Best Car Gun Safes

When shopping for a car gun safe, the most important things to consider are whether you’re more worried about security or accessibility, and whether you’re looking for a permanent car fixture or something that’s easily moveable.

If you’re just looking for a safe way to transport your weapon to the gun range or a way to secure your gun in your luggage while traveling, you’ll want something smaller and lightweight, with a simple lock or code. But if you’d rather have a permanent car fixture that gives you quick access to your gun for self-defense, you can invest in something bulkier, with easy-open options like a biometric scanner.

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Our Top 3 Picks for Best Car Gun Safes

Fort Knox PB1 Handgun Safe

With durable construction and reliable simplicity, the Fort Knox lives up to its namesake and earns the top spot on our list. Its mechanical lock and tamper-resistant design make it a great choice for security, but it tips the scales at a whopping twenty-two pounds. While it does have holes for mounting, it doesn’t come with the hardware needed to secure it to your car.

Pros

• Push-Button Mechanical Lock
  The Simplex mechanical lock on the Fort Knox has over 1,000 possible code combinations, which means potential thieves won’t be able to crack it without some serious trial and error. It’s battery-free, so you don’t have to worry about the lock losing power or malfunctioning.
• Sturdy Construction
  The already durable design was given an upgrade in 2017 to make it even more tamper-resistant, and we’re impressed by the hefty ten-gauge steel construction.
• Gas-Strut Assisted Door
  Heavy doesn’t mean awkward when it comes to this safe: gas struts help the safe’s door raise and lower safely, making it easier to open and close.
• Lifetime Warranty
  Fort Knox attaches a lifetime warranty to its safes and internal locking mechanisms to warrant them “free from defects in material or workmanship” for as long as you own them.
• Made in the USA
  Because Fort Knox manufactures all of its safes right here in the US, the company maintains a high standard of quality control and is highly responsive to concerns about design flaws in its products.

Cons

• High Price Tag
  With a price tag of around $250, the Fort Knox PB1 is definitely an investment.
• No Mounting Hardware
  The smooth steel underside of the Fort Knox safe makes it prone to sliding across carpeting. If you’re going to keep it in your car, we recommend purchasing bolts or screws and using the mounting holes in the bottom to secure it to the floor of your vehicle.

GunVault Nanovault 200 Pistol Safe

The Nanovault’s small size and light weight make it a good, basic, and inexpensive option for traveling, but its insubstantial construction and easy-to-cut cable will probably only deter the casual burglar. We like its simple design that’s straightforward enough for anyone to use.

Pros

• Compact Design
  At only 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches, the Nanovault is about the size of a hardback book, making it just big enough to fit a gun, but small enough to fit neatly in your luggage.
• Cable Included
  A 1,500-lb. test cable is included with the Nanovault, making it easy to secure to a fixed object in your home or car.
• Five-Year Warranty
  The Nanovault’s five-year warranty covers loss against fire and burglary for five years, and it also protects against vault defects for one year.
• Affordable Price
  At around $30, the Nanovault is one of the most budget-friendly gun safes on the market. It’s an ideal option for those who need an inexpensive way to secure their firearm.
• Simple Access
  No need to memorize a code or worry about programming a fingerprint—the Nanovault’s keyed lock is straightforward, so it’s easy to access your gun in a hurry.

Cons

• Flimsy Keys
  The keys for the Nanovault have a flimsy plastic casing, and they might not hold up well if they’re attached to the keychain you use every day.
• Vulnerable Cable and Lock
  With a decent pair of bolt cutters, a burglar could cut through the security cable with no problem, and anyone with lock picking experience could make short work of the lock on the Nanovault.

Vaultek VT20i Biometric Handgun Safe

Vaultek upgraded their safes in 2017, adding security features to make them more tamper-resistant. The VT20i biometric gun safe has all the bells and whistles—including the incorporation of smart technology—but you’ll pay a premium for all the extra features.

Pros

• Tamper Protection
  The Vaultek’s anti-pry bars close any gaps between the lid and the main compartment so it can’t be pried open, and special anti-impact latches prevent the safe from popping open when hit or dropped. The hinges are mounted on the interior of the safe so they can’t be tampered with.
• Fast Access
  Biometric technology allows you to program in your fingerprint so you can access your safe by swiping your finger across the scanner.
• Key and Code Backups
  If you can’t use the fingerprint scanner for some reason, the Vaultek comes with both a coded keypad and backup keys for manual unlocking.
• Smartphone Technology
  The free Vaultek app allows you to do a number of things from your smartphone. You can view your safe’s history to see when it was locked and unlocked, check the battery status, remotely unlock it, and turn the keypad sound on and off.
• Interior Lighting
  The Vaultek has an interior LED light that automatically turns on when the lid opens, making it easy to see your valuables in the dark.
• Access for Multiple Users
  You can program up to twenty different fingerprints in the Vaultek, giving multiple users access to the gun safe.
• Stealth Mode
  If you’re in a dangerous situation, you might not want to announce that you’re accessing your gun safe with loud beeping from the scanner or keypad. The Vaultek allows you to toggle off the sound, so you can silently access your firearm. 

Cons

• Expensive
  At more than $250, the Vaultek is the most expensive gun safe on our list, but its fancy features and anti-tampering qualities may make the price tag worth it.
• Unreliable
  As much as we love the idea of biometrics, the reality is that they are notoriously unreliable. If your finger is wet, dirty, or even has a paper cut, your biometric scanner may not work when you need it most.
• Battery-Operated
  The Vaultek requires a lithium ion battery that needs to be recharged every four months. The charging kit is included with the safe, but it might be more hassle than you want for a gun safe.

FAQs 

What is the difference between ten-gauge steel and twenty-gauge steel?

As a general rule, the higher the gauge, the thinner the steel. A ten-gauge sheet of steel is approximately 0.14 inches thick, while a twenty-gauge piece of steel is 0.38 inches thick. The lower the gauge, the thicker and heavier the steel will be. 

What’s the difference between a TSA-certified gun safe and a California Department of Justice-certified safe?

TSA gun safe standards are fairly simple: the firearm must be in a hard-sided, locked case. The California Department of Justice (CDOJ) standards for gun safes are more stringent and include specifications like the number of possible combinations for a combination lock, thickness and number of locking bolts, and a minimum thickness of twelve-gauge steel for the shell. Many gun owners consider the CDOJ standards to be the minimum quality standards for gun safes. Visit TSA.gov to find out more about the guidelines for legally transporting firearms and ammunition by commercial airliner.

What is the difference between a car gun safe and a console vault?

A console vault is designed based on the specifications of your vehicle’s make and model in order to fit inside the center console. Most have keyed locks and are a semi-permanent car attachment. A car gun safe is usually a notebook-shaped box that can fit underneath the seat of your car, and it’s often attached by a cable. Some car safes are stored in the trunk and bolted down.

What size should my vehicle gun safe be?

Most car gun safes and travel safes will be large enough to fit an average 9 mm handgun like a Glock 17 (total length: 7.3 inches) or a .38 like a Ruger LCR (6.5 inches), which are the most common calibers for everyday carry. If, however, you need to store something larger, like a Desert Eagle (10.6 inches) or a larger revolver, pay close attention to the dimensions of the safe you choose, as you may need something larger than average.

How We Chose the Best Car Gun Safes

To research the best gun safes, we compared the various makes and models available, talked to gun owners about the features that are most important to them, and studied a wide variety of reviews from firearms experts and locksmiths. Visit our methodology to learn more.