
Discovering bed bugs in your car can feel like a nightmare on wheels. These tiny pests can turn your daily commute into an itchy ordeal. Luckily, this article is your roadmap to reclaiming your car from the clutches of bed bugs. We’ll guide you through the most effective ways to detect, eliminate, and prevent these stubborn pests.
Can Bed Bugs Live in Your Car?
Yes, bed bugs can live in your car, though it’s not common, and cars are not their preferred habitat. Typically, bed bugs thrive in bedrooms, where they have easy access to their food source — humans — and hide in mattresses, bed frames, box springs, etc.
However, bed bugs are also seasoned hitchhikers. They won’t crawl from the bedroom to your car on their own, but they can find their way into your vehicle by latching onto clothes, furniture, luggage, or other items that are then brought into the car.
This means that if you find bed bugs in your car, they likely hitched a ride on something or someone that came into contact with an infested area. It could be an indicator that your home may be battling an infestation.
Can I Get Bed Bugs From Someone Riding in My Car?
This might make you think twice before offering the next ride or catching an Uber, but yes, you can get bed bugs from someone riding in your car.
Bed bugs’ primary mode of spreading is through close contact with infested items. This means that if your friends unknowingly carry bed bugs on their clothing or belongings, there is a small chance these pests could be transferred to your car’s interior.
Signs of Bed Bugs in a Car
Realizing there may be bed bugs in your car can be alarming, but knowing what signs to look for can help you catch an infestation early before it becomes a larger issue. Here are a few telltale signs of bed bugs in your car:

- Live bed bugs: Although they are elusive, you might spot some bed bugs hiding in crevices or seams. Adult bed bugs are small (the size of an apple seed), brownish, and oval-shaped.
- Shed skins: As bed bugs grow, they molt and leave behind their translucent exoskeletons. Finding these can be an indicator of an infestation.
- Eggs: Bed bug eggs are pearly white, about the size of a pinhead, and are often found in clusters in hidden areas.
- Red stains: Small red stains on your car’s fabric seats or mats could be a sign of bed bugs being crushed accidentally.
- Bed bug fecal matter: Look for tiny black dots that resemble a dot made by a marker. These dots are bed bug fecal matter and can often be found in areas where bed bugs hide or move along.
- Itchy bites on the skin: If you or your passengers start noticing itchy, skin redness after spending time in the car, it could be a sign of bed bug bites.
How to Inspect a Car for Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are tiny pests, so you might see nothing and still get itchy bites whenever you ride in your car. Here are a few tips to help you check for bed bugs in your car:
- Use a credit card or a similar thin, rigid tool to run through the seams of your car seats, between cushions, and other tight spaces where bed bugs might hide.
- Use a magnifying glass to examine the fabric of the seats, including under and around them. Pay close attention to the linings and seams. They can also hide in the ceiling, under floor mats, and in the crevices of the glove compartment.
- A flashlight is also an essential tool to illuminate dark crevices, under seats, and other hidden areas. Shine the light along seams and any other nooks where these pests could be hiding.

- Utilize double-sided tape or a lint roller for areas that are difficult to inspect visually. Press the sticky side into all crevices, corners, and edges, then pull it back to inspect for bed bugs, eggs, or shed skins that may stick to the adhesive.
- Don’t forget to wear gloves so these critters don’t hitch a ride on you.
Bed Bug Car Treatment
Eliminating bed bugs in your car may require a multifaceted approach, as they are resilient pests. Here are the most common home remedies used to get rid of bed bugs in the car:
1. Clean Your Car

Cleaning your car is the first step in getting rid of an infestation. The more things you have inside your vehicle, the more hiding spots for bed bugs. Here are a few tips:
- Remove any clutter and trash from your car and place it in a sealed plastic bag before throwing it away in an outdoor trash can.
- Take out all floor mats and give them a thorough shampooing to remove any bed bugs or eggs that may be lurking within the fibers.
- Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to meticulously vacuum the entire car. Focus on cracks, crevices, and seams of the seats. Throw the contents of the vacuum away in a sealed plastic bag.
2. Steam Your Car
Steaming is an effective method for killing bed bugs and their eggs. Bed bugs will die when exposed to temperatures of 113 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 minutes or longer, but the higher the steaming temperature, the less time needed to kill these pets.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends using steamers that reach temperatures of at least 130 F, which will kill bed bugs and their eggs instantly. Carefully steam all parts of your car’s interior, including seats, carpets, ceiling, and hidden nooks. Repeat the process as necessary.
3. Apply Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a desiccating powder made from particles of fossilized diatoms. It is often used as a pesticide, since it has the ability to dehydrate insects, killing them in a couple of days.
You can sprinkle pesticide-grade diatomaceous earth around your car’s interior, focusing on crevices and potential hiding spots. Use a mask so you don’t inhale the dust.
4. Utilize Sunlight
You can take further advantage of bed bugs’ weakness to heat by leaving your car parked in the sun with the windows closed for the entire day. The greenhouse effect will raise the temperature inside the car to levels that are lethal to bed bugs.
Pro tip: Do not use this as a sole method against bed bugs. The success will depend on the climate, so a few bed bugs might still survive.
5. Use Heat Treatment for Fabrics
Any fabric items that can be removed from your car, such as seat covers or blankets, should be placed in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes. You just have to make sure the dryer is loosely filled, so the hot air can penetrate the entirety of the fabrics.
Virginia Tech also recommends using a removable shelf to place items that can’t be tumbled inside. Portable heating devices can also be used for the same goal.
6. Seal and Freeze
For items that cannot be washed or heated directly, you can place them in a sealed plastic bag and put them in the freezer for at least three days.
Bed bugs can’t survive temperatures lower than 0 F, so this will ensure any surviving bed bugs are killed.
7. Use Nuvan Strips
Nuvan strips work by releasing a vapor that contains DDVP (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate), a pesticide that is highly toxic to bed bugs and other pests. While this method is not suitable for treating entire rooms due to the need for confined exposure, it is ideal for enclosed spaces like vehicles.
To use Nuvan strips effectively, place them inside your car and ensure it is closed to keep the vapors contained. Leave them in place for between 48 to 72 hours. After this period, remove the strips and air out your car for several hours before using it again.
8. Get Professional Help

