Do you know how many accidental shootings happen because of unsecured guns? According to USA Today, 73 accidental child deaths involving a gun occurred in 2018. It is a staggering number, given the circumstances. For this reason, gun safety is paramount to protect your family from tragic situations. A hidden car gun safe allows you to securely keep your gun locked away. Therefore, you will be able to protect your family and home from both possible intruders and from a dangerous weapon.
If you do not know too many things about these products, we recommend that you read the car gun safe reviews we have prepared. This way, you will see what options are available on the market. Even if you do not find a product that you like, with the buying guide we have also prepared, you will know what to look for when purchasing such an item.
PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
---|---|---|---|
SnapSafe Lockbox Keyed Lock |
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Bulldog Cases Car Safe with Key Lock |
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RPNB California DOJ Certified Gun Safe |
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SnapSafe Treklite Gun Safe Lock Box with TSA Combination Lock |
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SentrySafe PP1K Portable Pistol Safe |
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First Alert 5100K TSA Approved Handgun Safe with Key Lock |
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Hornady Lockbox for Guns |
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ShotLock Handgun 200M Solo-Vault (Mechanical) |
| View On Amazon |
Hidden Car Gun Safes Reviews
1. SnapSafe Lockbox Keyed Lock
In case you are looking for something extremely portable to keep your handgun or valuables safe, you should certainly check this product. You can use this gun safe in your car, at home in your nightstand, and even on airplanes. The SnapSafe Lockbox Keyed Lock safe meets the TSA airline firearm guidelines, so you can basically take it anywhere with you.
Thanks to the high-quality 16-gauge steel construction, the item has high impact strength as well as prying resistance. Even the design might not tell you very much as it is quite basic, it can also be concealed from curious eyes.
The design is so compact that you can fit the safe even under a seat or in the trunk. In terms of interior space, you can store up to two handguns, or one gun and other valuable items you might want to keep locked.
Pros
- The safe is very easy to operate
- It features a steel key lock mechanism
- The protective foam in the interior protects your guns from abrasion and scratches
- It is available for a very affordable price
- The safe comes with two keys
Cons
- It is very easy to cut the security cable with pliers.
2. Bulldog Cases Car Safe with Key Lock
This case is ideal if you want to keep your gun secure in your vehicle. It is very affordable and a great choice if you are looking for a gun safe solution for your car that you will be able to use for many years to come.
The fact that it comes with a mounting bracket, as well as a security cable, is extremely useful. The Bulldog Cases Car Safe with Key Lock is designed to be pry-resistant with strong hinges built on the inside of the case. You should mount the safe in an easy-to-access area where it can easily be slid in and out of the bracket.
In order to access the safe, you will need to use a key. For some users, this might be more convenient than using a key lock. The good thing about this item is that it stays locked into the bracket and cannot be removed without the key.
Pros
- The heavy-duty steel construction offers this item durability
- The safe features a soft and durable scratch-resistant interior
- The interior is spacious enough for a standard handgun and ammo
Cons
- It is a bit difficult to get the spacers to stay in place while getting the screw started
If you are looking for a portable solution to secure your handgun, passport, ammunition, credit cards, jewelry, or any other valuable items, this safe is worth your attention. The great thing about this product is that you can use it at home, in your car, or when traveling. The compact and lightweight design is a great advantage in this sense. The RPNB California DOJ Certified Gun Safe can be unlocked using a reliable password and RFID technology. In it, you can keep dangerous weapons locked away from your children, for example, and also enjoy instant access in case of emergencies. Furthermore, the heavy-duty 16-gauge carbon steel construction is covered with a powder-coated finish that prevents corrosion and also provides the case durable protection. If you follow the mounting instructions provided by the manufacturer, you should not encounter any issues with the installation process. Pros Cons Being able to keep a dangerous weapon concealed and secure from children or other people is extremely important. This model provides heavy-duty protection due to its high-quality construction. Moreover, it can easily be hidden in a suitcase, under your car seat, or in a drawer. It is extremely portable which means that you can take it anywhere with you. The SnapSafe Treklite Gun Safe Lock Box with TSA Combination Lock comes with a steel cable that secures the case to any stationery item you attach it to. You should also know that this