Five things you should not leave in your car

Yesterday at 02:00 PM

We all know leaving your keys or phone on display is a bad idea unless you want someone to steal it, but what else should you not leave in your car?

Experts claim there are several other items that can cause health problems or even fires if left in a vehicle that are often overlooked – particularly on a hot day in a country like Australia in summer.

According to the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), there are five common, everyday things you should not keep in your car: Gadgets/devices, medicine, aerosol cans, sunscreen and glasses/sunglasses.

RELATED: 'Don't assume you're protected': Do car windows keep your skin safe from UV?

Why are these a problem, though? Let's find out.

Is it safe to leave a phone or laptop in your car?

Aside from the obvious risk of someone seeing it and breaking into your car to steal it, items such as smartphones, laptops and other gadgets with lithium-ion batteries can overheat – potentially leading to a fire.

"FRV firefighters are responding to almost one fire each day caused by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries,” said a spokesperson for Fire Rescue Victoria.

"Many portable devices such as laptop computers, mobile phones, children's toys, and e-scooters may contain rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.”

One of the main reasons for this is overheating or exposure to extreme temperatures, they told Drive.

"Never store or leave batteries and devices in areas where they can be exposed to heat or moisture,” they added.

"Do not leave devices such as phones, computers or charging devices in direct sunlight or in parked vehicles where they can quickly heat up."

According to data from the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency, there was a 16 per cent increase in thefts from motor vehicles in the 12 months prior to June 2024 – with 53,329 reported cases, up from 45,984 in the previous year.

“This significant rise in vehicle break-ins is concerning, and we strongly advise drivers to remove all valuables and always lock their vehicles to prevent opportunistic theft," said the RACV's General Manager of Motoring Products, Jeff Ames.

Can medicine go bad if left in the car?

The RACV says both prescription and over-the-counter medications can become less effective or inactive when exposed to extreme temperatures in parked cars.

Its claim is backed up by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that says heat can degrade or damage some medications, making them at best ineffective and at worst harmful to your health.

Can you keep aerosols in the car?

Deodorants, air fresheners, and other spray cans should not be kept in a car because they may explode under pressure in hot vehicles.

The Aerosol Association of Australia states “Never keep aerosols in cars – including the glovebox – because temperatures can rise quickly even on cool or overcast days”.

“Do not pierce or burn aerosols, even when empty, as they may explode and seriously injure you and others,” it adds.

Is it okay to leave sunscreen in the car?

With Australia having some of the highest UV radiation levels in the world, it can be second nature to have a bottle of sunscreen tucked away in the car.

But, according to the RACV, heat can break down the active ingredients in sunscreen, rendering it ineffective for sun protection – so it's something you should not leave in your car after all.

"This leads to inadequate protection from harmful UV light and subsequent sun burns, which is a risk factor for skin cancer development," says Dr Joseph Chao, MD, from US healthcare provider Sutter Health Medical Foundation.

Do sunglasses get damaged in the car?

Even seemingly innocent items such as glasses or sunglasses – which even have their own special compartment in many vehicles – should not be left in the car when you're not in it.

Frames can warp in high temperatures, and lenses left on dashboards in particular may create a fire hazard, the RACV says.

The post Five things you should not leave in your car appeared first on Drive.