[Closed] Sleeping in car

Yep, entirely legal provided you're not blotto from after ride beers/whisky - you can be done for being drunk in charge if you're asleep in your car when drunk.

Main issue is finding somewhere - laybys etc can be a bit hairy and parking on residential streets is asking for a police visit.

Many places such as trail centres and national parks etc will have bylaws which preclude overnight stays as well.

Some places state no overnight stays but elsewhere it is legal. Cold, uncomfortable but legal.

it's always colder than you think.

https://park4night.com/   might be helpful

Just don't leave your interior light on and/or window open....

I used to do this before track days, drive down in the evening when the traffic eases, park near the circuit, and sleep in the car.

To be honest it was horrible. Cars can get very damp so you wake up wet, they have naff all useful soundproofing or insulation, I've never had a car where you could really stretch out and get comfortable for a full night.

Nothing quite like a terrible night's sleep to ruin a great day out.

As above, whilst legal, sleeping in a car is no fun at all. Always cold, always noisy and never comfortable, you are guaranteed to feel crap the next day.

You can find an AirBnB for not much, take that option.

To be honest it was horrible. Cars can get very damp so you wake up wet, they have naff all useful soundproofing or insulation, I’ve never had a car where you could really stretch out and get comfortable for a full night.

This.

Apart from Galaxy was a luxurious amount of space. 😎

A tent, caravan or B&B is a better place to sleep.

Apart from Galaxy was a luxurious amount of space

I've managed in an S-Max with it's fold flat boot. But, and it's a big one, I didn't have a bike in there with me.......

Sleeping in cars is crap. I had a nice comfy, insulated van and I still usually felt rough in the morning after restless sleep. Sleeping on a campsite gives you much more actual rest as you aren't reacting to every single noise and footstep when you're in a strange place.

But that's not what you asked so this is what I used to do...

Avoid laybys and camping hotspots. Too many people there already and easy pickings for scrotes. I used to head for residential areas and find an empty spot, obviously not right outside someone's front gate or living room window. Lots of other cars and vans to blend in with. Arrive late, turn the lights off and pee in a bottle so you don't have to open and close the doors in the early hours.

Those fabric softener bottles with the big wide opening are my top choice. When they're new they also do a brilliant job of masking the smell. Nothing like getting a nose full of 'floral breeze' at 4am during your night widdles.

Don’t want to stay in b&bs or busy camp sites.

Any reason why not.. Surely it must be significantly more comfy?

DrP

Any reason why not.. Surely it must be significantly more comfy?

Its just finding one where I can take my bike inside in my room.

A tent, caravan or B&B is a better place to sleep.

I have a tent so happy to use that. Maybe I'll research into places to camp near some good trails/routes.

All Pemier Inns allow bikes as long you don't take liberties with how dirty it is. I've had my bike in a couple of Travelodges. There's not even any staff in them these days, you can probably get away with anything.

Gotta totally disagree with most of the posters above. I've had my van about 16 years, but before that reckon I slept around 200 nights in my car. It was fine, brilliant in fact. The only reason I got the van was because of how good it was having a perfectly flat, secure, quick,nofaff place to sleep.

Clearly the model of car is critical here. I had a succession of Volvo eastates, which were perfect. Two Thermarests in the back decent sleeping bag/ duvets, sorted.

As for the cold comments above, balls. Just use a decent sleeping bag and make sure you have a good ice scraper and method of thawing out your water bottle in the morning.

I recall seeing the weather forecast on a Sunday years ago telling how it had got down to minus 21 celcius the previous night in inverness. We'd been car camping at Bridge of Orchy, it was fine.

Can't over emphasize the importance of having the right car though. As above, I made my car purchases based on the living accommodation rather than drivability. If it doesn't have a six foot long perfectly flat load base then...... Just No

I've done it a few times, usually through necessity rather than choice. I did it once before my Everesting when I knew I'd be starting at about 4am which obviously made B&B etc impractical. I've done it a few times on long drives as well and actually the best place is motorway services where that kind of thing is relatively normal

However it's a big estate car with a flat boot so not bad for sleeping. Friends used to do it in their Citroen C5 as well which was big enough to get a full double mattress in there.