model meets the TSA airline guidelines for firearms storage, which means that you can take your gun in this case even when traveling by plane. The safe is made of sturdy 16-gauge steel and it also comes with a 1,500 pounds security cable for increased security. The access is made using a reliable four-digit combination. Pros Cons This product is a great choice to attach to your car’s console or truck. The case has a strong frame and is equipped with a sturdy security cable. You can use it to secure the safe to the frame of your front seat or in your trunk, depending on your preference. One of the most important things about a product of this type is easy access. Being able to reach your gun in a crisis situation is extremely important, and the SentrySafe PP1K Portable Pistol Safe has you covered. You can unlock it using a key. When the door opens it makes a very little sound which is also a great feature for such an item. The interior is spacious enough to accommodate even larger handguns such as a 4-inch semi-automatic or a Glock 19. You do not have to worry about your guns, as the safe has a thick foam padding to protect them against abrasion. Pros Cons There are many people who feel more comfortable if they have their gun on them at all times, including when traveling. The First Alert 5100K TSA Approved Handgun Safe meets TSA airline firearm guidelines, so you can take it with you even when flying. This model is compact enough to accommodate one handgun as well as the magazine and ammunition. Due to the compact design, you can hide the safe under your car seat and even the side pocket. The rounded-edge design makes it very easy to pick the unit up from flat surfaces. This might not seem like a significant feature, but when you are in a hurry, it could save you a few seconds. Since the case is constructed with 18-gauge steel, it is sturdy as well as protected against light impacts. The interior is foam-padded to protect your handgun from scratches and to keep it in place. Pros Cons Are you looking for a box to keep your handgun in or are you looking for something more reliable and sturdy? If you want something that is made of strong and durable materials, the Hornady Lockbox for Guns might be just the right model for you. This unit was designed with groundbreaking security technology. The 16-gauge steel construction that features a pry-resistant security band and a barrel key lock make this safe almost impossible to access by unauthorized individuals. Due to the slim design, the safe can easily be hidden under the car seat. It is also portable, so you can take it with you and keep it in your backpack, for example, until you arrive at your destination. Professional burglars might be able to pick the lock and open the safe but if you keep it hidden, you minimize this possibility. It is still one of the most secure safes on our list. Pros Cons For someone who is always traveling and wants his or her gun close, on-the-go security is very important. This model offers both accessibility and portability. It is extremely easy to move, relocate, and even mount on a wall, in a vehicle, or under your desk. You can also opt to keep the safe close when you are out camping, for instance. The ShotLock Handgun 200M Solo-Vault has very sturdy construction with 14-gauge steel, making it a very reliable unit. This car pistol safe is spacious enough to accommodate an M1911 handgun just well. Of course, it can hold a wide array of popular handgun models, as well as magazines and ammunition. Since it comes with a strap handle, the unit is very easy and convenient to carry, while keeping your hands free for other items such as your luggage. You will probably be pleased to know that the manufacturer offers a two-year warranty for this product. Pros Cons If you own a gun and drive a lot, it is very important to consider acquiring a vehicle gun safe. You may think that this item is not necessary and that you can take good care of the gun without using a safe. Unfortunately, you can never know what can happen and it is better to be safe than sorry. It should feel just as normal as keeping your tactical backpacks in the car. Of course, if you have to keep a gun in your car. First of all, let’s see what are the advantages of owning a car gun safe. Given most car’s poor security, it is better to keep your gun locked in a hidden safe. That way, it will not draw a possible thief’s attention and your gun might even go unnoticed. If you get a model that can be attached to the superstructure of your vehicle, the chances of a burglar accessing the safe and your gun are minimized. Compared to gun vaults, car gun safes are built more lightly. Another very important advantage is your gun not being in the reach of your children. You know how curious kids are, and you can never tell what mischief comes to their minds, so it is best that they do not have any access to any kind of dangerous items. Gun safety rules and practice recommendations are meant to prevent accidental or negligent discharge as well as the consequences of firearm malfunctions. The purpose of these recommendations is to minimize and even eliminate the risk of unintentional injury or death, as well as property damage produced by improper possession, handling, and storage of firearms. Did you know that every year, there are tens of thousands of firearm deaths