Where Can You Sleep in Your Car in Europe? A Country-by-Country Guide
Planning a road trip across Europe and wondering if you can legally sleep in your car? This guide breaks down the key rules, highlights country-specific regulations, and helps you prepare for a safe and comfortable journey — whether you're in a Tesla or a traditional vehicle.
🚫 Is Car Camping Legal in Europe?
Europe is a patchwork of different laws. Here's a quick overview:
- Germany, France, Netherlands: Sleeping in your car is generally allowed for one night to “restore driving ability” — but not on private property or in residential areas.
- Spain: Rules vary by region. Andalusia is stricter, while Galicia and Castile tend to be more relaxed. Avoid tourist zones and coastal areas.
- Portugal, Croatia: Car camping outside of official campsites is prohibited and can result in fines, especially in protected or coastal zones.
- Italy, Norway, Sweden: More freedom. Norway has Allemansrätten (Right to Roam), allowing you to camp almost anywhere responsibly.
Tip: Always look for signage and use apps like Park4Night or StayFree to find approved overnight stops.
🚗 EV or Gasoline Car?
If you're driving a Tesla, you have a built-in advantage: Camp Mode allows you to:
- Maintain cabin temperature overnight
- Charge devices or power lights
- Sleep with locked doors and no open windows
Traveling in a regular car? A portable power station like EcoFlow can keep your electronics running, power a mini fridge, or support your lights and fans.
🛏️ How Teraglide Makes Car Camping Easier
Many travellers worry about comfort, privacy, or where to store their gear. That’s where a Teraglide Camping Platform comes in:
- Custom-built for your car — folds fully into the trunk, freeing up rear seats for passengers
- Smart storage underneath for your bags, gear, and cooking equipment
- Flat, slatted bed frame — sleep comfortably and securely inside your locked car
- Perfect for solo travellers, couples, or families with kids — including a Pro version with a built-in mini kitchen for Tesla Model Y
🔗 Useful Resources
More detail: parking vs camping in practice
Across Europe, the key legal difference is usually between resting in a parked vehicle and setting up a campsite. In many countries, you are allowed to rest or sleep in your car if it is correctly parked, but the moment you put tables, awnings, levelling blocks or other gear outside, authorities may treat it as camping and issue fines in prohibited areas.
In Spain, traffic authorities (DGT) clearly distinguish between pernoctar (sleeping inside a properly parked vehicle) and acampar (camping with equipment outside). A practical explanation (in Spanish) is here: ¿Es legal dormir en el coche en España? Esto dice la normativa de la DGT .
France follows a similar logic: sleeping in your car can be legal if you respect parking rules and public order, but “camping sauvage” and long stays in sensitive areas can be fined. A readable French overview is: Est-il autorisé de dormir dans sa voiture partout en France ?
Portugal has become stricter: overnight stays in motor caravans or similar vehicles are forbidden in many protected and coastal zones, and there are time limits in other places. The official tourism site explains the rules here: VisitPortugal – Campervanning rules and a detailed English guide for travellers is: Campervanning in Portugal – updated rules .
In Germany, the ADAC motoring club confirms that resting in your car to recover fitness to drive is generally allowed if you park correctly and don’t turn the area into a campsite: ADAC – Car camping & sleeping in your car .
Official legal resources to check before your trip
For readers who like to dive into original sources, here are some starting points by country:
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Spain: DGT-based explanation of when sleeping in your car is legal and when it becomes camping.
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Portugal: Official tourism page on campervanning and protected areas.
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Portugal (traveller guide, in English): Clear breakdown of wild camping rules and the 48-hour limits.
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France: Practical article on when sleeping in your car is allowed and when it counts as wild camping.
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Germany: ADAC tips on car camping and sleeping in the car.
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Switzerland: Overview of camping options and rules across the country.
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Europe-wide overview: Wild camping rules, strict vs. flexible countries, and legal stay options.
Apps & tools from this guide (with links)
In your original text you mention Park4Night and StayFree. Here are direct links plus a few extra tools your readers can use:
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Park4Night – community map of rest areas, wild spots and campsites across Europe.
- StayFree – app for free and low-cost camping spots in Europe (Android/iOS, easily found in app stores).
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Camping.info – directory of official campgrounds and motorhome parks.
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Parkn’Sleep – legal overnight pitches you can check into and pay for digitally.
How Teraglide fits real European travel
Most people in Europe travel in an everyday car, not in a huge RV. That’s exactly what Teraglide is built for: you keep your normal Tesla, Subaru, Toyota, Hyundai or other SUV, and simply add a removable platform that turns the trunk into a flat, comfortable bed.
Underneath the slatted bed base you have organised storage for bags, food, water, a stove and even a compact 12 V fridge. When the trip is over, the platform folds into the trunk or comes out completely and waits in the garage for your next adventure – no permanent modifications, no wasted space.
Newer Teraglide layouts can be set slightly lower for more headroom or slightly higher for more storage, and some versions are flexible enough to work as a full-width bed for two or a one-person bed plus extra gear space. It’s ideal for:
- Weekend getaways with your partner
- Solo trips when you want one side for sleeping and one for luggage
- Mixed city–nature road trips across Europe where you need seats by day and a bed at night
If you’re in a Tesla, Camp Mode keeps your climate and USB/12 V outlets running while you sleep. Combine that with a Teraglide platform and your car becomes a quiet, lockable sleeping space instead of just a vehicle. You can explore all our custom platforms here: Teraglide car camping platforms .
For Tesla owners, our Pro setup for the Model Y includes access to the sub-trunk so you can keep a compact fridge under the bed and still have room for luggage: Teraglide Pro platform for Tesla .
More Teraglide guides for long European trips
If your readers are thinking about car camping outside Europe as well, you can point them to your existing legal guides:
- Car Camping in New Zealand: What’s Legal, What’s Not, and How to Travel Smart
- Can You Sleep in Your Car in Australia? Here’s What You Need to Know
- Where Can You Sleep in Your Car in the USA? What You Need to Know
- Car Camping in Japan: Where You Can Sleep in Your Car & Where You Can’t
🌍 Final Thoughts
Car camping in Europe gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace and explore hidden gems. With the right setup, like a Teraglide platform, you can stay safe, sleep well, and avoid the stress of hotels or tent pitching.
Whether you're heading to the Alps, the French coast, or Scandinavia — know the rules, stay flexible, and enjoy the journey.