10 Safety Tips for Sleeping in Your Car

1Set Up a Warm Bed

You are going to sleep in your car through the night, which is usually cold. The first thing always to consider is how to get a comfortable and warm bed.

One way to get this done is to flatten both the front and rear passenger seats and build them into a bed with a sleeping mattress and bag. With this, you can sleep with your head lying on the flattened front passenger seats and your feet at the back of the car. If you are tall, you can sleep diagonally.

To provide warmth, you can invest in some warm clothes. Also, going with a pillow will help promote comfort.

2Locate a Safe Space to Park

Where you park your car to sleep is a significant factor in the kind of experience you have when sleeping in your car.

An excellent location to cater to all these factors can be found around shopping areas, religious buildings, and residential streets.

3Text Your Location to a Friend or Family

While this may sound alarming, it is the right thing to do.

Though you have checked that the place you are sleeping is void of criminals and intruders, you never know what may happen before the next morning.

As such, it is always a great idea to let some close to you know where you are having your night sleep.

4Turn the Engine Off

With the cold night, you may be tempted to leave the engine running to provide heat and keep you warm, but this poses more harm than good.

Leaving your car engine running will contaminate the air with carbon monoxide – a gas that is dangerous to your health.

5Leave a Window Slightly Open

While it is not ideal to leave your window widely open, it is equally unwise to close your windows completely.

Leaving your window open completely gives room for night dew, and completely closing your window reduces air circulation, which may make you feel uncomfortable the next morning.

As such, slightly keep two of your car windows open.

6Cover the Window for Privacy

We all cherish privacy, and this should be one of your priorities when sleeping in your car.

You won’t feel comfortable seeing people outside watching you in your car. One way to do this is to hang some clothes on the car’s window. This is more necessary on the side you place your head.

7Be Sure the Place Allows You to Sleep in Your Car

Some states in the USA do not allow residents to sleep in their cars. The case is the same in Europe.

However, you can find out if you are allowed to sleep in your car where you park by search online if the law of the particular state allows you to spend the night in the car.

8Prepare a Story for the Authority

Even after searching the internet and confirming that it is legal to sleep in your car in the place, there are chances that people who are unhappy will report you to the authority.

It is, therefore, important to cook up a story for having to sleep in your car.

9Use the Bathroom Before Going to Bed

One thing you won’t like is to wake up in the middle of the night to go out of your car to use the bathroom. This can make people around to suspect you and report you to the authority.

As such, ensure you empty your bladder before settling in your car for the night.

10Know the Time When People Wake Up in the Location

Be sure you know the time you are likely to be disturbed by people around. Sleeping in your can when people are busy moving around can even get you into trouble with the authority.

If you are sleeping in a store car park, be ready to wake before the store opens.