Best Car Gun Safes in 2022: Top 5 Picks

Owning a firearm is a constitutional right. In many states, carrying a firearm is legal. However, all rights come with responsibilities. Gun ownership implies that you accept the responsible gun owner’s duty to protect that firearm and keep it safe. These duties extend beyond your home to wherever you take your firearms or concealed carry weapons.

When you put on your concealed carry holster and slide your favorite pistol into place, you also put on the duty to act as a responsible gun owner. You may find yourself in situations or places that demand you leave your firearm in a safe place. No-gun zones are becoming more and more prevalent in the U.S., and having a secure place to keep your firearm when it is illegal to carry is a given.

However, simply sliding your pistol under the seat is not a good option. Neither is dropping your weapon into a seat console or sliding into the glovebox. The number one way bad guys can obtain firearms is theft from automobiles. These people know the most likely hiding places in your vehicle and can have your gun in seconds.

Failing to take the proper precautions to protect your concealed carry firearms when you cannot have them on your person can lead to devastating results. Additionally, it can lead to a loss of a considerable investment. Replacing a pistol can be an expensive task and easily avoided by having a vehicle gun safe.

In the long run, avoiding the bad press that can result if your stolen gun turns up at a crime scene is a good argument for having a car gun safe. You could even face civil legal proceedings if the family of a gun-involved crime sees you as responsible for the gun being available to the bad guy. A good car gun safe can help protect your investment and prevent your firearm from being used in a future crime.

There are hundreds of car gun safes in almost as many styles and sizes on the market. I have looked at the offerings and included what I consider the best car gun safes for your concealed carry handguns. Remember that a car gun safe is a deterrent, not foolproof protection. The idea is to make accessing your firearm as difficult for the thief as possible while allowing you easy and quick access.

It soon becomes apparent as you shop for car gun safes: the selections are wide. From different styles to various locking systems, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the selections. As I began looking at gun safes, I made a mental list of what features were important. I decided that any gun safe I would recommend must have most of these features:

• Above everything else, whichever model is chosen must be a reliable gun safe. If you can’t depend on the mechanisms to function reliably, the gun safe is potentially a life threat.
• Small, removable gun safes must have a dependable and robust security cable. Without a security cable, these small handheld gun safes can be easily removed from a vehicle.
• Vehicle gun safes must be convenient to access and easily stored out of sight.
• All the components of the gun safe must be of the highest quality and superior manufacturing.
• A gun safe must have a very reasonable price so that it is affordable for any gun owner.

Your needs and expectations may be different than mine, but I think that these minimum requirements should be a part of any gun safe that qualifies to be considered among the best vehicle gun safes.

1. Best Small Portable Vehicle Gun Safe – Hornady Alpha Elite Lock Box

• Includes a heavy-duty steel security cable rated for 1500 pounds to attach the portable lock box to any stationary object, including your vehicle.
• Sixteen gauge steel housing with a pry-resistant security band around the perimeter.
• High-security barrel key locking mechanism featuring a dual crossbar latch.
• It easily fits under car seats.
• Meets California Department of Justice and TSA airline firearms standards.
• Foam padding on the interior protects your firearm or other valuables.

• Exterior Dimensions – 10.25 inches x 8 inches x 2.75 inches
• Interior Dimensions – 9.75 inches x 7.5 inches x 2.25 inches
• Empty Weight – 6 pounds
• It fits most 1911 sized pistols and revolvers with up to a 3-inch barrel
• Keyed barrel lock for tamper or pick-resistant security

If your need is lightweight and portable protection for your concealed carry firearm, the Hornady Alpha Elite Lock Bos is a great option. The tethered design allows you to secure this small gun safe inside your car. You can also use this lockbox when traveling or at home by securing the steel security cable to a secure object

First off, it is portable. Meeting that part of the requirements is easy. Secondly, the reputation of Hornady and the obvious quality of this personal gun safe speak for themselves. I own one of these small Hornady gun safes and use it routinely in my pickup truck to protect my concealed carry firearm if I need to leave it in the truck.

Last update on 2022-04-08 at 21:53 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. Best Rapid-Access Car Gun Safe – Hornady RAPiD Gun Safe With RFID Instant Access

• Exterior Dimensions – 12 inches x 6.4 inches x 2.2 inches
• Interior Dimensions – 7.5 inches x 5.6 inches x 1.7 inches
• Requires 12 volts and 1.0 Amps electrical power supply
• Uses 4 AAA batteries
• Wristband, key fob and two barrel keys included

Instant access to your pistol can be an important factor in a self-defense situation. The Hornady RAPiD vehicle safe can provide that kind of security without drilling or permanently mounting the box in your vehicle. These are secure and reliable gun safes that also provide the flexibility to use the lockbox outside your vehicle.

