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. Sorted by what you're actually trying to work out — start anywhere, each section hands you to the next one.

Start here01New to this?

Two pages that answer the first two questions everyone has.

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, and why leaving on Friday evening beats driving on Saturday morning.

Convinced? The first real question is whether it's legal where you're going.

Where you're allowed02Am I allowed to sleep here?

Country by country, with real fines and time limits. In the local language where that's how people search.

🇺🇸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 ten country guides

Start with the Europe overview → — resting vs camping, the aires network, and the right-to-roam myth. Then your own country below, in its own language.

🇩🇪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 🇮🇹ItaliaL'articolo 185: ruote a terra, nessuna sporgenza, nessuno scarico 🇪🇸EspañaPernoctar sí, acampar no — y 17 comunidades por encima 🇳🇱NederlandDe APV beslist; € 170 per persoon 🇳🇴Norge450 rasteplasser, ca. 24 timer; døgnhvileplass er for yrkessjåfører 🇩🇰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 Car camping 101 (US)The beginner version — what to know before the first night

Almost every rule comes down to the same line: nothing outside the car. Which makes the inside of the car the whole trip.

The night itself03Will I actually sleep?

Comfort, air and safety — 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 different fixes Space above your headLying flat, knees up, rolling over, sitting up — what each one actually needs Ventilation in an EVCamp Mode, measured battery figures, and the 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 things that decide the nightIn order of what actually matters. It isn't a thicker mattress Will it drain the battery?EV and combustion, with numbers from a night at minus seven How many people fit?Two adults, plus one or two kids — and what gets harder with four Sleeping solo, safelyWhy the doors lock, and what women travelling alone actually do differently

Once you can sleep, the next argument is at 11pm about where the bags went.

Living in the car04How do I live in there?

Storage, cooking, washing, the dog, the kids — everything that happens when the bed is already sorted.

Where the bags and kids' gear goA named home for every category, and the 2am test for whether it works What to cook for two nightsEat the perishables first, and never cook anything you have to drain Washing, toilets and waste waterReal shower prices by country, and the rules that carry fines Fridge and power stationRoughly 400 Wh a day for a 40 L fridge, and what that means for your layout What to pack for a weekendThe minimalist version — and what people bring once and never again The mini kitchenCooking from the boot without unpacking the car Car camping with dogsWhere the dog sleeps, why panting fogs the glass, and the heat rule with no exceptions Car camping with kidsWhat changes with small passengers, and what stops being worth it Working from the carPower, signal and the rhythm of drive-work-sleep Between tripsLeave it in or take it out — folded is not the same as gone

Set up and packed. Now the only question left is where you're pointing the car.

Where to go05Where should I go?

Spots, routes and the trips people actually repeat.

Where to go firstSpots Teraglide owners actually use, filterable by region and type How to pick the spotLevel ground, quiet, and legal — in that order, and how to judge each in two minutes Australia road trip routesFive routes and the campgrounds you can book on each Planning a long trip to New ZealandHow to keep it flexible without booking everything in advance Festival car campingWhere to park in the field, what three nights costs your battery, and the honest noise answer Rent a platform in NZTurn a rental SUV into a camper for the trip

All of the above assumes you have somewhere flat to sleep. That's the last question.

Choosing a platform06Will it fit, and which one?

Fit and choice are the same question, so they live together.

LEVEL answers the two problems 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, 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 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 →

Does it fit my car?
How to measure your trunkThree numbers, five minutes. Send them and we confirm the fit before you order Cars we have already fittedCheck the list before you get the tape measure out Which cars fit a full-length bedWhy no reliable list of cars exists — and how to measure your own instead Best SUVs for couplesOutback, Model Y, RAV4, Tucson, Tiguan — the deciding detail on each, for two How much weight can it hold?Tested figures for bed, drawer and worktop Car not listed?We 3D-scan the vehicle and build a platform for it
Platform, mattress, tent or roof tent?
Every option comparedTent, roof tent, mattress, campervan, platform — side by side, including where we lose Roof tent vs platformLegal status, wet fabric, height barriers, and the measured 32% energy cost DIY or ready-made?When building it yourself makes sense — and when it doesn't Is it worth the price?The payback maths against hotels and campervan hire
Which Teraglide?
Compare all platformsLEVEL, PRO, CORE, CAB, BOX, SOLO — what each one is for How to choose a platformSix things that decide it, and the questions to put to any seller

Ordering07Ready to order?

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 it 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 August 2026. Rules and prices change and vary by region — always check current local information before you travel.