by 
The Curious Bag
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Probable cause is a term used when there is evidence to reasonably suspect or assume a crime has been committed or will be committed. When searching a car, probable cause is the justification police use to search the vehicle.
Origins
Probable cause is a term from the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Fourth Amendment ensures people are secure against unreasonable searches from the police.
Plain Sight
In a car, police are allowed to look at anything in plain sight without having probable cause. Evidence viewed and obtained from the front seat of a car is not considered a search.
Warrants
Providing there is probable cause, warrants are not required to search a car.
Trunk
Probable cause rules also apply to the trunk of a car or back of an enclosed truck. If the police have a reason to suspect wrongdoing has been done or will be done, they can look in the trunk.
Tips
Tips from others can be considered probable cause if what the tipster suggested would be found was found. This corroboration is required for the evidence to be entered as evidence in court.
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