Survival in Motion: Tips on Living in Your Car

Living in a vehicle shares many of the same qualities and responsibilities as living in a house. It requires maintenance, care-taking, cleaning. Done properly, a casual onlooker shouldn't be able to tell that you've been residing in your car.

Take the time to learn a few basic auto repairs. Know how to change a tire, replace a spark plug, and even change your own oil. Keep a handful of tools in the vehicle as well, relevant to your make and model of car. If something happens to your car that you're unable to fix yourself, don't be ashamed to ask those close to you for help. It's nearly certain that anything they charge you will be a lot less than what an auto shop would. If your problem is even beyond what your contacts can repair, it may be that an auto shop is your only other option. It will likely cost you a pretty penny, but keeping warm and mobile should be worth the money.

Next thing to worry about is on-board sanitation. Trash can collect very easily in such a small area, and it would behoove you to make sure your vehicle is tidy. Every square inch of space is valuable, so don't squander it collecting garbage. There are several additional benefits to having a tidy vehicle as well. Part of being homeless is learning to blend in with common society, and having a clean car helps facilitate that. It also allows for the carrying of passengers, should you have a need to do so. Pests can sniff out a meal in almost any condition, even inside of a messy vehicle; keeping out the trash means keeping out the mice.

Be careful when choosing where to park your vehicle. Avoid residential areas if at all possible - all it takes is one overly-suspicious homeowner putting in a call to the police to ruin your whole night. Remote and isolated areas are also undesirable, as there's no security from someone willing to try to break into your car. Try to find somewhere with proper lighting and a healthy amount of traffic, but make sure that it's somewhere you can park with impunity. Personal tip: I tend to look for places where truckers park their semis overnight; truck stops and rest areas are ideal for me. If you're staying in a city for more than a couple days, try finding several places that meet your requirements for parking overnight. Staying in one area for too long is bound to catch someone's attention, so rotate through your areas to keep suspicion low.