A scout car is a of military armored reconnaissance vehicle, capable of off-road mobility and often carrying mounted weapons such as machine guns for offensive capabilities and crew protection. They often only carry an operational crew aboard, which differentiates them from wheeled armored personnel carriers (APCs) and Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMVs), but early scout cars, such as the open-topped US M3 Scout Car could carry a crew of seven. The term is often used synonymously with the more general term armored car, which also includes armored civilian vehicles. They are also differentiated by being designed and built for purpose, as opposed to improved technicals which might serve in the same role.
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The British developed a number of Scout cars by adding armoured bodies to existing chassis - such as the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car or the purpose-built Daimler Dingo. In comparison to British armoured cars they carried no more armament than a single light machine gun and where generally turretless. Their duties were fast reconnaissance and liaison work. The Dingo remained in use until replaced by the Ferret, also by Daimler, in the 1950s.