Living In Your Car? 10 Safety Precautions You Should Take Right Now
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“Peace,” is just another word for, “home.” Home is where we all strive to be comfortable and have peace of mind. Yet, even “home,” is a relative term in the Digital Age. Many Americans are now living out of their cars voluntarily or due to uncontrollable and extenuating circumstances.
If you will soon find yourself living in your car, then know there are several precautions you can take right now to keep yourself safe. Here are 10 for you to consider right now.
1. Is It Legal to Live in Your Car?
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Technically speaking, living in your car is legal in the United States. However, federal, state, municipal, and local parking laws vary. While there are no laws that specifically prevent you from living in your car, there could be many other laws that complicate the issue. Local laws could dictate where you can park your vehicle, how long it can stay parked in one place, whether a car can be parked somewhere overnight, and so on. Never assume your rights in any situation. Meticulously study the local laws of any area where you plan on living in your car.
2. Know Where NOT to Park When Living in Your Car
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Don’t park in residential neighborhoods or in front of private, residential homes to get some sleep. Don’t park in remote, unlit areas. If you are living in your car, spend some time in the areas where you plan to sleep in it and assess its relative safety. Have situational awareness of the activities and safety levels of the areas where you park.
3. Keep to a Daily Safety Checklist
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Don’t get in the habit of sleeping with earplugs when living in your car. Always keep your doors locked. You may even want to program your smart device alarm to wake you up every few hours to be on guard of your surroundings. Always ensure that your cell phone and electronics are fully charged. Don’t deplete your car battery powering your cell phone, laptop, and other electronics. Research local libraries, stores, organizations, centers, and businesses where you can power up your devices for free or cheaply. Practice basic car maintenance and checkups daily if you plan to live out of a car.
4. Inform Someone of Your Location
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Make sure that a trusted friend or relative knows where you are parked regularly if not every night. Use it as an insurance policy so that someone knows where you are in case something bad happens. Don’t go off the grid or lose contact with people just because you’re living in your car.
5. Don’t Broadcast Your Location on Social Media
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If you plan on digitally chronicling your experiences on social media or YouTube videos to make supplemental income then be wise about it. Don’t tag your location online or offer direct coordinates to your location; don’t unwittingly invite online strangers or stalkers to find you. Move to other undisclosed locations after making such videos.
6. Have Predetermined Strategies on Where You Can Park
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Ask trusted friends or relatives if you could park on their properties from time to time. Many corporate retailers allow drivers to sleep in their lot, but rules vary according to business and location, so ask ahead. You may want to get a “Lyft” or “Uber” sticker since many ride-hailing and delivery drivers sleep in large retailer or mall parking lots.
Depending on where you live, there are numerous highways, interstates, thruways, and rest stop areas where you can sleep safely so check online. Don’t park and sleep by chance; map out multiple areas where you can regularly sleep while living in your car. Don’t sleep in the same area or spot daily.
7. Be Calm When Approached By Police
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You are bound to be approached or startled awake by the police at some point when living in your car. Be calm, answer all questions, and don’t make sudden movements. Local residents might complain about you or you may be unlucky enough to get spotted by a cop, so count on it happening and stay calm about it. Research your local rights relative to public police interactions and questioning when living in your car.
8. Maintain Hygiene When Living in Your Car
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Life is not fair. We are all judged by our appearances and how we dress. You cannot afford to look disheveled and homeless even if you are living in your car. You also don’t want to develop hygiene problems others will pick up before you. Clean your car daily and throw out garbage daily. Inspect your vehicle and keep it insulated to ensure small animals or rodents don’t make it a home.
Make a list of cheap local laundromats, gyms, rec centers, large malls, rest stops, community centers, truck stops, and so on, where you can maintain your personal hygiene. Invest in wet wipes and cheap soap products so you can freshen up anytime. Don’t attract negative attention, complaints, or police action to yourself with a smelly, unkempt, and unclean-looking vehicle.
9. Invest in Window Screens or Legal Tint
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Research local and municipal laws about the legality of inserting window screens on your vehicle when parked. The legality of tinted car windows, and the darkness of the tinting, varies according to where you live. If you are living in a sedan or similar-sized vehicle, then make sure you can legally veil your living situation so as not to attract nosy onlookers or cops.
10. Stay Engaged With Others, Stay Positive
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Living out of your car can become a depressing or frustrating experience if you are not used to it, unemployed, or unsure about the future. Always stay active and engaged with loved ones and friends. Keep a positive attitude. If you’re employed, keep to your work schedule. Regularly look for work if you’re unemployed. Rent a P.O. Box or have your mail delivered to a friend’s house if allowed.
Get regular exercise and find things to do so you don’t spend all of your free time existing within the confines of a car. Stay active, stay positive, and keep in contact with family and friends. Otherwise, you could become depressed, lose situational awareness, and become a target for negative attention.
Make Living In Your Car a Safe Experience
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If you find yourself living in your car, know that you are not alone. A 2019 Census study found that over 140,000 Americans were living out of a vehicle. As long as you keep situational awareness and prep for basic contingencies you can safely live out of your car.
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Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.
