How to Get a Mouse Out of Your Car (Step-by-Step Guide)

Don’t be fooled by their size — mice in your vehicle's engine is a big problem.

And knowing how to get rid of a mouse in your car can feel like no small feat. 

Every year, vehicle owners spend millions in rodent-related repairs, from chewed wiring to contaminated air filters. A single mouse can put your car in the shop in a matter of days. Acting quickly when you notice the telltale signs of an infestation is critical to protecting your car and your wallet.

This guide will help you detect an infestation quickly and walk you step by step through getting the mice out of your car — and keep them out for good!

Signs You Have a Mouse Problem

Mechanical Failures

Unfortunately, many drivers discover their rodent problem after their car malfunctions. Mice love to nibble and gnaw on wiring, which can result in:

• Dashboard warning lights illuminating for no apparent reason.
• Broken power windows, malfunctioning headlights, or damaged air conditioning system.
• Difficulty starting the car or sudden stalling.

Droppings and Debris

Mice aren’t always subtle guests. Keep an eye out for:

• Droppings: Tiny black or brown pellets found in the cabin, trunk, or under the hood.
• Shredded materials: Nibbled upholstery, shredded insulation, and torn air filters are perfect nesting materials.
• Food stashes: Nuts, seeds, or crumbs collected and stored in areas like the glovebox, engine bay, and tire wells.

Strange Smells

An unusual odor can be an early warning sign of a mouse problem. Common causes include:

• Urine and droppings, which produce a pungent smell.
• Decaying food or, in some cases, a trapped and decomposing mouse.
• Musty odors from nesting materials.

Odd Noises

If your car is in storage, spend a few minutes every so often listening for these noises to catch an infestation early.

• Scratching or scurrying: Mice moving within the walls, vents, or engine bay.
• Squeaking: High-pitched sounds from active rodents.
• Rattling: Loose debris or nesting materials jostling when you drive or run the air conditioning.

8 Steps to Getting a Mouse Out of Your Car

1) Open Your Hood

Exposing more of your car to the elements might sound like an open invitation for more rodents, but the opposite is actually true. Mice are attracted to the safety and comfort of your enclosed engine bay. Colder temperatures, wind, light, and added noise can sometimes be enough to make your car feel a little less like the Ritz and a little more like a Motel 6.  

2) Try to Scare the Mice Off

If you believe the mouse hasn’t fully settled in yet — meaning it hasn’t built a nest or begun stashing food — there’s still a chance you might be able to scare it off before resorting to traps.

• Crank up the heat: While mice might enjoy the warm comforts of your vehicle’s interior, they aren’t a fan of extreme heat. If the weather’s nice, find a sunny place to park your car, roll up the windows, run your heater, and see if you can’t just convince those pesky invaders to leave on their own.  
• Make a lot of noise: Mice like their peace and quiet. Honking your horn a few times might just be enough to frighten them off. If not, consider playing loud music in your garage, tapping the sides of your car, or investing in an ultrasonic device.
• Turn on the light: Rodents are nocturnal. If your car is stored in a garage, keep the lights running overnight to make the area less comfortable. Placing LEDs underneath your vehicle or in the engine bay can also be an effective option.
• Drive your car: If you want to create a fully well-rounded disturbance, take your car for a spin. This is a particularly important step for anyone who is storing their car for an extended period, as a stationary vehicle is a prime target for mice.

3) Use Rodent Repellants

For as stubborn as they are, mice are actually quite sensitive. While natural rodent repellants may not be foolproof solutions, it is possible for them to ward off rodents long enough for you to secure your parking area.