The comments above about it being cold are very true, it's colder than an equivalent tent. Pick your location carefully as well otherwise you'll be disturbed by people walking past. If you're in popular locations (Peak District, Lake District etc), there are often a few areas like laybys etc that are tacitly accepting of camper vans and car camping - the trick is finding them!

I did a lot of sleeping in cars when I was young. Vans and station wagons are a different thing, but you'll never get a decent sleep in a regular car, it's worse than trying to sleep on an economy class flight.

If you're spending that amount of time (and fuel money) to get to a place, I'd not potentially ruin it by trying to sleep in a car.

No matter what car it is, if you've got bikes as well you're never going to be able to lay out flat or get a comfy night. Why go to the expense and time of making the trip, only to have it ruined by a crap night - not to mention not being able to wash and freshen up in the morning.

Personally I'd look to the nearest travel lodge and try make an advance booking to save money. They are everywhere and even if it is 30 miles away, it's still a damn site closer than home and gives you an hour drive to let your breakfast go down.

Sure, a trip in a car for the experience (maybe) but, for planned away days, no thanks.

A camper thing might be a good idea if there are 2 to 3 of you tops but, they are pricey and you have to store and service it etc.

actually the best place is motorway services where that kind of thing is relatively normal

You'd have to check the individual sites though - many of them have time limits or specifically exclude overnight sleeping and they often have ANPR too.

Some places state no overnight stays but elsewhere it is legal. Cold, uncomfortable but legal.

I've always thought it was odd that it's okay to sleep in a car pretty much anywhere, but pitching a tent isn't.

it’s okay to sleep in a car pretty much anywhere, but pitching a tent isn’t.

No matter what car it is, if you’ve got bikes as well you’re never going to be able to lay out flat or get a comfy night.

Not true at all, my old C-max you could make a 6ft bed by taking the seats out and putting a 25l water container in the rear footwell. I did plenty of nights in it with one, sometimes two bikes on roadtrips, just bungee all the bikes to one side and stick a camping mattress on the other. And that's only based on the focus platform, so most estates with removable or fold flat seats could do the same.

Usually just parked up somewhere out of the way and got a good nights sleep.

You will need a sleeping bag that's rated on the cooler side of the expected range and leave a window open or prop the boot ajar to let some airflow in. And unless you rig blinds you'll need a buff or eye mask to keep the light out at 4am.

The other alternative is something like the small pop-up decathlon tents (the 2 skin ones, no the nasty single skin ones). Pull up in some rural car park at 11pm, throw it over the hedge, sleep, and foxtrot oscar at daybreak. Closer to "car bivying" than the "wild camping" that's trashed Loch Lomond and Dartmoor.

It'll be in a berlingo so pretty flat. The plan would be to start early so another reason to just stay in a car/tent.

I’ve always thought it was odd that it’s okay to sleep in a car pretty much anywhere, but pitching a tent isn’t.

Most National Trust car parks and quite a few regular ones have signs saying "no overnight parking". You do have to pick your spot carefully - while it might be "legal" (in as much as it's usually not ILlegal), it's often not welcomed.

Funny isn't it - turn up in a T5 and you're the archetypal middle-income adventurist. Turn up in a Volvo estate and you're some kind of ne'er do well, homeless and poor.

Sometimes needs must but there are hostels that are doing private rooms for £15-30 a night with private bathrooms and a comfy bed ,this has to be better that going fetal in the back of a hatchback

It’ll be in a berlingo so pretty flat. The plan would be to start early so another reason to just stay in a car/tent.

I'm building/bodging a boot-jump-alike for mine as it's the old one where the seats won't fold flat or come out. Might be worth a look.

I got a Z-folding "spare bed" from aldi for £39, a sheet of ply and some fixing from B&Q. Total budget £100 but should be the most comfortable option short of a propper bed.

I've done it before, it's absolutely miserable if you have to sleep in the driver or passenger seat. And cold and damp.

The only positive is that you're on your way really quickly in the morning - just start the car and drive off!

Those fabric softener bottles with the big wide opening are my top choice.