worldwide? Keeping your gun locked and secured is of the highest importance. Just imagine the following scenario: you leave your loaded gun in the glove compartment of your car; you know, to have it prepared in case of an emergency. One day, you take your kids for a ride, they get in the car but you remember that you left something in the house. It takes you only a few moments to return and suddenly you hear a gunshot. In this scenario, had your gun been locked in a car gun safe, something like this would not have been possible. But that is just one possible situation. Cars are broken into every day. Now imagine being held and taken to the police for a crime that was done using your gun. A hidden car gun safe might help you keep your gun away from the eyes of strangers. These are only two very serious examples of what might happen in case of poor firearm storage. Finding the right car gun safe is not an easy task. There are so many available models on the market that a person who does not know anything about these items would not know what to pick. However, if you want to make a safe and smart investment, there are some important aspects you should take into consideration. In case you are not convinced that you really need a car gun safe, we need to mention a very important aspect. If you want to travel between states, you should know that the law may differ from region to region. We highly recommend checking the state laws to learn if you can carry a gun in your car. Some states forbid guns to be hidden underneath car seats or even in the glove compartment. In some states, if you are caught hiding your firearm in either of the above-mentioned places, cops might react in a not very welcoming manner. There are many states that require firearms to be stored securely in a spot it cannot immediately be accessed by its owner. Therefore, you definitely need a car gun safe if you want to keep your firearm in your car. We recommend that you check the local legislation concerning gun possession where you live, and in the states that you plan to visit. When it comes to tactical gear, the market definitely has a lot to offer. It is no different for car gun safes. One of the things you will need to decide on is the locking mechanism. What works better for you? You can go for a model that requires a key to access. It is a straightforward unit that locks and unlocks using a key. There are no electronic features that you need to be concerned with. This means no batteries or other types of power sources. These types of safes are easy to use and quite affordable. Of course, there are a few downsides. For example, if you lose the key, you will not be able to access the safe. Furthermore, in an emergency situation, you might lose precious seconds while looking for the key, getting it into the keyhole, and only then opening the case and getting your gun. Also, a professional might easily pick the lock and open the safe. If a key-operated model is not what you are looking for, you might like one that uses a combination to unlock. Electronic locks are very efficient and easy to operate. They do not require keys or rotating tumbles to open. You only need to program and memorize an access code. Then, you punch it in and the safe opens. Some models work with batteries, while others come with an AC adapter. The downside is that you risk running out of batteries in which case you may find yourself locked out of your own safe. A mechanical combination lock is reliable and sturdy, and it takes a lot of time to break into such a safe. The downside of these models is that you need to rotate the tumbler until you get the right combination. This takes time and, in an emergency, it is not the fastest solution. Biometric gun safes have been gaining more and more momentum over the past years. A safe that uses a biometric scanner only requires the owner’s fingerprint to open. It is one of the fastest solutions to accessing your gun. Furthermore, these units are very hard to access by unauthorized individuals. There are a few negative aspects as well. Biometric car gun safes are a bit more expensive than the types we have already mentioned, and they always need to be connected to a power source. Some require AA batteries, other rechargeable batteries, while others work if plugged into an outlet. Another important aspect you need to consider is the size. Your gun safe needs to be large enough to hold your firearm, but small enough to reach under the car seat, or in your backpack, if you want a portable unit. Remember that the interior dimensions are different from the exterior ones, so make sure you check both before placing the order. If you plan on hiding the safe under your car seat, you should make sure that it is slim enough to fit. Depending on what you need, you can go for a highly portable model. This means that the size and the weight should be convenient enough for you to be able to easily carry the unit. Some models even come with a strap to make things even easier. If you want the safe to be anchored in your vehicle permanently, you have two options: use a security cable or bolt the safe. A security cable allows you to attach the safe to any stationary object. You can fasten the unit to the car seat or in the trunk. Other models come with pre-drilled holes that you can use to bolt the safe to your car using screws. A