How to Keep Mice Out of Cars

Mice infestations are one of the most annoying problems that a property owner can face. Not only are mice dirty and disease-ridden, but they also cause destruction to furniture and wiring. The problem doesn’t stop with households — mice also infest cars, and they can damage a vehicle if the owner doesn’t combat the situation.

Inside vehicles, mice are known to crawl into vents, where they can easily die and fill a car with stench in the process. Mice also eat away at various wires, components, tubes and circuitry under the hood. Consequently, if the vehicle owner does nothing to fight a mice infestation, they run the risk of having future performance issues with the vehicle.

People may ask you how to keep mice out of vehicles, and this article covers what your customers can do to get rid of mice that have infested a vehicle, including the engine, air filter, air vents and passenger space.

How do Mice Get In Cars?

Though a car might seem protected when locked, mice have a way of getting into all types of vehicles. Due to the small size of mice, it's easy for them to squeeze through openings about the size of a dime. The following are among the most common entry points that mice will use to access a car:

Vents
Holes around cables
Pedal shafts
Steering columns

Mice can also make their way into your car if windows are cracked. Therefore, it's important to keep a car inaccessible and unattractive to mice. One of the best products on the market for keeping mice away is Victor^® Scent-Away™ Natural Rodent Repeller Packs™, which emits a powerful minty smell that repels mice.

What Time of Year do Mice Seek Shelter in Cars?

Mice are active year-round, but their behaviors vary according to the season. In the summer, they're often going in and out of buildings in search of food, water and nesting materials and spaces. During winter, they're more likely to spend more time indoors. As nocturnal creatures, mice are primarily active from dusk till dawn, when few people or animals are likely to see them.

Since it's in the nature of mice to look for shelter from cold and rain, they're likeliest to nest in cars during winter. Cars parked outdoors are especially vulnerable, though mice will also infest cars within garages, provided the garage itself is accessible to the little critters. Repellents will help keep mice out of a vehicle during warm and cold months. Your customers can place Victor^® Scent Repellents inside and outside of a car to ensure it stays rodent-free.

How to Prevent Mice From Coming into a Vehicle

There are certain parking areas and circumstances where a rodent-free vehicle cannot be 100 percent guaranteed, but the following tips can lower the odds of mice entering a car:

Keep the car clean and remove garbage regularly.
Don't allow moisture to build up inside your vehicle since mice thrive on water.
Keep foliage away from the car, which creates a pathway into the vehicle.
Don't leave openings into your vehicle, which allow easy access for rodents.

The most effective way to keep mice out of a vehicle is with mint: a scent that naturally repels the rodent. Of all the mint-emitting products on the market, a clean and effective solution is Victor^® Scent-Away™ Natural Rodent Repeller Packs™. Containing 100 percent peppermint oil, your customers can hang the product anywhere either inside or outside a vehicle, and each packet lasts for up to 30 days.

Where Rodent Damage Occurs in a Vehicle

Rodents can cause damage to numerous parts of a vehicle, from the ignition wires and air vents to the interior upholstery and hood insulation. Mice can be especially damaging, because the enamel in their teeth is strong enough to gnaw through all sorts of inner-vehicle components. Common signs that rodents have been active in a vehicle include:

Gnawed wires around the engine
Shredded gauze in the air vent
Chewed insulation and upholstery
Chew holes in nonmetal engine components
Claw marks and droppings

If a Car Stinks There May be a Dead Mouse Inside

When a mouse dies inside a car, it usually occurs near one of the air vents. In cases like these, the mice are often found inside the cowl at the base of the windshield. Some mice manage to access this area through crevices between the cowl gutter and fender. When this occurs, the mouse must be extracted, preferably by an auto maintenance specialist.

A preventative option is placing Victor^® Scent-Away granules around the engine's air intake chute.

Best Mouse Trap for Cars

The best options for setting traps inside a vehicle are the enclosed Victor^® mouse , such as the Clean-Kill™, the Kill Vault™, and the Quick-Set™ Mouse Trap. All traps can be placed behind or in front of a vehicle's seats, as well as in the trunk. Note, it is not recommended that activated traps be placed in a car when there are individuals inside. Also, always use the traps as directed and make sure children and pets have no access to the areas where the traps are set.