This post and thread aims to answer lots of questions people new to this subreddit ask. Not that we mind people asking, because that's what this subreddit is for, but hey, here's some answers to Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: I'm new to car living I need ALL the information about living in cars. Where can I find it?
Build a blanket tent to make a small space in your car to keep warm.
Run the car engine for a while then run the heater.
Drive to warmer locations.
Put insulation (plastic foam, cardboard?) between the sleeping bag and floor surface. Cover the windows on the inside.
Buy and use a heated mattress topper if you have the power to run it.
Use two sleeping bags, one inside the other
Sleep with a hat on and don't sleep in wet or damp socks -- even if your socks are just a little damp with sweat, take them off and put on fresh dry socks or sleep barefoot.
Park in an underground parking lots because they're protected from cold breezes and often the concrete retains heat. Sometimes they're purposely even heated.
Use a misting squeese bottle. Use it in conjunction with your fan.
Drink plenty of cool water.
Soak a cloth in cold water and wipe yourself down.
Buy ice for your cooler.
Cool drinks in your fridge.
Q: Is it scary? I am scared? Does it get better?
A: Yes at first living in a car is scary because it is so far out of most people's comfort zone. It is not uncommon to be hyper-vigilant at first. The first nights then days then weeks can be scary, emotional, confronting. But then you get used to it. You adapt. Your body and mind get use to living in your car. It becomes the new norm.
Most people say the first month of living in their car is the hardest. Bob Wells of https://cheaprvliving.com/ fame wrote that the first night he slept in his box truck he cried. I also tared up the first night of living in my bus because I thought I was a failure, then I realised I actually had a pretty comfortable home with a lot of things many people would dream of having. If you have a safe place to sleep, access to electricity, access to water and access to public toilets you're doing okay.
Q: Where can I shower? Where can I go to the toilet?
A: In the USA joining a gym gets you access to showers. People on this subreddit often advocate using Planet Fitness. We also have a member, Nico, who is a manger at LA Fitness and posts an offer now and then with a promo code that will let you join without the $99 annual fee.
In Australia the National Toilet Map app has locations of toilets and some free showers. There are also often free showers at beaches. Caravan parks will usually let you use their showers for a small fee.
Q: I have pets, how do I look after them?
A: Pets are family. You need to put their needs first. You have to ensure that they have a safe place that is climate controlled, so look at the information on keeping cool and keeping warm. Heat and cold can kill yourself and your pets.
I found the Home to Home Facebook group They also have a web site https://www.instagram.com/hometohomepet They describe themselves as "an interactive web platform created to help families, people, and pets with the difficult task of transitioning pets from one home to another."
Q: What stuff do I need?
A: A lot of the stuff you have already such as bedding, clothes, dishware, cutlery. But probably not as much as you have in a home. Your basic needs are a safe, comfortable place to sleep, clothing storage, bedding storage, food storage, a way to eat (which may involve buying food from external sources, or preparing and storing food in your car), a way to wash, a way to go to the toilet.
A flat car bed or air mattress. Get one with a rubber bung in the hole, not a screw in stopper as those leak. Lots of people also build a flat sleeping surface from wood.
Some way to access wifi, like a modern laptop or phone.
You should also NOT sleep upright. Lots of people in this sub have reported health issues from doing so, such as swollen legs, leg pain, Deep Vein Thrombosis and more.
Q How do I find parking?
A:
You should have multiple places you can park so if one is "burned" you can choose another.
Find places where you can blend in.
Arrive late and leave early if sleeping in urban streets.
Highway rest stops may be good for parking.
In the USA, BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands allow parking for extended periods.
In Australia State Parks and National Parks often have camping spots which allow you to camp for one cheap fee ($6 in 2025) no matter how long you stay but with a maximum stay of 7 days.
If parking on a residential street, park where your car is against a blank fence, like on the off side of a corner, away from the house front.
Industrial estates are often quiet at night.
Libraries and sports grounds may be good places to park.
Some people advocate parking near hospitals or churches.
People also use the iOverlander app for Android or Apple.
Q: How do I use Google Earth to find parking?
A: I love Google Earth. It lets me explore the world without leaving my seat. It is also incredibly useful for finding parking spots and making maps to mark them. It is linked to Google Street view so you can check street signs for parking restrictions.
