Car Searches by Police

Learn about the rights police have to search your car.

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Car searches are a special type of "stop & frisk." Learn about car searches, when police can search them, what rights you have to avoid a search of your car and more here.

Car Stops and Searches

The mobility of cars leads to some special rules for stopping and searching them.

Car Searches Following a Valid Stop
A valid car stop can support a limited search.
Searching Passengers and Their Belongings
Evidence seized during a car search may be admissible, depending on the facts of the case.

Common Questions

These questions often come up in car search cases

Can police use a traffic stop as a pretext to search for evidence?
As long as police have a valid reason to make a traffic stop, their "true" motives are irrelevant.
Can the police automatically search my car after a traffic stop?
No. But the circumstances may allow them to search it.
Can police use dogs to sniff for drugs when they don't have a warrant?
There's no Fourth Amendment protection when it comes to the smell of your car.
Can the police attach a GPS device to my car to track my whereabouts?
The police can follow you on public streets without a warrant forever--but they can't attach a GPS to do the same thing unless they obtain a warrant.
If the police impound my car can they search it?
If your vehicle has been impounded by the police, they have the authority to search it.
Are the rules for car searches different when the search is near a U.S. border?
Border searches involve special rules.