How to Live in Your Car

Aussie Auto-glass,one of the best leading auto glass replacement company in Sydney, which is located at 813 princes highway in Tempe.

Living in a car isn’t something that many people would recommend. However, if by either circumstance or choice, especially if you don’t feel safe at a local shelter. Luckily, there is some helpful information on how to get by until something better comes along.

Part 1 At the Start

1.Find a suitable car. You can only live in your car successfully if your car works. ideally a windowless delivery van of some sort: you will have room under your platform bunk for storage, you can install a rooftop skylight/hatch for air, a rooftop rack for storage and even lookout when the skylight is open. An anonymous-looking white Chevy van or Holden panel van makes concealment a lot easier. You’re going to need a new or “newish” car or be a good mechanic to live in an older car. If you have an old car keep in mind that you’re liable to break down at an inopportune moment if you don’t stay on top of maintenance.

2.Before you start living in your car, use your permanent address to:

.Rent a post office box or a Private Mailbox, you can receive packages at them and some services will let you use an address format that makes it appear to be an apartment; this can be useful when someone requires a physical address.

.Sign up for a gym membership, if is too expensive, a more affordable alternative is (depending on your location) to enroll at a local community college where you’ll then be able to use their gym facilities.

.Renew any paperwork that will require an address to process soon.

.Put valuables in a safe deposit box at a bank.

.If you have friends or family who can’t (or refuse to) help you with your living situation, or you refuse to ask them for help, think about at least asking them if you can use their address.

3.Keep your personal identification, driver’s license, car insurance current at all times. Have it readily available forpolice inspection.

4. Buy a steering column lock and use it!

Part 2 Finding Safe and Inconspicuous Places to Park

1.First, check with any friends or relatives to see if they will let you park on their property. If not, check to see if there are any organizations or businesses in your area (or a nearby area) that designates parking lots specifically for people in situations like yours; for example, Walmart allows people to camp overnight in their parking lots. It’s not only legal, but the organization might screen the people who use the lot or even designate a women-only lot. If there are no such lots available, and you live in an urban area, look for streets with no sidewalks, no overlooking windows, and adjacent to woods; the area should be sparse enough to avoid nosy onlookers but populated enough that the car does not stand out. Parking lots of big-box retailers (especially those that are open 24 hours and have restrooms, such as Walmart) are great to clean up in and have security, as long as you spend a couple of dollars there and don’t park in one place too often. Parking lots however can be noisy, particularly in the morning as trucks arrive carrying food and goods.

2.Church car parks are often quiet.This could be a good place to park, and you may be able to ask for assistance at the church. You might even attend the church to gain rapport, but wait a while before telling others about your situation.

3.Industrial estates and business parks are often noisy by day, but very quiet at night. Small ones close to residential areas are best. They have to be quiet at night. You may encounter security in some places like this, but if you are honest, saying you are just sleeping the night in your car, they usually won’t bother you. Their main role is to protect the property.

4.University car parks. This is okay if you are a student, but not so good if you are not associated with the university. You may be required to get a parking permit.

.Camping grounds are another option, although they usually have time limits and some are almost as expensive as a hotel room. Some offer a shower for a nominal fee. National Forests have some free camping with a limit of 14 days.

5.Yacht harbors are notoriously ‘free zones’, so marinas offer a lot of services, like hot showers and transient vehicles.

6.A free hospital parking lot is another option. If approached by a guard, you can say that you’re waiting to visit a sick relative.

.If you can establish rapport with the manager of a retail store or restaurant, they may not give you problems about staying overnight, especially if they see your presence as a form of overnight security.

7.Try a hotel parking lot. Hotels and motels along the interstate allow cars to park until 11:00 a.m. the next day (checkout time). As long as your seat reclines fully, no one will notice you. However, you’ll need to keep moving on.

.Once you find a spot, try to arrive late at night, and leave before 7 am. This will draw as little attention as possible to yourself.

