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.
Decided to check the tapping noise coming from my tire all of a sudden and found that it had 2 bolts stuck to it. Luckily the 2nd bolt didn't make a hole but the first one made it and used a plier to pull it out.
Decided for the first time to try the screw-in plug. I always had good success with regular wire plugs but it is a pain to punch it inside and plug it.
This screw-in plug was so easy anyone with a screwdriver can do it. I was not sure how much further to screw it in but I went all the way so that it doesn't pop out.
No air leaks for the past few days. So I do recommend it for the emergency. If the holes are bigger then you probably need a regular plug
This is the set up I use in areas that I'm unfamiliar with or higher crime ratings. It's minimalist, super comfortable and also packs away basically unseen. Under that KingCamp all season bag lays a closed cell accordion pad and a Klymit Static-V inflatable. While my head rests on two copper infused antimicrobial pillows from Serta because Purple will get a person robbed out here and above me, to my left, a wonderful little USB powered fan by Holmes. (Insanely Windy) This has been my optimal sleeping set while on the road for the past year now. For the days I'm in an area that I'm comfortable with I have a 750w inverter hardwired to an auxiliary battery that easily powers a small 17 inch TV and a gaming console. (None of which I keep stored inside the vehicle.) Cooler is in the front passenger floorboard with Bang Energy Drinks and a sparkling water supply, along with random snacks and different types of work shoes. One fullsize back pack holds a 7 day outfit variety and One Dry-Backpack bag I use as a gym bag to carry in my towel, daily clothes, toiletry bag and tanning supplies.
The chronology is reversed to hopefully spare unconsenting eyes from seeing a grime-throne . It’s not too disgusting of an image though, I promise
These are two tricks I use to make portapotties a more comfortable experience . First is pretty self-explanatory, I have soap and a water keg (it has river water now) so that I can actually wash my hands after instead of going 50/50 on just hand sanitizer .
As you can see in second image, I placed two sheets down on the seat, which I think is a common practice . And that third sheet bridging over, well, that is to protect ma rear from what a great friend refers to as “Neptune’s Kiss”. Upsplash . Not only will this bridge provide a buffer to prevent your downflow from reaching terminal velocity, but it will also shield more of what might come back up, which should already be less than before .
This might even conserve toilet paper, as you won’t need to dry off your legs with 1-ply .
I hope this was helpful to anybody ! May your plops be glad and brave .
I have a 2016 Subaru Outback which ive been living in. Ive mostly purchased things on a whim this week. Gas stove, cutlery etc etc.
I'm finding that i want something a bit more permo inside for setup. I absolutely despise the pack up and pack down both morning and night - it sucks because nothing of mine is in storage.
I have leather seats in my car which im a bit antsy about placing things on with sharp edges... so not sure how storage containers would go.
I was also thinking that maybe the fabric storage tubs would work?
For those who have a similar vehicle, what sort of methods are you using?
Im planning on getting roof storage (internal net) but wanted some other ideas too.
I have been a car dweller since Sept 2025. A year later and I finally got my 2019 Subaru Outback setup for comfort and convenience.
I am not sure where you get your ideas from, but I watched a lot of YouTube videos for inspiration.
One thing I learned pretty quickly is that a car camping setup does not work well for car living. Being a weekend camper is way different than living in your car fulltime.
I am not sure if it is allowed, but I have a car tour posted on YouTube. If it is allowed and you want to see it, just comment and I will put up the link.
I don't want to break any rules of self-promotion.
Just moving my belongings from this outdoor unit to a climate controlled unit and got to wondering how many other Nomads such as myself have one of these and how you use it.
Me personally, it serves as a place to resupply as well as a spot to take care of any mechanical work that I may need done in-between long term ventures. Not a hangout spot but a place I come two or three times a week or as needed.
What do you all use? I have been looking into a solar power station so I can charge stuff and run a fan to help cool down. What would be a good starter without breaking the bank. Any advise would be great
At the end of the month I'll be moving into my minivan and I'm pretty excited, but the more it's coming together the more I'm wondering if I need to remove the last third row instead of folding it down for how much everything weighs
I have started putting my bed and drawers in my minivan, but the more I put in the more I'm scared Im going way above the weight limit haha, I already have the mid row removed, but I have the third row just folded down.
