"there was a projection of roof from the side of the house, open on three sides and supported on the far side by a couple of posts. It covered the side door and the end of the driveway so as to shelter a car [sure does rain a lot in the Pacific Northwest] and permit passengers to go from house to car or the other way without getting wet."

I would call that a 'car port', which term I thought was originally imported here from the western side of the pond.