#humblebrag

I've done it plenty of times, and solo, with the right vehicle, and some preparation it is much quicker, easier and more comfortable than pitching/striking/drying a tent.

Big Volvo estate with an almost 7ft flat boot floor. Proper mattress from an old bed cut to half boot width. Foil backed foam sleeping mats cut to size for all the windows.

I have had a few trips with the bike inside the car whilst I sleep, bungied to one side with the wheels off, and all bags/kit inside. But it is a bit more comfortable with the bike chained to the roof and unneeded kit in a roof box.

Photo attached

Funny isn’t it – turn up in a T5 and you’re the archetypal middle-income adventurist. Turn up in a Volvo estate and you’re some kind of ne’er do well, homeless and poor.

I'd say on here the opposite is true.

Take a tent, go to a campsite, it'll be about a tenner and you'll get a shower too. Or get a van.

Me, the wife and 2 kids all slept in the boot of our Smax driving down through Frnace one year. I'd packed most of our stuff in the roof box and had roll mats and sleeping bags readily set up in the boot so all we had to do was pull up, drop the back seats and fold out the beds! was great, we actually slept in and ended up late for setting off in the morning!!

Kids are too big for that now though, so it's van time....

I've kipped in the back of my V50 twice now. second time, I had foil bubblewrap blinds in all the windows with rubber suckers on them to keep them in place. nice and warm, and also, nice and dark. Also have an elasticated net to go over a rear door so the window can be cracked open a few cm to get airflow without insects getting in.

What is annoying is that the boot is about 10cm too short to be able to stretch out properly. Net time, the 60% side of the seat bench will be removed and a plinth put in instead to get moor leg room.

Both times were in Scotland, so very conscious of being over the limit in the morning. Can't usefully drink enough to pass out and sleep through, so next time I might try sober.

Funny isn’t it – turn up in a T5 and you’re the archetypal middle-income adventurist.

Yeah - that's the thing, you see people obviously camping in T5s dotted all over the Peak. It's funny how that's somehow okay, but wild camping is frowned upon.

Can you afford a roof tent ?. 500-600 basic. Bit of an outlay but if you mean to do this over a few years at least it will pay for itself or mostly. Plus you cans tore the bike in the vehicle for safety.

There’s not even any staff in them these days, you can probably get away with anything.

Can confirm. Can't give details, but i can confirm that you can get away with anything in Premier Inns

Well it worked for Roxette.

However

Stick your bike in a bag and bring it into your room. Many places I’ve stayed had a baggage room and let me put my bike in there.

I did it in my C8 a couple of years ago and plan on doing it again. I can fit a camp bed in with the front seat turned, bike goes down the side and kit under the bed. I have a roof rack as well now so it'll be even easier. Point about blinds is a good one, not sure why it's any colder than a tent though.

I can lay flayt next to my bike in the car. Bike stays upright sp still plenty of room. An advantage of being small.

My only concern was having people knock on the window saying I can't sleep there. Can't really book in advance as it depends on weather. If its pouring with rain there, I'd rather ride somewhere else where its not raining.

It's colder in a car than a double skinned tent as there isn't that trapped air insulating the inner. Just metal and glass.

Sleeping in a car seat is crap, you have to stay slightly curled on your back. Sleeping on a flat surface is fine, make sure you park so your head when sleeping is up and take a big soft, fine knit hat with you as an all in one blind and head warmer. Found that made a massive difference to comfort.

Used to sleep on the flat front seat of my van after night shifts whilst waiting for my mates when going for a spin. Also slept on the flat floor of my volvo, being able to straighten your legs also becomes highly prized, the Volvo was better than the van (I could have done a lot more with the back of the van in hindsight but didn't have it that long.

Daughter sleeps overnight on a regular basis in the Tourneo Connect, roll out mat and a sleeping bag, bike down the side of her. Bit of a squash when there are 2 and 2 bikes

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In days of old I used to car camp in my Mondeo Hatch and Mondeo Estate boots, both had flat floor and space. All windows down a touch reduced damp, often on a campsite were I arrived late and couldnt be arsed pitching the tent or sometimes in a very rural mountain lay-by. Only ever once got disturbed by an old boy nosy parker arriving late in campervan who was probably just being a concerned citizen (someone potentially lost up a mountain) not sure what he would have gleaned for MRT search and rescue from peering thru a fogged up car window, but seemed quite innocent.

