7 Best Car Sex Positions, According to Experts

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On May 30, 2025

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When you think of car sex, images of awkward teenage fumblings probably come to mind. It’s a rite of passage for many, spanning generations and infusing pop culture, from AC/DC’s “Girls Got Rhythm” to LL Cool J’s “Backseat,” to Addison Rae singing, “losing all your innocence in the backseat” in “Diet Pepsi.” Now that you’re older, you might assume car sex is a thing of the past — back when you were more flexible, more naive, and didn’t mind a sore neck or aching hips in the name of a quickie.

But car sex isn’t just for hormonally-fueled teenagers. In fact, according to a 2017 study in The Journal of Sex Research, having sex in a parked car is “generally a positive romantic and sexual experience” for all genders. Car sex might just be the missing piece in your sex life when it feels a little stale.

Benefits of Car Sex

“Car sex isn’t just a throwback to teenage lust — it’s a surprisingly kinky setup hiding in plain sight,” sex and intimacy coach Annette Benedetti, host of the podcast Talk Sex With Annette, tells SheKnows. “There’s built-in bondage from seatbelts, a hit of exhibitionism from the public setting, and plenty of power play when someone’s calling the shots from the driver’s side.”

But what really makes it hot, says Benedetti, is the psychology of car sex: “Confined spaces heighten arousal by narrowing your sensory focus. You’re hyper-aware of breath, touch, eye contact — every moan feels amplified. And the novelty of being somewhere you’re not supposed to be lights up the brain’s reward center like a dashboard warning light. It’s not just about getting off — it’s about waking up parts of your desire that routine sex tends to put on cruise control.”

However, now that you’re older, your tolerance for doing something just for the sake of it has likely changed — it has to actually be worth it to be enjoyable. Whether you’re a “front seat thruster” or a “backseat babe,” there are ways to make car sex more comfortable and fun.

Car Sex Tips

“As a general rule, use common sense and discretion,” Angie Rowntree, founder & director of the award-winning ethical porn site Sssh.com, says. “A car is heavy machinery, so no getting frisky while driving. Tease if you please, but the driver’s eyes need to stay on the road until you’re safely parked.”

Another tip? Rowntree says be mindful of where you park. “Lover’s Lane may be cute in movies, but getting caught could mean real charges. If you’re off-road, check your surroundings: dry leaves and hot engine parts don’t mix, and forgetting the parking brake could send you rolling mid-thrust,” she says, adding that having a blanket handy helps protect your seats (and your dignity in case anyone catches you in the act.

Sexologist Marla Renee Stewart, MA, CSE, sexpert for Lovers sexual wellness brand and retailer, says it’s also important to be realistic about space and comfort, noting that not all cars are created equal when it comes to sex. “If you’re tall or plus-size (like me!), squeezing into a compact vehicle just isn’t ideal. The bigger the car, the more room you have to move, experiment with positions, and enjoy the experience without cramping your style—or your limbs.”

Stewart also makes the point that car sex needn’t just be partnered sex either. “If you need a break from your partner, kids, or everyday chaos, turn your car into a private pleasure pod,” she recommends. “Bring your favorite toy, queue up some sexy tunes or a steamy video, and treat yourself to some quality solo time. Sometimes the best getaway is the one you give yourself.”

Ultimately, says Rowntree, when it comes to car sex, it helps to return to the carefree attitude of adolescence. “Don’t overthink it—go with what feels good and have a sense of humor. Car sex is all about spontaneity and fun. So next time you hear ‘I’ll pick you up’ or ‘let’s drive somewhere,’ it might come with a wink and a wild new memory.”

The 7 Best Car Sex Positions

Keep reading for our favorite, expert-approved car sex positions to get your gears moving.

At SheKnows, we recognize that not all penetrating partners are male and not all receiving partners are female. For the sake of this article, the experts we spoke to referred to penetrating partners as men and receiving partners as women.

Originally published February 2016.

Side Spoon

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How you do it:

“You can put one seat all the way down and have both people on one chair in the side spoon position, inserting the penis [or toy],” Dawn Michael, certified clinical psychologist and author of My Husband Won’t Have Sex With Me, says.

Why it’s awesome:

Spooning remains a classic go-to sex move because not only is it comfy, it gets the job done. If you’re nervous about going at it in the car for the first time (we’ve all been there), spooning is a familiar place to start. The position makes it easier for both partners to relax and get off, without distraction or performance anxiety.
Seated Rear Entry

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How you do it:

“The best car position is with him seated in the passenger seat and with her on top, facing away from him for some rear-entry access,” says sexologist and couples therapist Kat Van Kirk. “This position is all the better with her legs inside of his, keeping the position compact and controlled.”

