Is a lot of people who want to travel cross country without hotels, want to save on rent, or just don’t feel like driving home after a long day. Sleeping in your car may be illegal in certain places, especially if the individual sleeping has been drinking alcohol. The laws about drinking and driving differ from country to country, and can sometimes rely on a policeman’s judgment regarding whether they think you’re intending on driving before fully sobering up. The best way to keep away from potential problems is not to drink at all - however, if it is unavoidable, do not put the keys in the ignition, and certainly do not start the car, not even to run the heater. Instead, put the keys in the glove box - and be sure not to sleep in the driver’s seat. Be aware that if the car is parked on public roads, the police or other emergency services may need to ask you to move it, which can make life interesting.
Furthermore, in some places sleeping in a car may be a dangerous practice, as there could be a possibility of
being mugged or even killed. If you can find a safe place, however, sleeping in your car can be an extremely useful option when making road trips. On a weekend excursion it can allow you to save money that would otherwise be used to pay for a hotel room, and it can also remove the possibility of driving unsafely after a good night on the town. It may also be necessary to sleep in one’s car for a variety of unforeseen reasons - when broken down and awaiting rescue during daylight hours perhaps, when you’re so completely lost you can’t even find a town (let alone a B&B), or when you’ve locked yourself out of the house (or someone else has locked you out), or when very bad weather has forced you to stop, or, in extreme circumstances, when you don’t have anywhere else to sleep.
Select a Spacious Car to Sleep In. If you attempt to sleep in a vehicle such a Ford Ka, you are unlikely to get a good night’s sleep. Such a vehicle is small and has thin doors that do not keep the heat in very well. A larger vehicle with a more spacious interior, such as the Ford Cortina, will offer superior comfort.
Park strategically. Park the car with the morning in mind. If you want to be up with the roosters and don’t have anything blocking out the sunlight, park facing east, where the sun rises. Otherwise, face your car west.
Install a tension curtain rod. Put your blackout curtains on the tension rod and secure it between the driver’s side and front passenger windows to block the view through the windshield.
Make your bed. Arrange your bedding into a cozy sleeping space. Adjust the seats to give you the most
room, and tuck any seat belts you can into the cushions, so they don’t poke you.
Dress for rest. Change into something that’s as soft and unrestrictive as pajamas, yet socially acceptable to wear in public. A sweat suit and thick gym socks is a good choice.
Remember Where Your Car is Parked. This is not an easy task, especially if you decided to drink alcoholic beverages before attempting to sleep in your car. This is doubly true if you are in a city that you are unfamiliar with. So, in order to avoid wandering around at 5am on the streets of Luxembourg searching for your vehicle-cum-bedroom, you need to remember where your car is parked. A good way to do this is to get a map from the city’s tourist information centre.
Keep your cellphone with you. Keep your cellphone nearby just in case.
Sweet dreams!
