Vehicle underbody

A vehicle underbody 1 has an underbody paneling 6 with at least one opening 3 for allowing a rear axle link (5, Figure 1) to extend at least temporarily therethrough. Opening 3 is covered by a shiftable flap 4, which can be shifted against the restoring force of a force accumulator 9, for example a V-shaped leaf spring, to temporarily open up opening 3. Flap 4 may have a flat surface and two side surfaces 16 perpendicular to the flat surface; each side surface 16 may have a channel formed by a protruding collar to support force accumulator 9. Flap 4 may be plastic, for example polycarbonate, polypropylene or polyamide. A vehicle with two openings 3, each closable with a flap 4, is also claimed.