The Best Rodent Repellent For Cars: Everything You Need To Know

in Ownership
lights passing by car windshield

Photo by Samuele Errico Piccarini on Unsplash

You can buy the most reliable car in the world, but that would do nothing to deter nasty rodents from wreaking havoc from within your vehicle. Rats, known for inhabiting sewers and dumpsters, also enjoy the shelter and warmth provided by a car’s innards. Furthermore, the wires and hoses inside your vehicle might as well be an all-you-can-eat buffet for rodents.

Moreover, some rats may crawl up your vents and meet their demise, and the carcasses will give your car a horrible smell for weeks. So what can you do? When it comes to rodents in cars (or just about anywhere), it’s essential to keep them away by using the best rodent repellent for cars.

For today’s post, we’ll recommend several products that will keep rodents from chewing away at your vehicle. Let’s get to it.

6 Best Rodent Repellent for Cars

This list features a collection of products, including sprays and ultrasonic devices. Keep in mind that these products are designed to repel rodent infestations and not exterminate them.


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1. Mighty Mint Rodent Repellent Spray

Price: $18.99

Most concerns about rodent repellents are the harmful chemicals the product may have. You won’t have that kind of problem with the Mighty Mint Rodent Repellent Spray because it’s made of all-natural ingredients but still effectively keeps rats away from your car.

The winning ingredient here is natural peppermint oil which is proven effective in deterring rats and mice. Application is straightforward because all you need to do is spray on areas of your car where rodents may nest, such as the engine bay, tires, trunk, and interior. For the best results, spray the affected areas every 2 to 3 days to repel rodents for good.

Product features:
  • Natural ingredients
  • Proven safe and effective
  • Natural peppermint oil keeps rodents away
  • Easy to apply

2. Loraffe Under Hood Animal Repeller

Price: $55.98 (discounted price)

Loraffe is a company known for its battery-operated rodent repellents, and the Loraffe Under Hood Animal Repeller is one of its most popular products. This unit emits ultrasonic, high-frequency sound waves that rats and squirrels can’t tolerate. The ultrasounds are combined with LED flashlights to deter rodents from gnawing wires and hoses under the hood.

Installation requires popping your hood, but the process is intuitive and straightforward. It comes with zip ties, so you can secure and mount the repellent properly. Once installed, the ultrasonic repellent will constantly emit high-intensity ultrasonic pulses and strobing lights, which are intolerable to rodents. Overall, it’s the best rodent repellent for cars of this type.

Product features:
  • Emits high-intensity ultrasonic pulses
  • Easy installation
  • 3 LED strobe lights 
  • It goes to standby mode while driving

3. Grandpa Gus’s Double-Potent Rodent Repellent Spray

Price: $29.99

The Grandpa Gus’s Double-Potent Rodent Repellent Spray is another effective product we’ve come across during our tests. It’s relatively on the expensive side, but in this case, you do get what you pay for because it’s a highly potent solution to repel pesky rats and keep them from causing destruction under the hood. We have to admit that the simple, vintage packaging got us first, so we’re relieved to report that it’s just as effective.

The product uses a hydro-mix of peppermint and cinnamon oil. Apparently, the peppermint acts as a deterrent, while the cinnamon keeps rats from chewing. It’s basically a dry-spray barrier against rats to let them know they’re not welcome in your vehicle’s innards. Unlike most spray products, this one smells fresh and pleasant – it might as well be an air freshener.


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Product features:
  • Extra strength formula of peppermint and cinnamon oil
  • It leaves a fresh scent
  • Easy to use
  • Leaves no stains

4. Natural Armor Engine and Vehicle Rodent Defense

Price: $29.95

The Natural Armor Engine and Vehicle Rodent Defense is another solid pick for our list of the best rodent repellent for cars. The main selling point of Natural Armor’s product is its 100% natural ingredients, so it’s safe to use in your car or pretty much everywhere. Luckily, the product works as advertised based on our numerous tests.

This rodent repellent spray also boasts a new and improved clog-free formulation, which means you don’t have to deal with a clogged spray because it doesn’t contain solid ingredients. Also, it’s proven to work on other types of critters like squirrels, which is a great plus.

Product features:
  • 100% natural ingredients
  • New and improved clog-free formula
  • Works to repel rats, mice, and squirrels
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

5. Rosela Ultrasonic Pest Repeller

Price: $48

The Rosela Ultrasonic Pest Repeller is another specialized rodent repellent for cars that also uses high-frequency sound waves and light to send the rats and other critters packing. One of the main things that attracted us to this product is the cat-eye design with flashing eyes – it’s just too quirky, we love it. Despite the unconventional design, the Rosela repellent works great. 

The product works by sending ultrasonic waves around the device and flashing lights to startle the rodent-kind. The combination of strobe lights and high-frequency sound waves is enough to discourage rodents from nesting in your engine bay. Another great feature is the ability to power this product in three ways: 4x AAA batteries, USB Cable, and DC 5-12V using a dual pole cable.


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Product features:
  • Uses ultrasound waves and lights to deter rodents
  • Uses three types of power supply
  • Safe for children and pets
  • On/off system

6. Rodent Sheriff Pest Control Spray

Price: $16.99

The Rodent Sheriff Pest Control Spray is a best-selling rodent repellent, and it’s easy to see why. For starters, it’s the most affordable product on this list of the best rodent repellent for cars. Like many repellent sprays, Rodent Sheriff is made with 100% natural peppermint oil, so it’s children and pet safe, and a nice bonus of smelling nice.

We love this spray repellent because it also works on other pests and critters, including raccoons, roaches, and ants. Therefore, you can use it to spray on your garden if you want to and achieve the same excellent results.

Product features:
  • Ultra-mint formula to repel rats, mice, raccoons, and ants
  • Refreshing herbal smell
  • Safe to use on all surfaces
  • Natural time release for long-term effectiveness


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