How to Prevent Rodents in Cars

AAA’s Car Doctor John Paul often gets desperate emails from car owners who find themselves ride sharing with rodents.

“Somebody emailed me the other day because they opened up their car hood and there was a pizza box,” Paul said. “I mean, some rodent dragged a pizza box under the hood of their car.”

He is often asked the same two questions: How do I get a critter out of my vehicle? How do I prevent rodents in cars in the first place?

Sadly, Paul said, there is no 100% foolproof way to prevent a determined rodent from trying to make a home in your vehicle. As a fictitious paleontologist once said, “Life finds a way.”

However, there are steps car owners can take to reduce the risk of rodents nesting in a car engine, and to avoid fun surprises — like pizza boxes — when popping the hood.

Keep It Clean

Critters generally want two things out of vehicles: food and shelter. You have more control over the former than the latter. How many crumbs you leave behind from your morning-commute breakfast sandwich might determine how attractive your car is to rodents. Clean your car thoroughly and regularly.

Be Aware of Your Parking Surroundings

If there are plentiful food sources near your vehicle’s exterior it’s more likely rodents will nest inside. Situate bird seed and outdoor cat food dishes far away from your vehicle. If you have fruit or nut trees, rake regularly near your parking spot to clean up rotting organic matter. And avoid trash bins if you can.

“If you live in an apartment complex and they have some dumpsters outside, that is not the parking space you want to get,” Paul said.

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Seal Up Entry Points

If you have evidence of rodent activity in your garage or signs of nesting near your car, use some expandable foam or steel wool to plug up small openings. Remember that rodents often fit through the size of a nickel or dime, so be as thorough as you can be without causing damage to your structure or preventing healthy air flow.

Use It or Lose It

It’s harder to hit a moving target. Use your car regularly to prevent rodents from getting too cozy. If you park on the street or a parking lot, keep critters guessing by rotating where you park. If you are going on an extended trip and no one will be using your vehicle, do what you can to rodent-proof it. Depending on your budget, the worth of your vehicle and your local weather, this may mean a special storage facility, or it may mean a weighted tarp specially designed for car storage.

Remain Vigilant

There are many products on the market, from ultrasonic devices to predator sprays, that claim to prevent rodents from nesting in your car, and there are also folk remedies some people swear by. A few may work well, some only help in certain circumstances and others just don’t work at all. If you find something that works, Paul says it’s important to remember that rodents can get used to a lot of things. Don’t assume what worked last season will work this season and remember that scents wear off.

Check Your Policy

Not all car insurance policies provide coverage for rodent damage. Don’t wait until you see signs of damage. Contact your insurance provider to see if you’re covered, or if you can purchase an additional rodent damage add-on or rider.

Reach out to a AAA insurance agent.

Let’s say you’ve done your best and you still hear the pitter patter of little feet in your vehicle. What now? You need to take action. Gnawing teeth can cause thousands of dollars of damage to car wiring.

Paul favors snap traps over glue traps and poisons because they offer the best chance for retrieval. Poisons can especially be problematic because rodents go to secluded and hard-to-reach places to die. He also cautions against spreading poisons near cars that may harm other wildlife.

If you see signs of multiple rodents, consider hiring a professional exterminator before things get out of hand. And if you notice any damage to wiring or change in vehicle performance with rodents present, have your vehicle checked out right away by a certified mechanic.

Find your nearest AAA-Approved Auto Repair facility.

Have you ever found a rodent living in your car? Tell us about it in the comments.

Craig Idlebrook

Based in Massachusetts, Craig Idlebrook has written for AAA publications for over 20 years. He also has served as editor for several other publications. In his free time, he drives his youngest child to activities, cooks with his wife and fusses over his cat.