Under the automobile exception, when may a vehicle be searched without a warrant?

• A. A warrant is always required.
• B. Consent is required.
• C. Probable cause to believe a vehicle contains contraband or evidence of a crime allows warrantless searches.
• D. Only applies to home searches.

Answer: (C)

The automobile exception lets officers search a vehicle without a warrant when there is probable cause to believe the vehicle contains contraband or evidence of a crime. The logic is that vehicles can move quickly and passengers have a diminished privacy interest in a vehicle, so when probable cause is present, a warrant isn’t required to seize or examine items inside the car. The scope of the search is practical — it covers places within the vehicle where the contraband or evidence could be hidden, including containers that could conceal it. This rule specifically applies to vehicles, not to homes or buildings, where a warrant or another exception would be needed. Consent can also bypass the need for a warrant, but the automobile exception stands on probable cause alone.