Bed Bugs in My Car! How to Have a Pest-Free Vehicle

Are you finding tiny bugs in your car or noticing new bites on your body after driving? Did you recently deal with bed bugs in your home? Does your friend have bed bugs and sat in your car? Can you even get bed bugs from giving someone a ride?

If you answer yes to these questions, you might have a bed bug infestation in your car.

We typically associate bed bugs with bedrooms or hotel rooms. However, they can inhabit almost any environment. And, while they prefer soft furniture, they can live in a crack in a wall or other secluded space.

And, given the opportunity, yes, they will move into the comfy ride of your automobile. Bed bugs in cars are more common in vehicles that many people use, such as car rental vehicles or taxi companies. 

Yes, you can get bed bugs in your car, so let's talk about what to do next.

Do a Bed Bug Inspection of Your Car

Before you panic, confirm that the bugs you see are bed bugs. Learn what to look for and how to do an inspection.

Download our "Free Bed Bug Guide"

and

Check out our "How to Do a Professional Bed Bug Inspection Video." This video is for a bedroom, but the concepts and evidence in your car will be the same.

You might spot the bugs themselves, which are tiny, flat bugs with a reddish-brown color. Other giveaways include little white eggs, dark spots (which are feces), or their shed skins. If you're getting itchy bites or your car has a weird, musty smell, those could also be signs that bed bugs are tagging along on your daily commute.

How Long Can Bed Bugs Live In A Car?

So you've confirmed the presence of bed bugs in your car - what next? Your vehicle is not like a bedroom or other ordinary places you find them. So, how long can they live in your car, and can you hope it will go away on its own?

Unfortunately, without treatment, they could become long-term passengers. Bed bugs need regular blood meals to survive, but they can go months between meals, so taking the bus and waiting them out will take a while.

Won't bed bugs die in a hot car? Well, potentially - but not really. Your car may feel like a sauna in summer. However, the heat is probably not distributed evenly enough to eliminate all bed bugs and their eggs. The dashboard might be sizzling, but the bed bugs hide in cooler spots like under your seats.

So, while you can certainly take advantage of a few 100F days to park your vehicle in the sun all day with the windows shut, a heat treatment using professional heaters is the best way to tackle the problem. 

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs from Your Car 

We often think about using chemicals to get rid of bugs, but they aren't the best choice because: 

• They struggle to reach all necessary areas (if they don't touch the bug, it won't kill them) 
•  Bed bugs are becoming resistant to chemicals 
• They're toxic, so not the kind of thing you want in a place where you spend a lot of time 

Fortunately, heat treatments don't have any of these problems. Bed bugs can't survive temperatures above 120°F (49°C) for more than a few minutes, making heat treatments the ultimate solution. Heat treatments reach every nook and cranny that chemicals miss and will leave no adults (or eggs) alive. 

Convectex Heaters Can Eradicate Bed Bugs in Your Car

Convectex heaters are just the tool you need for the job. Our heaters can be safely placed on a firm surface in your car, like the trunk or the back seat laid flat. Run the power cord through a window (which you can then seal off), crank up the heater, and let it work its magic. After two hours or more of maintaining a temperature of at least 120°F (49°C), you'll kill any bugs or eggs in the vehicle. 

Run A Car Rental or Uber Business?

If you're in the car rental business, own an Uber, or are starting a pest control company, take one of our online training sessions. We'll teach you all our top tips and industry secrets to ensure you're a pro at using your heaters so you solve your problem the first time. You can find our upcoming live training sessions and other training resources here. 

Get a Heater & Handle Your Bed Bug Problems 

Bed bugs don't have to be a major stress in your life. You can treat your vehicles and properties with the proper heat treatment equipment whenever necessary. Whether you're dealing with a few individuals or a large infestation, our heat treatment packages have you covered.

Our DIY packages and professional heat treatment kits will ensure your vehicles and properties remain bed bug-free. To find the right heat treatment package for you, click here.