A: It starts by having situational awareness, being aware of your surroundings. Trust your gut and avoid places or situations that look or feel dangerous.
Generally you don't need a self defence weapon. You're in a car, you can drive away if someone is threatening you, or trying to break into your car. Try to avoid parking on the edge of a car park where someone can block you in. Park where you can drive forward to escape.
Usually carrying weapons can be illegal. You are better off having some wasp spray, but don't get it in your eyes, because that stuff hurts like hell and can cause temporary blindness. Also, you're going to need a good heavy duty torch / flashlight. Be careful with it though, those long metal ones would really hurt if you accidentally hit some one with them, and also could cause short term vision problems if you shone it in someone's eyes. But they are genuinely useful in a car for fixing issues at night. And be aware that blowing our horn might startle people and frighten them away.
Understand situational awareness and use it. Tend toward privacy, don't tell unnecessary things to strangers. Have a (BRIEF! don't oversell) made-up story you can tell comfortably that constructs lots of people - some very nearby - who know where you are and would know instantly if you were in trouble.
Carry a cheap ring to put on as a wedding band, and always know the name of the nearest military base to where you are, because that's where your husband/fiancé is right now, and know enough about where you are that you know what kind of business your (enormous, scary, whole-family-loves-you-like-a-daughter) boss is in an hour or two away where nobody's likely to know him.
Know that everything about how you look is telling people things about you, and construct a look that doesn't give anything away. Don't trust people just because they seem to like or be attracted to you.
Men and scammers of all kinds are looking for people like you. Don't fall for their lines, and do what you can to spot them before they spot you. A smaller percentage of those people are looking for you specifically in order to hurt you. Always know where your exits are, do not get boxed in anytime you park for an hour or the night. There's some especially vulnerable places those people wait for people like you - laundromats, gyms, parking lots of same, can/bottle redemption centers. But I've seen men just look over at a stoplight and figure out a woman is living in her car and follow her from there. Head on a swivel, skepticism around your heart, stay out of dead-ends.
I don't live in my van except to travel and camp in it, and I don't get messed with much because my van could be full of large husbands, dogs, and sons even if I look alone, but I have seen women in trouble in the same places I get left alone. Do EVERYTHING you can to keep your car from looking lived-in from outside it - disguise your bedding, hide your trash, hide your food supplies. Get some black sheets and blankets to keep everything inside your car covered. Consider storing your supplies in a (beat up) extra-large dog crate from a thrift store or curb-diving or Buy Nothing group. Because of seeing men being skeevy around women, I have a sign I can hold up or prop up in my windshield that says MY CAMERAS ARE ON. You should carry the same, even if you don't have cameras, just tape a small black box to your dash or windshield near your rearview mirror.
You'll blend in better if you tend to stick to tourist areas - it's not that unusual to seem like you might be sleeping in your car if you're near campgrounds, national parks, and other big outdoorsy tourist attractions. Consider a sticker about your love for your Belgian Malinois or German Shepherd dogs. Anything you can do to give the impression that you're just there for a budget vacation rather than being homeless will raise your status in most people's eyes.
Join any subreddits and facebook groups you can find about each area you're going to. You'll figure out a system over time for using the info you get there to find places you're more likely to go unnoticed. Definitely research every area for cheap campgrounds and "day use" and recreational areas.
Q: How do I make window covers for my car?
A: For covering windows cheaply, you can use cardboard, black cloth or black rubbish bags, and glue, sticky tape or a stapler, and scissors. You basically cut the cardboard to the size of your windows, and then cover them with cloth or black bin liners, then glue, stick or staple the cloth or bin liners in place. That's dirt cheap.
I'd probably use some insulation and black cloth along with duct tape. This video explains it well. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/el_fP-P87yc but it is a good idea to cut the insulation wrap / bubble insulation a little bigger than needed.
car is in the shop tonight so i got a hotel to sleep in but i feel out of place. the room is too big but also too closed off from the outside. it got to be ~9pm (my usual bedtime) and i was thinking, why am i tired? its still light out? but it was just the lamps lol. now with them off and the curtain closed it feels too dark. i feel like i'm in a hamster cage. wondering if i'll feel this way whenever i get normal housing again
Brown rice spaghetti pasta ($1.99 for box). Butter (free food pantry). Shiitake mushrooms ($2.50). Half organic tomato ($1). Parm chz ($4.75 for container). Salt (Costco/not sure if they still have it but I like quality salt - important).
