Dirtiest places in a rental car to check before you drive

Various studies, including from Aston University’s School of Biosciences, have reported that the inside of your car can have more bacteria than your bathroom. 

Whether you're planning a 2023 staycation or you want a reminder of what spots you should be cleaning in your vehicle, let us help.

Co-Founder of Grand Prix Grand Tours and travel expert, Simon Mawdlsey said: “Road trips have become exceedingly popular in recent years which has resulted in a huge increase in the popularity of rental cars.

Some of the dirtiest places inside your car include the seatbelt, boot and dashboard ( Canva) (Image: Canva)

"Yet, many still fail to consider the sanitary conditions of their hire vehicle. Instead, they often get swept away in the excitement of their imminent adventure.

“While Grand Prix Grand Tours is certainly not your average car hire company, offering fully inclusive F1 and MotoGP packages as well as some of the greatest European driving holidays, we still must go above and beyond to ensure that the top-of-the-end cars that we rent to clients meet them in pristine condition. "

The car experts at Grand Prix Grand Tours have rounded up the seven dirtiest spots in a rental car you should be checking before hitting the road.

Where are the dirtiest spots in a rental car?

1. Car boots

You may or may not be surprised to hear that a car boot is among the dirtiest places in a rental car.

Explaining why this is the case, travel expert Simon Mawdlsey, Co-Founder of Grand Prix Grand Tours, explained: “People stick anything and everything in the boot while on holiday from mucky hiking trainers to soaking swimming costumes. So, it comes as no surprise that this area comes up top as the germy hotspot of a vehicle.”

It's more than visible mud and dirt that we need to look out for either, according to Mr Mawdlsey. 

He added: “The first activity on the to-do list for many holidaymakers is a big shop at the local supermarket. However, the frozen items begin to defrost as soon as they’ve been taken out of the freezer.” 

As a result, the condensation leaves carpeted car boots moist which created the ideal conditions for bacteria.

“This can become a particularly serious issue when on holiday as people are purchasing more refreshing goods such as ice cream and the temperatures may be a lot higher”, Simon warned.

Here are the 7 places you should be checking when renting a car. ( Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)

2. Floor mats

Floor mats rank in a rightful second place as a result of the dirt, germs and bacteria that we carry with us on our shoes. 

Not to mention, the other common culprit - leftover food and crumbs.

Simon explained: “Almost impossible to avoid this one - especially on holiday when you’re unlucky to have arrived armed with a hoover or disinfectant spray! The only thing I’d recommend is to avoid eating in a hire vehicle at all, wherever possible.

If you do find yourself peckish on the road, try to be as careful as possible. If you’re staying in self-catered accommodation, you may be able to source a hoover.

If so, I’d recommend giving the floor mats a once-over right away as well as after going hiking or snacking on the road.”

3. Seatbelts 

When you get into the car, the first thing you do is put on your seatbelt - bringing the germs from whatever you were doing before with you. 

Simon explained: “This can be a particular issue when you’re on holiday and rushing out the door as fast as you can to make the most of the morning or make reservations and bookings.

"This can leave you rushing out and placing your seatbelt on with damp, moist hands. The moisture left on the seat belt creates the perfect grounds for germs to thrive. ​

“So, always get into the car with clean, dry hands. However, with rental cars, you of course are unlikely to have been the first one to enter the car so it might be worth giving them a disinfecting wipe when you first enter.”

4. Gear stick

Often overlooked, the gear stick comes in fourth place of the dirtiest spots in a rental car.

Simon warned: “Never underestimate the importance of keeping the gear stick a quick wipe. It’s easy to underestimate how much contact us drivers make with it compared to the steering wheel but it remains one of the main touch points and they can become exceedingly unhygienic.”

5. Dashboards

Dashboards can quickly get dusty and can easily catch debris which makes it a hotspot for bacteria in cars.

Simon explained: “The dashboard is often the most visually obvious place to start getting dirty in the car. For that reason, some car rental companies are quite vigilant about keeping it clean as an unsightly amount of dust and grime does not exactly make a great impression on customers.

"However, it is also one of the fastest places to gather dirt in the first place. This means that one brief oversight can quickly lead to the dashboard becoming a highly contaminated area.”

Here are the places you should check in a rental car before driving ( Canva) (Image: Canva)

6. Steering Wheels

One of the most obvious perpetrators, a driver will almost always have their hands on their wheel meaning its prime spot for bacteria to spread.

Simon commented: “You’d be hard-pressed to find a driver who has never sneezed or coughed during a drive and it’s difficult to take the normal cleanliness protocols while driving.

"So, just think of the number of people that have spread their germs in the same hire car! Thus, I’d advise you to give it a wipe.”

7. Air Vents

Rounding up the dirtiest seven, a rental's car air vents are often overlooked which allows for the build up of skin cells, pollen and clothes fibres.

Many of us fail to think about the build-up of germs in the air vents that is then pumped through the car and inhaled by passengers when we turned the aircon on.

Simon remarked: “No matter the season, air conditioning allows us to drive in comfort, whether it be a scorching summer’s day when you’re craving a breeze or some warmth during the chilly winter months.”

“While the cleanliness of air vents is always a bit of a concern, it is made all the more disturbing in a rental car. You do not know whose skin cells you’re breathing in or where they’ve been”, Simon shared.