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Aw, rats! When nights are cold, rats seek warm places to nestle in, like car engines.

A rat climbing into a raised garden bed.
Rats are expert climbers. Getting up inside the engine of a parked vehicle is no problem for them.

On chilly nights, rats will look for warm places to shelter. A car engine seems like an unlikely place for rats to nestle in for the night but it makes sense since it gets to a perfectly warm temperature up inside a few hours after the vehicle has been parked. The rats also get the added bonus of being hidden and protected under a closed hood. Rats can also get  inside vehicles through vents, sometimes chewing through the cabin filter in the process. Damage caused by rats chewing on wiring can cost hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in repairs.

Signs that rats are getting into your engine

Vehicle owners may not be aware that rats are nesting in their vehicle's engine compartment. But some of the more obvious signs are:

  • Electrical components on the dashboard start malfunctioning/"acting weird"
  • Rattling or other unusual noises coming from the engine
  • Bits of fur inside the vehicle
  • Shredded paper, trash 
  • Fecal pellets on the engine, inside on the floor and seats, inside the trunk and storage areas
  • Smoke and/or the smell of something burning
Rat fecal pellets shown next to a penny for scale.
Rat fecal pellets are oblong and about 1/8" to 1/4" inch long.

What to Look for Under the Hood:

When inspecting for rats in the engine compartment, here's what to look for:

  • Sometimes it's easy - you'll see a rat!
  • Chewing damage to wiring
  • Nesting material such as shredded paper, wrappers, twigs and plant debris, etc.
  • Pieces of fruit, pits, rinds, nut shells, etc.
  • Fecal pellets
Top of a car engine showing evidence of rat infestation. Fecal pellets and a couple of palm tree dates are visible.
Do you see evidence that rats have been in this engine?
Top view of a car engine with arrows pointing to rat fecal pellets
The yellow arrows are pointing to rat fecal pellets. The blue arrows show palm tree fruits that the rat has brought in.
A palm date that has been left on top of a car engine by a rat.
A palm tree fruit pit left by a rat. On closer inspection, a pile of fecal pellets, hidden from view, was found down where the arrow is pointing.
A rat's nest seen under the hood of a car
This nest was discovered after opening the hood of this car. Luckily there was no damage to the wiring.
A rat fecal pellet laying at the base of a car battery.
A less obvious example of evidence that a rat was present. The arrow is pointing to a single fecal pellet at the base of this car battery.

Ways to Reduce the Chances of Rats Getting into Your Vehicle

The main goal is to make the vehicle less attractive to rats. Some steps to take include:

  • If possible, park your vehicle in the garage.
  • Prop up the hood of your vehicle if the engine is hot or warm so the engine will cool off faster. Leave the hood open as long as is practical and possible.
  • Remove, cut back, thin out thick vegetation near where you park your vehicles.
  • Remove clutter, trash and other piles of debris next to where your vehicle is parked (thick vegetation and piles of clutter and debris provide ideal shelter for rats.)
  • Remove fallen fruit, clean up bird seed near where vehicles are parked. Move bird feeders away from parking areas or remove them permanently.

Rat Control

Information on how to control rats can be found in our District brochure on rodent control and the Pest Notes on rats available at the University of California, Integrated Pest Mangement website:

A large woodpile and debris piled up against a wooden fence.
Wood piles provide excellent shelter for rats. The thick vegetation on the other side of the fence also provides good cover and places for nesting.
A pile of green waste on top of a wooden pallet.
Rats find piles of green waste very inviting.
An orange that has been hollowed out by a rat.
Hollowed out oranges are a tell-tale sign that rats are around.
A large hedge on a residential street corner.
Heavy vegetation is another place that provides cover and shelter for rats.
Thick growing ivy in the front yard of a home.
Ivy is a favorite harborage plant for rats.
A large bougainvillea shrub growing under a street sign.
Bougainvillea is another favorite plant for rats to reside in.
A tall hedge row on the side of a road.
Thick hedges provide privacy for both residents and rodents.
Dense ground covering of low-growing rosemary plants.
Another example of heavy plant growth that is favorable for rats.
A dense growth of bird-of-paradise plants without flowers.
It is highly recommended to cut back and remove excess growth that can attract rodents.
A large woodpile and debris piled up against a wooden fence.
A pile of green waste on top of a wooden pallet.
An orange that has been hollowed out by a rat.
A large hedge on a residential street corner.
Thick growing ivy in the front yard of a home.
A large bougainvillea shrub growing under a street sign.
A tall hedge row on the side of a road.
Dense ground covering of low-growing rosemary plants.
A dense growth of bird-of-paradise plants without flowers.

Additional Information

  • Claims are made for various remedies that, when applied or placed in the engine compartment, will repel rats. There is no scientific evidence these remedies work, but if you choose to try them, be sure that they won't cause any damage or affect the operation of the vehicle. DO NOT use any pesticide product, chemical or device in a way that it is not intended to be used. NEVER use pest control products that aren't labeled for rodent control.
  • Studies have shown that ultrasonic and high frequency sound devices that claim to drive rats away do not work.
  • If you see evidence of infestation and/or damage, you may want to have the vehicle inspected by a mechanic for unseen damage.