How to get mice out of a car: Toyota of Orlando tips

Mice are cute – we said what we said. Their cuteness factor, however, drops significantly when they’re living inside your Orlando Toyota. Mice, like any other pest in your car, can cause significant damage to your electrical system, your carpet and upholstery, and your vent system. That’s why the Toyota of Orlando service center experts are here with tips to help you figure out how to get mice out of a car.

Why do mice like to live inside cars?

First, let’s talk about signs that mice are living in your car:

• You’re having issues getting your car started or with anything electrical (mice may have chewed through the wires)
• You notice holes in your car seats or missing chunks from your insulation or foam (they’re chewing on it)
• You find mice droppings inside your Orlando Toyota
• You notice a bad smell (usually from droppings, urine, or a dead mouse – gag)
• You find a mouse nest inside your vehicle or under the hood

Mice love the inside of cars – not only is it dry, warm, and a great hiding spot from predators, but it also is a nice place to build a nest. Plus, a lot of new wiring systems are made with soy-based wiring insulation, which is extremely appealing (and tasty) to mice. Not to mention, if your car is less than clean, they can find a feast in terms of crumbs and trash inside of it, which won’t make them likely to leave any time soon.

How to get mice out of a car

Once you know that mice are in fact taking up residence in your car, it’s time to figure out how to get mice OUT of your car. Here are our top Toyota of Orlando tips:

• Turn on the heat and put your car out in the sun. Much like humans, mice don’t like extreme temps. You can basically force them out with this method.
• Honk your horn – loud noises are likely to startle them and encourage them to vacate the premises.
• Use mice repellant. You can buy it at a home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowes, and some people even say that mice are repelled by peppermint oil. You can try soaking some cotton balls in it and leaving them around your vehicle.
• Set mousetraps. It’s a last resort, but it is effective in getting mice out of your car. Again, you can find these at a home improvement store.

How to keep mice out of a car

Now that you know how to get mice out of a car, it’s time to discuss how to KEEP them out of your car in the future. Here are some easy tips:

• Park inside of a garage if you can. Also, avoid parking near food sources for mice, like dumpsters, trash cans, and bird feeders.
• Always close your doors, windows, and sunroof when you’re not in the car.
• Use your car regularly. The longer it sits without being driven, the more likely it is to have a mouse infestation.
• Keep your car clean. Vacuum and wipe it routinely, and be sure to take out any trash immediately and clean up spills as soon as possible.

If you do sustain damage from mice living inside your car, reach out to your car insurance company. Some comprehensive policies will cover this type of damage so you only have to pay the deductible. This is important because if mice start chewing up your Orlando Toyota’s wiring, it can easily cost you thousands of dollars to repair. And if a mouse gets inside your car’s vent system, your dash may have to be completely disassembled to be cleaned – mouse droppings can make you extremely sick.

Still having issues getting mice out of a car? Call Toyota of Orlando today. We’re open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500 and we’re conveniently located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall at 3575 Vineland Road.

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