As　the　development　of　vehicle　sound　insulation　technology,　drivers　ignore　some　external　sound　information　regularly.　It　is　particularly　important　for　the　recognition　of　external　sounds　when　the　vehicle　is　driving.　The　real-Time　detection　of　the　fundamental　frequency　of　the　external　sound　is　not　accurate　due　to　the　complexity　of　the　external　environment　and　the　noise　interference.　In　this　paper,　a　recognition　algorithm　of　vehicle　external　specific　sounds　is　presented.　The　spectrum　information　of　the　external　sound　is　converted　into　an　image　form,　and　the　analysis　result　is　obtained　after　processing　the　spectrum　image.　We　choose　five　different　types　of　sounds　and　the　total　number　of　1000　samples　for　testing.　The　experiment　data　shows　that　the　overall　accuracy　of　the　algorithm＇s　processing　data　can　reach　more　than　90%,　and　the　recognition　rate　can　reach　more　than　90%.　This　algorithm　has　the　characteristics　of　high　accuracy　and　strong　robustness,　and　it　can　easily　be　realized　in　real　time.　©　Published　under　licence　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.