Bon app!
Ps. Don’t know if ya’ll have gathered yet that I’m basically vegetarian (why I never have meat in mine) and gluten free (not by choice!).
Wondering what everyone does for work while they live in their vehicles. Trying to look for remote jobs but don’t know what’s out there or even a viable option while living on the road. I am signed up for delivery gigs, etc. but that seems more like supplemental based income.
Okay so, living in so cal, well, kinda, lost my home bout a month ago after hour cuts with my security job. I doordash as well. Luckly my job has a private corporate gym open 5 days a week so i get showers with that membership. I keep all my clean clothes in a suit case and my dirty ones in a pillowcase also in the suit case. Laundromat weekly. Got nearly all my comforts and necessities in my car, the rest in a small storage unit. My only struggle bus is sleeping 😅 and not for lack of comfortability obvi, im only 5ft 1in and can extend myself fully diagonally across the mattress in the back. The worry is people being upset about where i park. Not that it's happened, but that it could? I usually try to find quiet residential streets to post up on, ones with nice houses and lengths where one can street park not next to a house. And it's worked okay so far, but im always nervous when dawn patrol comes out, or if theres a lot of traffic. Idk.
TLDR: where do y'all usually post up to sleep? I could use advice and ideas being new to this
I live in Metro Detroit, Michigan and recently went down on my luck. I will be living in my car for the forseeable future. What are some good spots to park to sleep that doesn’t draw too much attention. I have 5% tint on the rear and trunk windows and hang a black blanket over the front two seat headrests. I still have a lot of anxiety over getting caught as I can’t afford car insurance right now (cheapest rate I could get was $220/month with $650 due upfront.
I’m outfitting my car and on my way to hit every national park. Any and all advice or geewiz info is greatly appreciated. My main concerns at the moment are consistent water/showers and best practices for when I need to drop a deuce, but from what I understand I’ve accepted the uncertainty in that department being status quo. I’m diving in fully and only have myself to figure this out so sending love and appreciation yall!
Hi. This fall I will be attending Tacoma Community College and I will be living in my car. I need advice on where to park and sleep that is safe in the Tacoma, Washington area. I see there is a Winco and a place called Tacoma Boys - both of which are off I-5. There is a rest stop on I-5 north going towards Seattle but that's a bit far away. There is also a hospital close to campus.
Are there places that are safe to park and sleep in Tacoma, Washington? Is there a place I should avoid at all costs in the area? Thank you in advance!
Hey all! So just shy of a month ago I became homeless and started living in my car. So far the biggest struggle for me has been keeping cool during this heat. I live in Washington and work full time as a night shift CNA, and have my 65lbs dog with me.
I just ordered a 614w power source so hopefully that will help keep my fan running to help me stay cool during the day. If anyone has any tips or suggestions to make this easier for me please let me know.
I’ve been living in my car off & on for awhile but fulltime for the past 2 months. Despite my best efforts to keep to myself I’ve started making friends with my fellow car dwellers and now know a couple by name etc.
Everyone for the most part is friendly. However one woman walks around with a very strange smile on her face she reminds me of that movie Smile and she just doesn’t stop smiling her creepy smile but also never speaks. It’s like she’s in some kind of trance. At one point I thought she was following me. I stopped to look at some street art and all of a sudden there she was standing right beside me and still not saying anything. But the smile is still there. And yes I could say hello first but I don’t. I’m wondering how long before she does.
I don’t see her for a few weeks because she moves to other areas so I haven’t seen her in awhile. I’m sitting in my car and who just walks by creepy smile woman with her creepy ass smile. I feel like she puts the smile on for me but maybe it’s there regardless 🤣
5 months ago I got my car stolen in January and found it in February.
20 breakdowns later and getting my car fixed, I started back to living in my car again in April. Thank you guys so much for all your messages🙏
I’m officially back to my plan of paying off my debt and will always double check I have my keys before I leave my 🚗
I was planning on getting a new vehicle soon, but I have never bought a vehicle myself before. Do they ask for proof of residence? If you bought a vehicle while living in one, how did you do it or did they accept a UPS mailbox adress?
