Ever popped open your car boot only to find a pair of wellies you haven’t seen since 2003? You’re not alone. Car boots are the unsung heroes of our motoring lives—silent carriers of weekly shops, soggy dogs, emergency umbrellas, and forgotten treasure. But sometimes, what turns up back there is beyond bizarre.

In this blog, we dig into the oddest, funniest, and downright strangest things people have found lurking in their boots. Fasten your seatbelt—it’s going to be a weird ride.

1. A Life-Size Cardboard Cut-Out of Mr Bean

One driver in London was left stunned after buying a second-hand hatchback and discovering a full-sized cut-out of Rowan Atkinson's Mr Bean tucked behind the rear seats. Apparently, the previous owner used it to deter would-be thieves. Did it work? We’ll never know. But it definitely startled a few Tesco car park passers-by.

2. The Great Sandwich Fossil

A Reddit user shared the tale of discovering a thoroughly mummified tuna mayo sandwich in the boot of their recently acquired estate car. The origin? A school run from a decade ago. The verdict? “It had become part of the boot lining. We gave it a burial at the tip.”

3. A Full Drum Kit (Yes, Really)

A musician in Manchester once forgot that he’d stashed an entire stripped-down drum kit in his boot "just for a week." Two years later, during a spring clean, the dusty toms and snare were rediscovered—along with several unopened bottles of Lucozade—bonus points for rhythm and hydration.

4. Pet Taxi Surprise

One unlucky motorist was in for a surprise when they opened their boot to find a rather disgruntled cat staring back at them. It turns out a neighbour’s moggy had climbed in during a quick pit stop, fallen asleep, and ended up going on a 40-mile motorway journey. Thankfully, it was returned home—slightly shaken but no worse for wear.

5. A Wedding Dress in a Bin Bag

Imagine scrapping your car and forgetting that your mum’s wedding dress was in the boot—true story. The owner had packed it up for dry cleaning and forgot all about it. A miracle was performed when the scrap yard found it during inspection and returned it safe and sound. Moral of the story? Always double-check your boot before waving goodbye to your motor.

6. Hundreds of Bouncy Balls

No explanation needed. Just a flood of colourful chaos rolling out into the street. The driver claimed he was “planning a party.” We believe you, Steve.

So, What’s Hiding in Your Boot?

Next time you’re clearing out your car, brace yourself—there could be a time capsule back there. From mouldy snacks to musical instruments and feline hitchhikers, the humble car boot has seen it all.

And if you’re ever planning to sell or scrap your vehicle, remember to check every corner of that cavernous space before you hand over the keys. You never know what forgotten oddity might be hiding in the shadows.

Need to Say Goodbye to Your Car?

When your motor’s time is up, Motorwise makes it easy to scrap your vehicle responsibly and quickly. Just don’t forget to empty the boot—unless you fancy explaining that Mr Bean cut-out to the collection driver.