Author: Craig Cheetham
Photography: Craig Cheetham/Tom Barnard, Svetozar Cenisev on Unsplash
In response to HDC member Ewan Paterson’s question via email, Craig Cheetham has created a guide on how to keep rodents out of your classic car.
They may look cute, but mice can be a classic car owner’s worst nightmare – chewed wiring, damaged interior trim and nibbled-through fuel pipes being just some of the issues faced by enthusiasts whose cars fall victim to rodent damage.
But what can you do about it – what’s the rodent risk, and how can you keep them at bay?
How to spot if a critter has crept into your classic
Mice and other rodents love dark, contained spaces – and garages and storage barns are the perfect place for them to nest. They’re also small enough to hide, so the first clue you’ll often find is dame or droppings in or around your car.
They love a good nibble, and sadly this means that any part of your car that slightly soft but offers some resistance is likely to get chewed on. From rubberised trunking around wiring to interior plastics, seat materials to carpets and sound-deadening, a munching mouse or ravenous rat can cause problems ranging from the unsightly to the downright dangerous.
One of the most worrying is chewed wiring, which can leave wires exposed and potentially cause a short circuit, which in the worst case could lead to a fire. Mangled and broken wires can also cause issues from non-starting to wayward behaviour of your car’s electrical systems, and tracing the damage can prove to be a real headache.
Less of a safety concern but equally irritating is cosmetic damage – a mouse left loose in a car interior can cause carnage, often nibbling through seat fabrics or causing damage to rare bits of interior trim.
Also, mouse droppings aren’t exactly pleasant, plus if one dies in your car, you’ll soon know about it and in a particularly pungent way.
Top 10 tips to keep rodents out of your car
If you’re concerned about pests in your Porsche, mice in your MG or rats in your Range Rover, then prevention is better than cure. Here are 10 ways to keep rampant rodents at bay.
Store it properly
Keeping your car carefully stored and checking on it regularly if it’s stored over winter can be a useful practice. If it’s garaged, keep the garage neat and clean to limit the number of places where rodents can hide. Check over the car once a week for signs of mouse dropping nearby and check the engine bay carefully for nests.
Seal up gaps
If you’re storing a vehicle for a long time, such as all winter, then you should seal any potential ways into the car. Put it on axle stands, cover any gaps in the grille and air intakes, make sure all windows are closed and look at other areas that may be seen as a hiding place, such as an underslung spare wheel – it might be worth removing it and popping it in the boot.
Set traps
Mouse traps are effective and will stop rodents dead – quite literally – in their tracks. Not everyone is keen on them and there are more humane ways of getting rid of them, but it can be effective, especially if you have an infestation problem.
Clear your car out
Rodents like food as much as the rest of us, so if you leave morsels in temptation’s way, then they’ll sniff them out. If you regularly eat in your car, make sure you don’t leave too many crumbs in the carpet, throw away any wrappers and vacuum your carpets regularly.
Try an electronic deterrent
There are several electronic devices in existence that emit a high-pitched noise, inaudible to the human ear, but said to deter mice and rats. There are mixed views on whether they work or not, but there’s no harm in trying.
Use smell repellents
Things that smell nice to use often smell repulsive to rats, so it’s worth leaving some scents around your car. Mice are said to hate the smell of peppermint, so placing vials of peppermint oil around your car is a useful trick. Another one that a lot of owners swear by is the trick of leaving tumble dryer sheets in the car – these also appear to put off the pests.
Use poison
If you have a rodent problem that’s running riot, then poison may be your only option. It’s not the most humane way of dealing with matters, but it will get rid of an infestation.
Add light
Rats and mice love dark, concealed corners, so although it may add a couple of extra pounds to your electricity bill, if your car is garaged it may well be worth lighting the garage over the winter months.
Get a cat
Cats are great at managing rodent problems and if a pussy is on the prowl, then they’re likely to steer well clear. If you don’t have a cat, it may be worth asking a neighbour for some cat hair to leave near your car, as it gives of a scent that will immediately be a warning to unwanted visitors.
Use your car
Daft as it sounds, using your car regularly is by far the biggest deterrent to any rodent. They like to settle, not be given the runaround. So if you drive your classic at least once a week, the chances of a mouse taking up residence are minimal.
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