larger wheels. The most likely place to see the STD abbreviation for this meaning of standard is on a lengthy list of features a vehicle might have.

A manual, or standard, transmission, meanwhile, is one in which drivers must operate a clutch themselves, usually using an additional foot pedal to the left of the brake and accelerator pedals (occasionally referred to as three-pedal driving), to move the gear selector to select a gear. Depending on geographical location, the STD abbreviation may be used to indicate a car is equipped with a manual transmission — a big clue will be if you see “STD” next to something like “Transmission:” — though it’s more likely to be listed as “manual.”

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