Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, reddish-brown parasitic insects that feed exclusively on the blood of animals and humans. They spread by “hitchhiking” on personal belongings and clothing, not by moving from person to person like a contagious illness. While it is possible to get bed bugs from a passenger, the risk of a full-blown, long-term car infestation from a single ride is relatively low.
How Bed Bugs Hitchhike and Transfer
Bed bugs cannot fly or jump, so their movement relies entirely on crawling onto an item carried by a person. The primary vector for introducing these pests into a vehicle is a passenger’s belongings, such as a backpack, jacket, purse, or luggage, which may have been placed on an infested surface.
When a person who has been in an infested area sits in your car, bed bugs clinging to their clothing or personal items can dislodge. The bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide and warmth a person gives off. They seek a dark, undisturbed crevice to hide in until their next blood meal, moving from the passenger’s item to the car’s interior fabric, seats, or floor.
The likelihood of transfer increases if the passenger has a severe infestation at home or is transporting infested items like used furniture. A single pregnant female bug is enough to potentially start a new population. Since bed bugs prefer to hide during daylight and feed at night, a short daytime car ride is less conducive to a massive transfer than a longer period in an infested home.
Vehicle Hiding Spots and Risk Assessment
A vehicle is not an ideal long-term habitat, but it offers enough shelter for bed bugs to survive and potentially reproduce. They seek tight, dark spaces that mimic the cracks and crevices they inhabit in a home. The most common temporary hiding spots are the seams, folds, and piping of the seat upholstery, particularly on fabric seats.
Other vulnerable areas include the carpet edges, under the floor mats, and the plastic trim where it meets the fabric. Bed bugs can also hide beneath the car seats, inside the seat belt housing, and in the trunk lining if infested items were transported. Clutter left in the car, such as blankets, bags, or items stored in seat-back pockets, provides additional harborage.
The risk of a sustained infestation depends on the frequency of exposure and the car’s environment. A one-time, brief ride is a lower risk scenario than using your vehicle daily for ridesharing services or regularly transporting heavily infested luggage. Temperature extremes in a closed car parked in the sun or extreme cold can sometimes make survival difficult, though not impossible.
Prevention and Treatment for Your Vehicle
Immediate inspection and cleaning are the most effective steps following a suspected transfer. Begin by removing all loose items, trash, and clutter from the vehicle. Shake them out thoroughly outside before sealing any potentially contaminated items in plastic bags. A thorough vacuuming is the first line of defense against both live bugs and eggs.
Use a vacuum with a crevice tool to focus on all seams, folds, and areas under the seats where bed bugs are most likely to hide. After vacuuming, immediately seal the vacuum bag or canister contents in a plastic bag and dispose of it outside the home to prevent reintroduction. If you have access to a steam cleaner, applying high-temperature steam directly to the seat seams and carpets can kill bugs and eggs on contact.
For a non-chemical treatment, heat is highly effective, as bed bugs die when exposed to temperatures of 120°F (49°C) or higher for a sustained period. Parking the car in direct sunlight with the windows closed on a hot day can raise the interior temperature to lethal levels. This requires monitoring to ensure the temperature is maintained long enough to penetrate all hiding spots. Minimizing clutter and regularly inspecting and vacuuming the car interior are the best ongoing preventative measures.