Situations that require you to deploy your concealed carry weapon often occur rapidly and without warning. The Hornady RAPiD vehicle safe offers a secure method of protecting your pistol yet allowing you hands-free, almost-instant access.

Last update on 2022-04-08 at 22:13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

• Cold rolled steel plate construction with welded tabs and notch seams
• The triple guard locking mechanism resists prying
• Drill-resistant, high-security lock systems
• Quick and easy do-it-yourself installation
• Custom-fit for your vehicle console
• Spring-assisted door
• Provides plenty of space for your pistol, spare magazine, and other valuables
• USB ports and 12-volt outlets remain accessible and in-service
• Available with several options for a locking mechanism including a combination lock, pushbutton keypad lock, key lock, or biometric lock.
• Lifetime warranty

• Interior and exterior dimensions are dependent on the vehicle console

These are top-of-the-line protection for your pistol and other valuables. Even if a thief breaches your car security and gets into the console, he is faced with a steel surface and a high-security lock and latch system. He can’t even grab the vault box and escape to a safe location to finish opening his find.

If I wanted to install a fixed gun safe in my truck, this would be my choice. It is concealed, securely fixed to the vehicle, rugged, dependable, and almost impossible to breach in the car. The only thing keeping me from having one of Console Vaults units in my truck is that I am cheap, and I am still driving my 2006 Chevy Silverado. Console Vault doesn’t have a gun safe that will fit my truck.

4. Biometric Quick-Access Pistol Safe – RPNB Mounted Gun Safe

• 500 dot per inch biometric fingerprint sensor with fast match speeds for quick access
• Slim vertical design can be mounted almost anywhere in your vehicle that offers easy reach and clearance for the drop-open door.
• Constructed of steel and finished in an attractive black color for corrosion resistance and long life.
• An easy-to-use fingerprint-activated lock.
• A four-button key panel combination lock for backup lock activation.
• Secure barrel lock mechanical lock if the biometric or button panel combination lock should fail.
• Programmable code for the keypad lock allows you to customize your passcode.
• You can store up to 50 different fingerprint impressions if you want other family members to have instant access to the car gun safe.
• Foam-lined interior to protect your pistol.
• Low battery warning.
• Requires 4 AAA alkaline batteries.

• Exterior Height – 13.47 inches
• Exterior Length – 7.43 inches
• Exterior Width – 3.07 inches
• Fits most pistols up to duty size
• Can be mounted from the left, right, top, and back

The unique style of this car gun safe opens new options for gun owners who want a car safe that they can access without a key, a code, or having to look at the safe. A touch of the finger on the sensor drops the front opening, putting your pistol in the perfect position.

I like the unique way this car gun safe opens. The vertical hinged opening provides mounting options different than most car gun safes. A mechanical lock is secure, but slow. The convenience of a fast operating biometric locking system gives you a car safe that can be easily accessible from the driver’s seat and opened without dealing with a key or pressing a code.

Last update on 2022-04-08 at 22:13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

5. Best Multi-Use Gun Safe Lock Box – SnapSafe Treklite Gun Safe Lock Box with TSA Combination Lock

• Superior gun safety at a third of the weight of conventional steel construction.
• Constructed of impact-resistant polycarbonate materials.
• Includes a steel security cable to securely connect your pistol safe to your vehicle or another stationary object.
• Meets all TSA requirements for transporting a gun through TSA security and on airplanes.
• Includes a TSA approved barrel key lock with two keys.
• A fully foamed interior protects your valuable firearm.

• Exterior dimensions – 10 inches long x 7 inches wide x 2 inches tall
• Accommodates full-size pistols up to and including 1911 style firearms
• Weight – 2.36 pounds

Not only does this SnapSafe Treklite box do the job of securing your valuables and a pistol as a vehicle gun safe, but it also looks good doing the job. Most portable gun vaults a big black clunky-looking boxes. The SnapSafe Treklite box is elegantly styled.

For years, I used clunky large gun boxes with separate TSA-approved locks. This finally got to be such a hassle, I switched to a SnapSafe Treklite portable gun safe. It has been a timesaver and weight-saver for me. Its light weight and TSA approval get this SnapSafe lock box a place on my list for best car gun safes.

Last update on 2022-04-08 at 22:13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

In the end, the best car gun safe for you is the one that you will use. Responsible gun owners have a duty to secure their concealed carry firearms while away from home. A car gun safe is the only safe alternative. Finding the best car gun safe for your needs and expectations can be a challenge, but I hope that this article leads you to select a car gun safe that works for you.