8.Get earplugs. Due to noise, you might find that you will need earplugs to sleep. Earplugs will block a lot of background noise to a level that is bearable. They will not block out very loud noise or close noise, such as someone tapping on your car.

Part 3 Maintaining Hygiene

1.Find a place to shower. The most logical place would appear to be a gym. This will help you keep your sanity and give you a purpose to your morning. Remember: the people who can least afford to sport the disheveled look of a homeless person are those who are homeless, so try not to look the part! Maintaining a well-kept appearance can only help you maintain a positive self-image during a time when it is being seriously challenged.

2.Community or Recreation centers that have gyms and showers are a cheaper option than the nationwide chains. Many Rec or Community centers yearly memberships cost about the same as the monthly memberships at a national gym.

3.Another option, though possibly more expensive, is to book into a cheap motel or hostel once or twice a week and clean up thoroughly there (if you can afford it).

4.Swimming pools have showers, depending on whether they have private stalls or are set up gang-style, they may provide a discreet place to shower.

.Another option to consider- when you can’t shower, use unscented baby wipes to clean up or take a “bum shower” in a public restroom where you feel comfortable doing so.

5.At a truck stop, you can ask around for a shower coupon, if you feel safe allowing people to know that you’re without a place to stay. Truck stops are good to sleep at too. Truck Stops can be noisy at night though, so earplugs are recommended.

6.Some toll roads, especially state turnpikes, have large rest areas with free showers for truckers. Since these are usually open 24 hours, these plazas are also good places to sleep.

7.Sometimes you can take a single class for a nominal price, thus becoming a legitimate member of the college community, with access to their gym, library, WiFi, employment office, and other resources (in addition to learning something).

Part 4 Finding the Essentials

1.Get the things you’ll need. The basic essentials for living in a car are a blanket, a pillow, and a mattress or some other padding. Due to the angles involved in the seating setup, you may develop dull back pain from the cramped quarters. Should this happen, be sure to have pain medication on hand.

2.A cheap cooler will help make life easier. The main thing the cooler needs is to be waterproof. Cold food will cause condensation, while ice will melt.

3.One essential item, if you can afford it is a Porta-Potty, a chemical toilet. These devices can really make living in a car bearable. If you can’t afford a Porta-Potty or don’t have room for one, you can pee into wide-necked bottles like Gatorade bottles, or make an improvised bucket-style toilet.

4.Buy a combo backup battery/air compressor to jump-start your car on your own. Have a spare tire and at least one can of tire sealant. Be sure the sealant is of the type that can be removed.

Tips

1.Personal safety should always be your number one priority. Keep your keys near (but not in) the ignition so you can drive off at a moment’s notice. Knives used for food preparation and tire irons can be used as weapons. Pepper spray is another option. You may want to learn your state’s gun laws and purchase a handgun or another firearm if you do not already own one. Criminals seek out people who appear vulnerable or travel alone. Sometimes the sound of a cocked gun will be sufficient enough to deter a potential mugger. However, be aware that if police become aware that you have a gun, they may arrest or even shoot you for possessing a weapon.

2.Be aware that having a gun in the car carries its risks. If you are startled awake and point the gun at the wrong person (i.e. a cop tapping on the window), you can wind up being shot yourself.

3.If you have been homeless for a while, you may not have money for car insurance. Be aware that you can be considered a vagrant. Your car may be impounded.

4.Your car is a weapon if you stay inside it. Remember that. If a police officer tells you to do anything, follow directions exactly as told, or they are authorized to use deadly force against you, if you are still inside the car. Never move any body part until told to do so.

5.Don’t drink alcohol. Don’t even bring any alcohol into your car. If cops find you with alcohol in your blood or in your car, you could get in serious trouble, even if you’re not driving at the time.

6.Clean your car every two weeks. Remove all trash. Wipe down the hard surfaces of the interior. Vacuum the mats and seats. Use upholstery cleaner to address any stains or dirt on the seats.

7.If your windshield wipers do not work or if there are two or more cracks, take the car in to an auto glass repair shop and ask if repair is possible. Three long cracks almost always require full replacement.

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