Un Automóvil presidencial o coche de Estado es aquel vehículo usado por el gobierno de un país para el transporte del jefe de estado ya sea un presidente, un rey, un primer ministro, dependiendo del país donde se use, aunque también pueden ser usados por miembros del gabinete de alto rango de un gobierno así como el personal de confianza del mismo. Normalmente se requiere que este vehículo tenga algunos aspectos de seguridad y distinción así como una capacitación para manejar situaciones de riesgo que tenga que enfrentarse el chofer y el equipo de seguridad, complementando con un blindaje normalmente de nivel antiterrorista, por lo general muchas características de este tipo son información clasificada para evitar sabotajes por parte de grupos subversivos también cumpliendo con una función de identificación del jefe de estado. Corrientemente se escoge una limusina, SUV o algún automóvil ejecutivo. Los choferes de este tipo de vehículo reciben un entrenamiento adicional, pudiendo requerir experiencia militar o en situaciones de riesgo, complementándose con una escolta militar, un perímetro de seguridad o una estrategia de protección integral de parte de las fuerzas armadas del país de donde es el jefe de estado, un ejemplo de esto es el automóvil presidencial de Estados Unidos en el cual para ser chofer de este se debe tener una completa experiencia previa y haber militado en el servicio secreto. Los vehículos de este tipo suelen ser de producción local, permitiendo que la confianza pueda ser mutua al asegurar la buena calidad y el compromiso de la empresa con la del jefe de estado. Estados Unidos utiliza un Cadillac, el Primer Ministro de Japón utiliza un Lexus, el monarca británico utiliza un Bentley, el primer ministro de Italia utiliza un Maserati y el presidente/a de Argentina utiliza un Audi A8. Así mismo algunos países se alternan entre los vehículos fabricados por cada uno de sus productores nacionales, y se considera un honor para un fabricante de automóviles a ser seleccionado para proporcionar un vehículo estatal para sus respectivos países. Para los países sin fabricantes de automóviles insignias, un coche oficial del estado puede ser comprado a un fabricante adecuado en un país con fuertes lazos económicos y diplomáticos. Canadá utiliza exclusivamente los coches fabricados por alguna de las 3 grandes compañías automotrices de Detroit, muchos de los cuales se hacen en las fábricas canadienses. El gobierno canadiense también posee acciones en General Motors y Chrysler después de su reestructuración en la recesión económica de 2008.

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An official state car is a car used by a government to transport its head of state or head of government in an official capacity, which may also be used occasionally to transport other members of the government or visiting dignitaries from other countries. A few countries bring their own official state car for state visits to other countries., like the USA, Russia and sometimes the UK. It also may serve as an automotive symbol of the head of state and their country. Part of the criteria for an official state car is to have adequate security, capability and stateliness for its duty. A limousine, executive car or sport utility vehicle is usually selected. Due to the high security risk for the passengers, these vehicles are often heavily secured and protected. Vehicles may be armored by the manufacturer or an after-market specialist. (In this article the term "armored car" invariably means a reinforced civilian vehicle, not the military vehicle often so named.) When carrying an important passenger, state vehicles may be surrounded by a motorcade consisting of police or military personnel. The vehicle's driver might also be from the law enforcement or military pool; the driver of the United States Presidential State Car is an experienced agent from the Secret Service, and the British Prime Minister is driven by a Specialist Protection officer from the Metropolitan Police Service. For state visits and international conferences, the host country usually supplies the ground transportation and security personnel. However, a few countries transport their official state cars to the destination. In countries that have indigenous automobile manufacturers, the government will usually commission one of the national automakers to provide a state car, or allow several to provide cars for an official state fleet. It is considered an honour for a car manufacturer to be selected to provide a state car for their respective country and a demonstration of the confidence of a government in their national industry. For example, the President of the United States currently uses a Cadillac with special undisclosed security features commissioned by the United States government and built by General Motors, with Lincoln, manufactured by Ford Motor Company and Chrysler vehicles having been used in the past, representing the three major American manufacturers. The Emperor of Japan uses a Toyota Century, the Prime Minister of Italy uses a Maserati, the Prime Minister of Malaysia uses a Proton Perdana, the President of the Czech Republic rides a Škoda Superb, the Prime Minister of Australia, senior cabinet ministers, the Governor General, Governors and all Members of Parliament are driven in either a luxury Holden or Ford and the British monarch uses a Bentley. Members of the British Royal Family are driven in Jaguars, though other makes may be used in other Commonwealth realms (for instance, Holden Caprices while in Australia). The President of France can choose from cars manufactured by Renault or PSA Peugeot Citroën, and all major German manufacturers (Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen Group) are represented in Germany's pool of vehicles available for use by state officials. For countries without major indigenous manufacturers, an official state car may be purchased from a suitable manufacturer in a nation with strong economic and diplomatic ties. Canada exclusively uses state cars manufactured by the Detroit Three, many of which are made in Canadian factories, with the United States and American car manufacturers having a historically strong relationship with Canada. The Canadian government also holds shares in General Motors and Chrysler following their restructuring in the economic downturn of 2008. In some cases state cars may bear standard number plates; in others special or no plates are used. The following information lists some state cars and their users of sovereign states and other territories; the list is likely to be out of date in some cases as incumbents and cars change.

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