Everything we know about sleeping in your car

Two years of building platforms, a lot of nights on the road, and every question owners have sent us. It's all here — sorted by what you're actually trying to work out.

01Start here

Two pages that answer the first two questions everyone has.

New to camping? What camping actually involves, and an honest comparison of tent, roof tent, campervan and car. Start here if you've never done it. Why sleep in your car? The case for it — cost, safety, weather, spontaneity — and where it's the wrong choice. The city escape What one night out of town actually does, with the research behind it — and why leaving on Friday night beats driving on Saturday morning.

02Where you're allowed to sleep

The rules country by country, with real fines and time limits. Written in the local language where it matters.

🇺🇸USA — the complete guideBLM 14-day limits, rest areas state by state, the Walmart reality, and why the East Coast plays by different rules
🇪🇺 Europe — the overview, plus seven country guides

Start with the Europe overview → — resting vs camping, the aires network, and the right-to-roam myth. Then your own country below, written in its own language, because that's how people search for their own law.

🇩🇪DeutschlandWiederherstellung der Fahrtüchtigkeit; bis 2.500 € in Bayern 🇬🇧United KingdomDrunk in charge, PSPOs up to £1,000, the Scotland myth 🇫🇷France35 € à 1 500 €, loi Littoral, 6 000 aires 🇳🇱NederlandDe APV beslist; € 170 per persoon 🇩🇰Danmark24 timer på rasteplads; bøde 1.500 kr. 🇸🇪SverigeAllemansrätten gäller inte fordon 🇨🇿ČeskoV CHKO až 10 000 Kč, zákaz vjezdu 25 000 Kč
🇦🇺AustraliaCouncil by council. QLD rest areas up to 20 hours; Brisbane and the coast say no 🇳🇿New ZealandWhy no car can be certified self-contained, and what DOC sites actually cost 🇨🇦CanadaCrown land, bylaws, and the Walmart question 🇯🇵JapanShachū-haku etiquette and Michi-no-Eki roadside stations

03Will it fit my car?

The question behind most emails we get. LEVEL adjusts to most SUVs, estates and wagons — these pages tell you whether yours is one of them.

How to measure your trunkThree numbers, five minutes. Send them and we confirm the fit before you order LEVEL — the adjustable platformFits most SUVs and wagons, arrives fully assembled, legs cancel the boot slope Best SUVs for couplesThe three measurements that decide it — and why cargo volume tells you nothing Which cars fit a full-length bed?What 180 cm and 190 cm mean in practice Headroom vs storageChoosing platform height: sit up, or store more underneath How many people fit in a Model Y?Two adults, plus one or two kids — who sleeps where Car not listed?We 3D-scan the vehicle and build a platform for it

04Sleeping comfortably

The difference between a night you repeat and a night you don't.

The seat gap and the slopeFlat is not the same as level — three separate problems, three fixes Ventilation in an EVCamp Mode, real battery figures, and six tricks you learn on the second night Condensation in a petrol or diesel car15 mm cross-flow, rain guards, desiccant — and why you never idle for heat Five essentials for a good nightThe basics, in order of what actually matters How much weight can it hold?Tested figures for bed, drawer and worktop Will it drain the battery?EV and combustion, with numbers

05Living with it: gear and storage

Where everything goes once the bed is sorted.

Fridge and power station~400 Wh a day for a 40 L fridge, and what that means for your layout Backpacks, kids' gear and toysFamily car camping without the 11 p.m. argument Between tripsStoring the platform so the car stays a car Car camping with dogsWhere the dog sleeps, and the heat rule with no exceptions

06Choosing a platform

Ours or someone else's — these compare honestly.

  ⚡ Platform bed Tent Roof tent Mattress in the boot Campervan
Setup time About 60 seconds 10–20 min 5–10 min + ladder Fast, but lumpy Parked & ready
Sleep surface Flat, level, slatted Uneven ground Thin pad, sways Gaps over folded seats Proper bed
Weather & noise Wind and rain stay outside Everything gets in Exposed up top Sealed inside Sealed, insulated
Security Doors locked No lock Climb down at night Doors locked Lockable
Gear Stored underneath Outside the tent Very limited Piled on top of you Cupboards
Your daily car Folds away Unaffected Bulky, more fuel Messy It is the car
Cost One-off, no van to buy Cheap Pricey + fuel Cheapest to try $60k–100k

Where LEVEL fits in

LEVEL is our answer to the two problems above that a mattress can't touch: it sits on fully adjustable legs that cancel the boot slope, so the bed is genuinely horizontal rather than just flat — set once for your car and right every trip after. It arrives fully assembled, fits most SUVs, estates and wagons, has a full-width bed for two with a drawer and a pull-out worktop underneath, and folds away so the car is a car on Monday.

See LEVEL →  ·  Check if it fits your car →  ·  Driving a Tesla Model Y? The PRO is built around that boot →

How to choose a platformWhat to look for, and the mistakes that cost the most Roof tent vs platformSetup time, fuel cost, weather, and what you give up DIY or ready-made?When building it yourself makes sense — and when it doesn't Every option comparedTent, roof tent, mattress, campervan, platform — side by side PRO vs COREWhich of ours suits your trips Is it worth the price?The payback maths against hotels and campervan hire

07Where to go

Once the bed works, the only question left.

Where to go firstSpots Teraglide owners actually use, filterable by region Australia road trip routesFive routes and the campgrounds you can book on each The city escapeOne night out of town, the research behind it, and the Friday evening plan Rent a platform in NZTurn a rental SUV into a camper for the trip

08Ordering and support

FAQFit, specs, sleeping, orders and delivery Shipping and delivery datesFree shipping, duties included, pick your own date Product use and safetyAssembly, strapping and driving with the platform Returns and warranty1 year on defects, 5 years of replacement parts

Still just want to know if LEVEL fits your car?

Three measurements, five minutes with a tape measure, and we'll give you a straight answer — including "it won't fit", if that's the truth. We'd rather say no than sell you the wrong thing.

Check if your car fits →

Or go straight to LEVEL for most SUVs and wagons, or the PRO for a Tesla Model Y.

Guides last reviewed July 2026. Rules and prices change and vary by region — always check current local information before you travel.