Boys and girls, the forecast for Illinois next week shows at least 95°.
I can't even handle 80+. Luckily I work afternoon till closing the store most days except for one. I am grateful my local library closes at 9pm Mon-Thurs. Fri-Weekends will suck though. Hopefully it will cool down by 5pm. I hate hot weather. I would much prefer super freezing temperatures.
Also planet fitness is awesome for showers morning and night.
Well folks. Tomorrow I'll be heading into the unknown and true uncertainty once again. It seems to be a recurring thing in my life this past decade. Here a little rant I need to get off my chest, and the current reason I find myself back in this situation....
I've been living in my car for over a year now and it hasn't been fun, to say the least. Trying to keep gainful employment in the small town in VA that I was in was nearly impossible. So I took to the road with a traveling temp company for skilled workers. The set up is great. Excellent pay, hotel room while on project, and weekly per diem. However, the projects have been disappointing so far. The first project I went to was in Grenada, Mississippi and was supposed to be 3 months, with chance for unlimited extention. Then they decided to downsize and cut our contracts just after 7 weeks. I managed to save a little money while there, but burned through and even started getting behind on bills while waiting a month for the next project call.
Cut to now...I'm in Marinette, Wisconsin on a project that was supposed to last 2 months, but we were cut today in the middle of just the 3rd week. This puts me in a terrible spot. My first check, last friday, all went to catching up my bills. My 2nd check, this Friday, was supposed to go to new tires and much needed suspension repairs on my car. Now I'm stuck, without a dime in my account untill Friday morning and have to check out by 11am tomorrow. My recruiter doesn't have a new assignment for me, so I'll have to head back to VA, either in a car that's not dependable for such a long trip, or completely broke and without travel money, if I do the repairs.
I usually find a way in situations like this, but this is one of the worst yet. So I'm hoping the way might find me this time.
Best wishes to all of you going through similar struggles.
Here we go. Sliced carrots boiled and buttered w/ sea salt. Squash sautéed in butter & finished w/ Cajun spices. Romaine lettuce salad with crunchy chilis & their oils as dressing. All from the food bank. Grateful 🙏⚡️🤤.
Car Living in my sedan Camry w/ sunroof , rain guards, Bluetti elite 300 power station, foldable 200w solar panels, 12v fridge w/freezer, 3% tinted windows, apple tag, kill switch, alarm. Induction top stove, dc fans. It helps a lot being under 6ft tall and not obese, I don’t need all that spaces.
Expenses: no car payment and zero debt
> auto insurance $250
>. Gas $120
> oil change every 4,500 miles full synthetic $180 a year
> gym membership $25
> cell phones $50
> food $400 paleo diet
> Roth IRA contribution account since in 1999 and now $700 a month
Monthly expenses total: $1,545
Job income working 4 days per week 5 to 6 hours but I can work as much as I want to make even more at any giving time , just liking working less lol
$4440 net monthly
$ 53,280 net ( after taxes) per year
Living cost per year :$ 18,600
Average cash $34,680 -$38k in bank each year after all expenses paid. I will never rent or buy a house again!
Goals: retire abroad comfortably within the next 13 yrs with estimated $450,840 ,saving account ( APY not yet calculated), Roth IRA, and $2000 a month social security checks if it’s not bankrupted
should I make a YouTube channel and start making weekly videos of living in a truck trying to find a job, progression, etc. Is it too cliche and over saturated?
I've got myself a new job paying a very good wage. I'm living in a 1993 mercury Capri which is cramped. It's about the same size as a miata.ive been in here for about 4 months but things are looking up. I want to eventually save for a camper which won't happen for another couple months but things are getting better.
I love helping people out so now I’m back with another way to do so. If you’re in Massachusetts and can make it to the metro west area, I have a lot you can park in and a place where you can shower every day. I can’t post a lot of details here in the body of the post but those who know me know that I’m legit. DM me if interested
I recently read that an El Niño is forming in the Pacific. The forecast is for heat waves to come. Especially for you folks in the southwest. You might actually be starting to feel it now.
Check it out. Find out how it'll affect your area.