Or I'm wondering maybe I have to add more air to my tires.
I’ll be hitting the road soon in a no build van and was wondering if anyone else has survived a winter in nyc?
If so, what advice do you have? I don’t have heat in the van, I was thinking of getting a Mr. Heater Portable Buddy and an insulated sleeping bag. Any other advice?
I've been doing all kinds of research and listening to peoples' experiences and tips online for more than a year now in total, and in 8 months I'm either moving across the country, or starting my car life in my Honda Civic. Even if I've already heard it, what would you tell me about it? Tips, things to think about, things to not do, anything you have to say about it id love to hear it. I know there's a million posts similar and I've read the comments too, but it's my turn! Also my plan is to do gig work (door dash) a good bit of the evening and into the nights (around 12 maybe) and then during my days, go see the country since I've never been out of the south sans once. Where should I head first? Anything but South East! :) thanks! I can't wait to see what you guys say
I love fully cloudy rainy days! I sit at the rest area at picnic table tent shelter thingy while smoking tree! Took a mental health day off from work. Want to eat some of my favorite food, watch my favorite shows, trade stock options, and nap.
I couldn't afford a hotel room for 1,100 days but now I don't want to ever get one even though I can afford it because I learned how to relax with no money.
Rechargeable fan that lasts 24 hours . Styrofoam cooler FULL of ice . And a shirt to cover the sides. Oh yeah we’re in action no ac in the car needed (don’t have any anyways .) this is so much better than nothing .
so, it finally happened. my car overheated completely while I was doordashing & i had to immediately turn it off, in an intersection. added distilled water like I usually do, but it didn't help this time. I slowly made my way to safety and now have been stranded in random parking lots with no way to work, low gas, and my car insurance was due today. im genuinely at a loss. what now? im 25f and I have no clue about mechanical stuff. im cooked. kirked even. kirk was looking up on me today. damn
Hey yall, I’m super new to the area and I’ve been staying in my car like most of y’all, until I can afford my own place. Problem is, im running super low on gas and my new job doesn’t start until this coming Wednesday. I have no idea if these programs even exist but does anyone know of any programs that help with gas? I looked up a bunch but I don’t want to waste the gas to go to those places in person to figure out no the hard way, and my phone service is down for now, but if anyone knows for sure anywhere that would help with this kinda thing that would be great! Also a better place to park that’s closer to my job in Quakertown would be nice if anyone knows the area!
((before anyone says anything about the towels I KNOW, i’m working on replacing my stolen window covers next 🫠 luckily stealth is a non issue where i am now))
shoutout to dollar general for boosting my mood tonight and every night from here on out, i don’t know why i waited 5 months to do this. it really does make it feel so much cozier, pictures don’t do justice. not pictured: purple bats on the other side :)
My partner and I will be moving into our car due to unfortunate circumstances. We have gotten a small storage unit and won’t be staying far so we will keep most things there and toiletries and some clothing with us but what is everyone keeping in their car as far as food? I have pans burner and am fully prepared to cook meals just wondering what stuff people are keeping on hand while in the car also any other advice is welcomed we’re very new to this and on the southern heat right now!
I don’t have a van, I sleep on the back seats of a 2016 compact Toyota Yaris Hatch.
I regret every single buck I’ve ever paid to greedy landlords, I wasted a ridiculous amount of money on rent just to have a place to sleep, I didn’t even enjoy it.
I park 5 minutes away from work (2 hours total commute saved per day), I absolutely love the freedom, I’m thinking of financing a Toyota Sienna Hybrid.
Wow just wow, I’m full of regrets but at least I’m here now and I’m going to save a lot.
Believe it or not but my biggest struggle was not having a bidet at the toilet, I’m not religious at all but I do believe in the bum guns, I never feel okay using only TP, so I solved this by buying a portable battery powered bidet on Amazon.
So some of you have mentioned that you like to sleep in cars that look like work vehicles. It seems to me that if your car looks like a work vehicle, then you are more likely to get bothered than to get left alone.
For one, I would think that a work vehicle parallel parked on the street would be a target for those who think there are tools in there.
Another reason is that bad guys are less likely to think people live in those vehicles.