• Peppermint oil: The strong menthol scent is irritating to a mouse’s sensitive nose. Spray under the hood, around wheel wells, floorboards, and any other entry points. You can also soak cotton balls directly in the oil and place in air vents and glove compartments.
  • Pros: It’s not an unpleasant smell and it’s non-toxic.
  • Cons: Needs frequent reapplication to work properly.
• Dryer sheets: Mice also hate the smell of scented dryer sheets. Tuck them under seats, in the glove box, trunk, and under the hood.
  • Pros: Cheap and easy to find.
  • Cons: The scent can fade very quickly
• Irish Spring soap: Another smell that mice hate, Irish spring soap is a simple deterrent. Slice it up into tiny chunks and place directly into trouble areas around your car.
  • Pros: The scent will last longer than other options.
  • Cons: Can leave residue if it melts. Some rats have been found to chew on it.

4) Place Traps Around the Vehicle

If you’ve gone through the first three steps and are still experiencing a rodent problem, you may have no other choice than to use traps. Simple snap traps are often the easiest and most effective option, offering a quick and humane kill with easy disposal. 

Live catch traps are a more human option — but it’s important that you then release the mice at least a mile away to avoid a return infestation. Conversely, glue traps are the least humane option and largely unnecessary.

And always make sure to take proper safety precautions when disposing of dead mice to avoid disease.

Where to Place Your Traps?

• Under front and back seats
• Inside the trunk
• Under the dashboard
• Inside the glove box
• In the spare tire well
• Inside the engine bay (when the car is off and cool — never while running)
• Along baseboards or walls of garage
• Near vehicle tires or entry points

Mouse Trap Setup Tips:

• Use multiple traps at one: Mice are suspicious creatures. Several traps increase the odds of the catch.
• Anchor the traps: Use painter’s tape or some other adhesive to keep the trap from moving when triggered.
• Surround the trap: Place the trap so that the bait can’t be easily accessed from the side. A tissue or shoe box works great.
• Use gloves: Avoid transferring human scent onto the traps.
• Combine with repellents: The one-two punch will drive mice away from the vehicle and into the trap.  

5) Call a Pest Professional

If you can’t get the mice out of the car on your own, it may be time to call in the professionals. While many preventative measures can be handled on your own, none of them will matter if there is currently a mouse in your car.

6) Clean Everything

Once you get rid of the mice, deep cleaning the area is essential — not just to remove the smells and droppings, but to eliminate health hazards and remove scent trails that could attract more rodents.

Mice can carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can pose a serious health risk to humans — like the deadly hantavirus. While cleaning, never forget to where gloves and a mask, as dangerous debris can become airborne.

• Remove all visible debris: Start with the obvious. Dispose of nesting materials (shredded paper, insulation, etc.), food stashes, and trash.
• Vacuum the interior: Use a strong vacuum that allows you to get into cracks and under seats.
• Disinfect surfaces: Choose an antibacterial cleaner and allow the solution to sit for five minutes before wiping.
• Treat soft surfaces: For cloth seats and carpets, use a fabric-safe disinfectant spray. A simple wipe should work for leather and vinyl seats.
• Replace the air filters: Mice are known for nesting in air filters. This is particularly dangerous as bacteria can be blown out through your A/C and heater. 

7) Seal All Entry Points

Once the mice are out of your car and away from the area, the next and most-important step is to keep them from returning. Mice can squeeze through holes as small as ¼ inch (about the size of a pencil), which means that even the tiniest gaps can serve as an entryway. And because mice are also excellent climbers, that means you have to be aware of cracks and holes throughout your garage or storage area. 

Inspect the area and use any of the following tools to seal entry points:

• Steel wool
• Expanding foam sealant
• Silicone caulk
• Garage door seals
• Door sweeps

8) Install a Box-Kat Mouse Barrier

The best way to deal with a mouse problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

The Box-Kat mouse barrier is your car’s ultimate defense against rodents. This patented product creates a physical barrier that mice can’t jump over or burrow under, keeping your vehicle safe from damage. Whether you’re safeguarding your personal car, trailer, RV, or van, Box-Kat offers peace of mind and long-term protection.

Invest in a Box-Kat today and keep your car ready for the road — not the repair shop.