Despite your best efforts with the DIY treatments listed above, there are instances where these methods may not suffice, especially if you’re dealing with a large bed bug infestation.
In such cases, it’s best to call a pest control pro. They are equipped with the right tools and knowledge to handle your bed bug problem swiftly. Just make sure the company you’re calling also treats vehicles.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs in Your Car
The most effective way to deal with bed bugs is to prevent them from making your car their home in the first place. Here are several key practices to prevent bed bugs in your car:
- Clean regularly: Consistently vacuuming and cleaning can reduce the risk of bed bug infestations.
- Minimize clutter: By keeping your car organized and free of clutter, you limit the potential habitats for bed bugs to settle in.
- Inspect secondhand items: Before placing secondhand furniture, clothes, or other items in your car, thoroughly inspect them for signs of bed bugs.
- Check luggage and camping gear: After traveling or camping, inspect your luggage, sleeping bags, and other gear for bed bugs before putting them in your car.
- Use plastic bags for transporting clothes: When transporting clothes to and from laundries, use sealed plastic bags to prevent bed bugs from latching onto your clothes and being inadvertently brought into your car.
FAQ About Bed Bugs in Cars
Will Bed Bugs Die in a Hot Car?
Some may die, but not all. While bed bugs can die if exposed to temperatures of at least 113 F for 90 minutes, relying on a hot car to achieve this is unreliable. The temperatures can vary significantly, making it difficult to ensure all areas reach and maintain the necessary heat to kill the bed bugs.
How Long Can Bed Bugs Live in a Car?
At room temperature, bed bugs can live for up to 70 days without feeding. This means that simply leaving your car unused for a few days in the hope that the bed bugs will die off is not an effective strategy.
Will Bed Bugs Die in a Cold Car?
If you live in an area with cold winters, there’s a possibility that bed bugs might not survive the freezing conditions inside a car. However, for cold temperatures to effectively kill bed bugs, the interior of the car would need to be maintained at a constant temperature of 5 F for at least three and a half days, or of -4 F for 48 hours.
Achieving and sustaining such low temperatures naturally can be challenging, as outdoor temperatures fluctuate and cars can warm up during the day even in winter conditions. As such, you should not rely solely on winter weather to eradicate bed bugs from your car.
Can I Use a Bed Bug Fogger in My Car?
It is possible to use a bed bug fogger in your car, but this comes with several limitations and risks. Firstly, foggers can only kill bed bugs on contact, so they won’t reach cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide. Furthermore, the chemicals can be hazardous to human health if not handled properly.
If you decide to use a fogger in your car, carefully read the product label to ensure it works against bed bugs, and follow all safety instructions to the letter.
When to Call a Pro
While there are numerous DIY strategies you can employ to combat bed bugs in your car, it might not be enough. Call a pest control professional near you to treat the bed bug infestation and finally give you peace of mind.
Sources:
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Main Image Credits:
Background: Pexels
Bed Bug: Dmitry Bezrukov / Canva Pro / License
Editorial Contributors
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Maria Isabela Reis
Author
Maria Isabela Reis is a writer, Ph.D. candidate, and plant enthusiast from an area where mosquitoes are as relentless in their pursuit of blood as she is in her quest for knowledge. When she’s not swatting away these buzzing annoyances, she’s playing with her dogs and savoring a cup of tea.
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Sarah Bahr
Editor
Sarah is a writer who has previously worked in the lawn care industry. In her spare time, she likes to garden, create mosquito traps out of five-gallon buckets, and use chickens for pest control in the backyard.
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