Is It Legal To Drive With A Mattress On Your Car In New Jersey?

Have you ever noticed someone driving with a mattress attached to the roof of their car?

Odds are you have. It's not uncommon, but is it legal here in New Jersey?

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If it's time to purchase a new mattress or transport one you already have you may be wondering how you're going to get it to where it needs to go safely if you don't have a pickup truck or a van.

I recently bought a twin mattress and could fit it in the back of my pickup truck. However, it got me thinking. Is it legal to strap a mattress to the top of your car?

You see it all the time while driving in New Jersey, but can you get pulled over?

Is It Legal To Drive With A Mattress On Your Car In New Jersey?

It's not illegal to drive with a mattress on top of your car, however, you can still get pulled over if the mattress isn't secured properly or if it's obstructing your view in any way, according to carparts.com.

Although there are no laws prohibiting it, you have to be extremely careful. The mattress can't extend too far off the back or the front of your car.

An average twin-size bed is 38 inches by 75 inches, full is 54 inches by 75 inches, a queen-size bed is 60 inches by 80 inches and a king-size bed is 76 inches by 80 inches.

Careparts.com says, "Remember that you risk getting fined, getting into traffic accidents, causing your vehicle to lift, and consuming more fuel if you drive a mattress on your roof."

The bottom line is to make sure the mattress is secured properly and go slow.