Car spotting for beginners: how to get started

Car spotting is the hobby of finding and photographing interesting cars out in the real world, from rare classics and limited editions to the latest supercars. It costs nothing to start, you can do it almost anywhere, and every trip out becomes a chance to find something special. Here's everything you need to get going.

What is car spotting?

At its simplest, car spotting means keeping your eyes open for cars worth a second look and taking a photo when you find one. Some spotters chase supercars in city centres, others love classics, rare trims or a particular brand. There are no rules about what counts: if a car makes you stop and look, it's worth spotting. For where the hobby came from and what spotters look for, read What is car spotting?

Many spotters keep a collection of everything they've found. That used to mean folders of photos on a phone. Now apps like CarSpot turn every car into a collectible card, so you can see your progress and how rare your finds are.

What you need

• Your phone. Modern phone cameras are more than good enough. A camera with a zoom lens helps for cars across the street, but it isn't essential.
• A spotting app. CarSpot identifies the make, model and generation from your photo and keeps track of your collection, with specs, estimated values and a rarity tier for every car.
• Comfortable shoes and patience. The best spots often come to those who wait in the right place.

Where to find interesting cars

You can spot cars anywhere, but some places give you far better odds.

• Wealthy city districts. High-end shopping streets, luxury hotels and smart residential areas attract expensive cars. In London, Knightsbridge and Mayfair are famous for it: see our guide to where to spot supercars in London.
• Car meets. Weekend morning meets, often called "cars and coffee", bring dozens of enthusiast cars together in one car park. Search social media and local car clubs for meets near you.
• Shows, races and hill climbs. Motor shows, concours events, race meetings and track days are the best places to see rare and valuable cars up close. Our UK car events calendar lists the biggest ones.
• Dealerships. Prestige and specialist dealers often have rare stock on display, and many are happy for you to look from the pavement.
• Motorway services and scenic roads. Popular driving roads and the service stations near them fill up with enthusiasts on sunny weekends.
• Your everyday routes. Interesting cars turn up everywhere: the supermarket car park, the school run, your commute. Once you start looking, you'll be surprised how much you've been missing.

What to look for

Supercars grab attention, but some of the best finds are quieter. Look out for performance versions hiding in plain sight, limited editions, cars from small manufacturers, modern classics from the 1980s and 1990s, and cars that are rarely sold in your country. Learning the small details that separate a standard model from a special one is half the fun. Our guide to identifying a car from a photo explains what to check.

In CarSpot, every car has a rarity tier. Everyday cars are easy to find, while the rarest tiers are made up of hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers. Read how CarSpot rarity works to see what each tier means.

Car spotting etiquette

Good spotters are welcome everywhere. A few simple rules keep it that way:

• Never touch a car without the owner's permission, and don't lean on it for a photo.
• Stay safe. Don't step into the road, stop traffic or follow cars, and never use your phone while driving.
• Respect private property. Take photos from public places, and leave if you're asked to.
• Be friendly with owners. Most love talking about their cars, but if someone doesn't want photos, respect that.
• Think before you share. Keep people's faces and home addresses out of the pictures you post. CarSpot blurs number plates on card photos automatically before they can be shared.

Turn it into a game

Collecting is what keeps car spotting fun week after week. In CarSpot, every car you snap becomes a card in your garage. Rarer cars earn more XP, so you can level up, unlock badges, keep a daily spotting streak and see your spots on a map. You can also add friends and see each other's garages.

Spotting is a great family activity too. For ideas to keep everyone busy on long journeys, try our car spotting games for road trips.

Good first targets

Don't wait for a hypercar to start your collection. Begin with cars you see often, then work your way up. Performance cars like the BMW M3 and Nissan GT-R are a step up, and the badge on each card shows how rare it is in CarSpot.

Once you've got the bug, browse the CarSpot car database to see what's out there, or check the top lists for the fastest, most powerful and rarest cars to hunt for.