With the proliferation of motor vehicles traveling across the face of the Earth, it should come as no surprise that these gas-guzzling, smog-generating necessities cross our dreams from time to time. I can almost guarantee that in the past people dream of their horses or chariots, and before that, of their feet. And I’d venture to bet that mankind will probably dream of their streamlined cars and jetpacks in the future. Our vehicles have become almost as indispensable in today’s society as electricity and indoor plumbing.

According to the dictionary, a vehicle is: 1) Any means in or by which someone travels or something is carried or transported; a means of transportation or transportation: a motor vehicle; space vehicles. 2) A means of transmission or passage: The air is the vehicle of sound. 3) A carrier, from the infection. 4) A means of communication, expression or exhibition. 5) A means to achieve a purpose. In dreams your car or vehicle can represent any of these meanings much more.

Many dream researchers, studying thousands of dreams, have come to the conclusion that in most cases cars (vehicles) represent:

1. The vehicle or means by which you move through life’s journey. Are you stuck in a rut or is life passing you by?

2. A general warning about a car accident or incident, depending on the content of the dream, of course. If, for example, you dream that your car stops, you may want to check your engine, rather than worry about an accident.

3. How are you dealing with life’s problems? For example, if you dream of a speeding car, this may suggest that you are rushing or forcing a problem.

4. Many times, a vehicle represents the physical body and its condition. What condition is the vehicle in? Is it all beat up or is it shiny and new? Are you running out of gas or about to fall apart?

5. A car (or vehicle) can also symbolize your way of thinking or your ideas. Is the car old and outdated? Do you have difficulty driving or stopping? Is that old antique (outdated belief or idea) still sitting in your garage?

6. Very often, a car (or vehicle) represents your deep (often unacknowledged) drives and ambitions… what drives you, what motivates you. Examine the rest of the dream for more clues as to what’s under the hood, so to speak.

7. These days, your car can be a representation of your status or social position. But of course you have to decide if this is what it represents for you. Some dreamers are completely unconcerned about these issues, while others are very sensitive to them.

8. And finally, a car can represent your self-control or lack of it. Who drives the vehicle? How does the car drive, erratically, dangerously, slowly? Is the vehicle slipping and sliding or making donuts in a parking lot?

There are a variety of different situations and images involving cars (or vehicles in general) that you may encounter in your dreams. To learn more about what your car dream is trying to tell you and to understand what is driving your life, visit: Terry Gillis Dream Analysts’ Site for additional symbolism and interpretations.