Does the car fall under the category of a riding animal?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner asks: Does the car fall under the category of a riding animal?

Answer:
The car is better than a riding animal. You are in a room, as Ibn al-Qayyim said regarding the royal palanquin; in fact, it is better than the palanquin and better than that. However, his intention was regarding the driver. As for the passenger, he is in a position to face the qiblah and to prostrate on the floor of the car or vehicle. But the driver cannot; he prays according to his situation, facing whatever direction he is going, just like a rider on a riding animal. The driver is like the rider of a riding animal.