Why it’s awesome:

“The woman controls penetration and rhythm. There is heightened G-spot stimulation with rear entry, and she or he has access to the clitoris,” Van Kirk says.
Belt Bondage

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How you do it:

“He lies on his back across the backseat, and she ties his hands above his head using the seat belt. She climbs on top and grinds to her heart’s content,” says Jess O’Reilly, Ph.D., author of The Little Book of Kink.

Why it’s awesome:

“This position works for women who know how to take what they want with no apologies,” O’Reilly says. “Being on top allows her to rub her clit against his pelvic bone or reach down with her fingers for some extra stimulation.”
Backseat Driver

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How you do it:

“Flip the front passenger seat forward and push it as close as possible toward the dash,” says Lisa Sweet, author of 365 Sex Thrills. “He can then recline on the passenger-side backseat, with his legs resting on either side of the front passenger headrest. She climbs on top of him facing away from him and, depending on her height and the kind of car, can either kneel or bend her legs so her feet are planted outside his hips. To take him for a test drive, all she has to do is clutch the headrest to add some turbo power and shift his gear stick up, down and all around.”

Safety tip: “Turn off the car to avoid making this a final joy trip. Also put down a towel or something else to protect the seat material. Last, stay on the passenger side of the car so there are no accidental horn honks as the action heats up,” Sweet says.

Why it’s awesome:

“It’s a space-efficient move that doesn’t compromise on pleasure no matter what size the car,” Sweet says. “Any woman-on-top move means she drives the action, bumping and grinding as she desires while he gets to lie back and come along for the thrill ride. Add an outing to the wild side by using the safety belts to strap him in tight and restrict his movements.”
Yab Yum With A Twist

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How you do it:

Yab Yum is a classical tantric sex position that translates well to sex in the front seat. “In Yab Yum, the partners sit face to face with one astride the other. In the classical version, the man sits in the full lotus posture, with the woman on his lap, her legs wrapped around him. Of course, this isn’t very practical in a car, but he can sit in the passenger seat, and she can straddle him,” say tantric sex experts Patricia Johnson and Mark A. Michaels, coauthors of Partners in Passion: A Guide to Great Sex, Emotional Intimacy, and Long-Term Love.

Why it’s awesome:

“If you’re parked in an area where you won’t be disturbed, this also allows for alternating between active, movement-based sex and a slow, meditative style of lovemaking. It allows you to sit in stillness and experience the quiet beauty of uniting your body with that of your beloved. If the sexual energy begins to diminish, you can pulse your PC muscles to reignite it. Exchanging pulses, which is sometimes known as ‘the secret language,’ can be a particularly sensual way to do this,” they say.

Johnson and Michaels also describe this as “one of the most intimate sex positions.” This is because it brings your bodies close together, “aligned and face-to-face, which makes it great for eye-gazing,” the explain. “It allows your hands to be free to caress each other or to stimulate other erogenous zones. It’s also great for building harmony and connection, since your breathing and emotional states will sync up quite rapidly.”

Pro tip: Set the pace yourself. “This makes being penetrated an active rather than a passive or receptive role and often results in a more pleasurable orgasmic experience.”
Trunk Space

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How you do it:

Here it is — the potential for back-door, in-the-car action we’ve all been waiting for. As complicated and acrobatic as it may seem, it’s absolutely possible to do it doggy style or even give anal a go in your vehicle. To try the “Trunk Space” move, Michael recommends to “put one chair down and have her lean over it toward the back, with him on top of her.”

Why it’s awesome:

Doggy style is a highly arousing position for both men and women, and things can get extra freaky when you try it outside the four walls of your home. For the receiving partner, there’s more opportunity for touch — breasts, clit, and more. For the penetrating partner, well, the depth of penetration alone can quickly bring them to the brink.
Road Head

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How you do it:

You knew this was coming: Road head just might be the hallmark of any great road trip, and as far as impromptu sexual acts go, it’s pretty darn easy. Nicole Prause, PhD, an investigator of sexual response at Span Lab, says, “‘Sex’ is not just genital penetration. If they want to try something sexy in motion, the safer bet appears to be watching the partner stimulate themselves. Giving oral sex to a penis-having driver also is a very popular car activity that does not appear to result in much injury from the position; however, there is enough increase in erratic driving with oral sex for a male driver that this is probably best simulated with the engine running after pulling over!”

(We ain’t your mom, but we don’t condone orgasming while operating heavy machinery! Sorry!)

Why it’s awesome:

Variety is the spice of life, and on-the-road oral can make your sex life that much more interesting, especially when you’re creative with your positioning. Michael suggests, “If they have a sun roof, he or she can put their head out while the other person is giving them oral sex below.”
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