I'd think of doing it the other way round. Drive during the night, get there early, have breakfast, even a quick snooze. Then get the trails to yourself at first light.
After your ride, find somewhere to eat then have a couple of hours sleep before driving home. Or you could find a campsite or b&b instead of having a sleep and driving home.

I used to just leave my bike inside the car with the wheels off with an old blanket over it. Helps if you don't have a flash car. No need to take your bike into the hotel/b&b.

I do it loads. As thegeneralist said, the type of car is the key.
I've slept in a Seat Alhambra and an S-Max with a couple of bikes and heaps of kit.
I've only been cold once and that was -7 and I had only taken a stupidly summer sleeping bag by accident.
It gives me the freedom to just head off on a Friday after work and winging it.
I usually manage a couple of nights before I need a proper bed and shower. Wet wipes don't cut the mustard after a couple of days in the hills 😀

We do it to get an early start when hill walking further afield. Always had a great night's sleep in the berlingo. Can't really say we've found it any colder that it would have been pitching a tent in the same locations.

I also bodged a boot jump kind of thing for the back. Just a folding ply body, we use air mats to sleep on. Can both sleep in there comfortably. Have also made a single sided version so I can get in there with the bike.

Insulated window covers from ebay were the most expensive bit.

Insulated window covers from ebay were the most expensive bit.

Do they help with condensation? My experience is it’s cold, but also everything gets damp from condensation. Like wake up with dew on your sleeping bag damp.

They help to an extent, but all that moisture has to go somewhere. Wind deflectors are good, means you can have windows down a couple of inches and not worry about rain. Sleeping bag? naw, get the duvet in there man, bag is fine for travelling light, not a problem sleeping in your car!.

Slept in Berlingo many times. Spot on. Loads of room on a single boot jump.

Have an smax now. Will sleep in that at some point. Already noted I can get a double airbed in back if needed. All about the car. Wouldn't sleep in my focus. No ta.

The switch to EVs will help with car camping because the HVAC can be left running so you'll have heating and dehumidification. Bjorn Nyland regularly car camps in Norway in winter as part of his EV reviews.Teslas even have a camping mode.

poly
Free Member
Insulated window covers from ebay were the most expensive bit.

Do they help with condensation? My experience is it’s cold, but also everything gets damp from condensation. Like wake up with dew on your sleeping bag damp.

Certainly with the Berlingo you could bend a bit of metal which you can put in-between the latch/lock on the rear boot lid. Cracks it open slightly. Can't open from outside and let's a little air in to stop moisture build up.

We have wind deflectors on the front windows so they both get cracked open a little for airflow. If not raining then rear windows open too. Got magnets and midge netting to stop beasties getting in if necessary.

Never had issue with damp, little condensation on the windows, but quick blast of the AC sorts that out.

Do it in preference to a tent but I do have a 4x4 that I can put an ikea single mattress in the back.

recommend using a proper duvet and making sure there's plenty of airflow. A decent eye mask is necessary unless you particularly want to get up at 4am.

Looking forward to trying it in the tesla with camp mode and the full glass roof.

Slept in my car many time

Take my bivvy gear then I can sleep inside or out

Have had a few wake up calls from the police but other than puzzled why you're not sleeping in a bed theres no issue

Never had a problem

and yes it can get colder than you think

Best tips are hat and ipad (or simmilar)

Sleep in my old Picasso for snowboarding trips to glencoe. Have been improving it over time. Last time I went I used the inner tent to reduce cold and condensation. This year hope to make a sleeping platform and proper bubble wrap blinds. Duvet beats a sleeping bag and have the windows open.

Have done it loads over the years with MrsRNP (she's a lucky lass!), our V70 is perfect, also kipped in my normal Transit van plenty of times.
I line the floor with foam from work then duvet and pillows.

We once hired an estate car from Schiphol airport and slept in the back in what turned out be a mental hospital grounds.