gun safe should be a reliable tool. Therefore, it needs to have sturdy construction. Although most gun safes have outer shells made of steel, you should make sure that the model you select has all of its components made from high-quality materials. Moreover, you should go for a unit that is pry-resistant, as well as fireproof and waterproof if possible. Steel thickness is one of the features that have a lot to say in a safe’s sturdiness. Thicker steel is less flexible which makes it harder to bend in case of a pry attack. The number and size of the locking bolts are also important for a reliable, pry-resistant safe. As you might have guessed, the locking mechanism is an essential part of a gun safe. Many people debate on which type is the most reliable: electronic, mechanical, or biometric lock? Actually, each has advantages and disadvantages, so we cannot say that one type is better than the other. In the end, it is up to you and your needs. The hard plate is also part of a reliable safe. It is placed between the outside of the unit and the interior lock. Its purpose is to protect the locking mechanism on the interior of the safe from being drilled. Last but not least, the relocker is a device that locks the unit making all bolts fasten in place, in case the original lock is removed or damaged. Actually, there is more to this aspect than just the number of bolts. You can find car gun safes with 20 bolts that can easily be pried open in just a few minutes due to the size of the bolts, as well as the flexibility of the light gauge door. Steel bolts are meant to make the door of the safe hard to pry open with a crowbar or any other similar tools. In case the unit has a 14-gauge door or even less and the length of the bolt is less than an inch, the number of bolts does not even matter. The door will flex and bend during a pry attack. As a general rule, the longer, thicker and more bolts offer fewer chances for the door to bend or break. A safe with fewer bolts can be very secure if the bolts are strategically placed. Also, the engineering of the frame is just as important. This really depends on the model. Usually, the foam is glued in and it is tacked in a few single dot spots. In this case, you could carefully peel it up in those areas and just lift it up. However, we do not recommend this. First of all, the padded interior keeps your gun protected from abrasion and scratches. Secondly, the foam also keeps the gun into place. If you remove it, your firearm will start bouncing in the safe because it has nothing to keep it in place. The role of the security cable is to attach the gun safe to a stationary object so that it cannot be removed. You can either keep the safe hidden very well and not use the cable at all or find a spot where you have something like a pipe or another item that cannot be removed and attach the safe there. However, it should not be somewhere very visible. If you want to keep the safe in the house permanently, you can also look for another model that can be bolted to the wall or to the floor. If you want to have your firearm with you at all times, it is extremely important to consider your safety as well as that of the people around you. Keeping a gun in your car must be done in a responsible manner. You can do so by storing it in a hidden car gun safe. The market has a lot to offer when it comes to products in this line, so you will surely be able to find one that best suits your needs. Such an item will help you stay protected and also allow you to keep those dear to you away from any unfortunate situations. The car gun safe reviews in this article should give you a clear idea about some of the models you can find on the market, while our buying guide can help you find a unit that meets all of your demands in terms of gun safety.3. RPNB California DOJ Certified Gun Safe
4. SnapSafe Treklite Gun Safe Lock Box with TSA Combination Lock
5. SentrySafe PP1K Portable Pistol Safe
6. First Alert 5100K TSA Approved Handgun Safe with Key Lock
7. Hornady Lockbox for Guns
8. ShotLock Handgun 200M Solo-Vault (Mechanical)
Why Have a Safe In Your Car?
Possible Consequences Of Poor Firearm Storage
Benefits Of Hidden Car Gun Safes
Hidden Car Gun Safe Buying Guide
1. Take the law into consideration
2. Locking system
Downsides?
What About Biometrics?
3. Size
4. Portable or anchored?
5. Construction
How To Install a Gun Safe In Your Car?
FAQ About Car Gun Safes
1. What makes a car gun safe reliable?
2. Do more bolts mean a higher level of security?
3. Can I remove the padded foam inside my car gun safe to make more room?
4. If I want to keep my car gun safe in the house, how would I use the security cable?
Hidden Car Gun Safes Comparison Chart
PRODUCT INTERIOR DIMENSIONS WEIGHT ( POUND) ACCESS PRICE SnapSafe Lockbox Keyed Lock 11.5" x 8.5" x 2.5" 5,2 Key $ Bulldog Cases Car Safe with Key Lock 8.2" x 5.9" x 2.2" 3,6 Key $ RPNB California DOJ Certified Gun Safe 11" x 7" x 1.8" 4,5 PIN Code / Key $$ SnapSafe Treklite Gun Safe Lock Box with TSA Combination Lock 10” x 7” x 2” 2,4 Combination $ SentrySafe PP1K Portable Pistol Safe 11.3" x 10.0" x 3.3" 6,5 Key $$$ First Alert 5100K TSA Approved Handgun Safe with Key Lock 9.5" x 6.5" x 1.75" 3 Key $ Hornady Lockbox for Guns 10.25”x8”x2.75” 6,3 Key $ ShotLock Handgun 200M Solo-Vault (Mechanical) 11.37" x 7.5" x 2.37" 7,6 PIN Code / Key $$$$ Wrap Up