How to Protect Your Arizona Vehicle from Costly Rodent Damage

We’re not fancy when it comes to the cars we drive. Every vehicle in our family is paid off, and if those odometers could talk, they’d have some serious stories to tell.

Older cars need a little extra care, so we make sure to give our vehicles a little extra love. Simple things, like checking the oil and transmission fluid, keep them happily rolling along.

READ: Mouse vs. Scorpion: Who Wins Deadly this Arizona Matchup?

Surprise! It's a Pack Rat!

The other day, my daughter popped the hood to check the oil, and out jumped a packrat! She dropped the hood and let out a scream. I was standing a few feet away, and the unexpected jump scare got my heart racing, too.

One downside of living in the country is dealing with mice. They love sneaking into our engine compartments, especially when it gets cold. To them, a car engine is the perfect cozy spot to start a little family. If you’re a mouse, packrat, or anything else small and scurrying, it probably looks like a five-star hotel.

Get our free mobile app

How to Get Ahead of the Mice

Despite our best efforts, mice still managed to get the upper hand once. Not long after my daughter’s run-in with the packrat, her car started acting up in weird ways. A trip to the mechanic solved the mystery: the wiring had clearly been chewed up by our uninvited guests. These little critters caused costly repairs and taught us an expensive lesson.

RELATE: Rodent Invasion In Arizona: Tips To Keep Your Home Safe

Thanks to them, we’ve now picked up a few tricks to help keep mice away from our car’s wiring, and I’m sharing so you don’t have to learn the hard way.

According to AutoZone, there are some easy and effective ways to hang a "No Vacancy" sign on your vehicle and keep mice away!

Get our free mobile app

How to Keep Mice Away From Your Vehicles

Here’s what you need to know to keep mice out of your vehicles:

• Keep it clean: Clear away brush, trash, or debris from around your car. Rodents love hiding spots, so the tidier your area, the less likely they’ll move in.
• Try deterrents: Mothballs or peppermint oil can make your car smell unappealing to mice. Dab some peppermint oil on cotton balls and tuck them around the engine or under your car. It’s a lot nicer than the alternative!
• Use traps: You’ll find plenty of options at the hardware store. Try setting a few on top of your front wheels (just remember to remove them before you drive off!).
• Block entrances: Park in a garage or use a car cover if you can—anything to make it a little harder for critters to sneak inside.
• Leave the hood up: Rodents like to hide, so if you leave your hood up, they’ll probably look for a cozier spot elsewhere.
• Start it up: Even if you don’t drive a car often, start it up every now and then to keep unwanted guests from settling in.

An Ounce of Prevention Keeps the Mice Away

We found out the hard way how destructive (and pricey) mice can be, but you don’t have to! A little prevention now will save you a lot of trouble down the road.