Hoot guide to sleeping in your carMost of us will, at one time or another in our lives, end up spending a night in our cars; but few get a particularly restful night's sleep this way. After all, most cars (by which we mean hatchbacks and saloon cars, not campervans) were just not designed for sleeping in. Put another way: your driver's seat might recline almost to the horizontal, but that doesn't give it the properties of a sprung mattress. Similarly, creature comforts like pillows, bed linen and running water are not available in the average lay-by or car park, and neither is privacy. Stop in the wrong place and you'll doubtless receive the unwanted attention of passers-by, police officers - even people who mean you harm. Fortunately however, it doesn't have to be this way. Armed with the following advice from Hoot's cheap car insurance experts, you can look forward to really quite a passable night's sleep in your vehicle, whether the stop is a planned or a spur of the moment choice. We'll tell you where the law stands on sleeping in your car, what to look for in a good resting spot and what you can take and do to make your vehicle as comfortable as possible for the night ahead. Sleeping in your car and the law
The first thing to consider when hunting for a place to sleep in your car is whether or not you are legally entitled to stop there for the night. Run afoul of the law and you could face fines, prosecution, and even the loss of your cheap car insurance rate - so make sure it's okay before bedding-down.
One sure-fire way to avoid trouble with the police is to park at a rest stop or some other place where sleeping is expected and permitted. But if such a site is unavailable (this generally applies to all non-motorway driving), you're better off parking in public spaces than on privately-owned land, where you run the risk of trespassing. Suitable sites, such as lay-bys and free car parks, are those where stopping is normally permitted and does not cause an obstruction. According to staff at the Department for Transport's enquiries line, there is no national legislation against individuals sleeping in parked cars. However, local bylaws may prohibit you from spending the night at certain places, so check beforehand with the relevant county- or city council if at all possible. Lastly, it's important to be aware that, from a legal viewpoint, you are judged to be 'in control' of a vehicle at any time you're sat in the driver's seat with keys are in the ignition. So if you clamber into your car after a night of drinking, turn the radio or heater on and fall asleep, you could well be arrested on drink driving charges - which at the very least means a fine, points on your licence and missing out on cheap car insurance in future. As a rule of thumb, therefore, don't spend a night in your car if you're in an unfit state to drive it. Choosing a suitable spot
Finding a spot that's suitable from a legal point of view is really only half the battle if you want to get a good night's sleep in your car. Besides the law, there are several other factors to take into consideration when searching for a good place to bed down.
Your safety is paramount, so if possible find a space that is monitored by security guards or CCTV, such as a motorway service station or 24-hour car park. If you're way out in the wilderness, however, choose a spot where you feel safe and take sensible precautions such as turning your inside lights out and locking your doors while you sleep. If you don't plan on getting a very early start, think about what'll happen at your chosen site once the sun comes up. A street that seems quiet as the grave at 10pm can become a bustling commuter route by morning, so pick somewhere that's likely to offer all-day privacy (unless you want to wake up with a dozen teenage faces pressed against your windscreen). A third consideration is price. Though most of us balk at the thought of actually paying to spend a night in our cars, the benefits of paying a little money for a berth at a campsite or truck stop are immeasurable. Access to toilets and showers, somewhere to eat and a reassuring level of security all contribute to a much more sleep-inducing atmosphere in such places. Organising your car
With a little forethought, the average five-seat car can sleep two people in relative comfort. You have a choice between reclining the front seats and sleeping there, or folding-down the rear passenger seats and sleeping, effectively, in the boot. In either case, you're much better sleeping lengthways in the car (i.e. boot to bonnet), as it'll allow you to stretch out properly and thus avoid waking up with a crick in your neck.
It's surprising how much more comfortable your car can become with the addition of a pillow (even one made from a rolled-up pullover) and a blanket. On cold nights, a sleeping bag makes a big difference, and a camping-style 'carry mat' can do wonders for the hard floor of your boot. None of these items weighs a great deal or takes up much room in your car, so they're almost worth carrying day-to-day in case of an unplanned stop. Keeping a couple of spare blankets on the back seat is a particularly good idea, as they're useful in practically any emergency. Try cheap car insurance from Hoot
If you'd still much prefer a hotel bed to the back seat of your car, switching to a cheap car insurance policy from Hoot Car Insurance Services could free up the money for a few nights in your favourite suite.
Our motor insurance quotes are up to 30 percent cheaper than our competitors', so many people could save several hundred pounds by switching. These discounts are as the result of Hoot Car Insurance Services' 'no-advertising' policy, and the fact that we're an online car insurance firm with correspondingly small overheads. The money we could have spent on TV commercials and high street offices is instead ploughed-back into your premiums - keeping them uniquely affordable, year after year. To find out how cheap car insurance from Hoot really is, just click below. 
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