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Best Driveway Sensors and Alarms of 2021

We reviewed top driveway sensors and alarms to find the best for your home.
Best overall
product image of guardline driveway sensor
Guardline
  • Icon Pros Light
    Up to 16 sensors
  • Icon Pros Light
    Custom sensor tones
  • Icon Pros Light
    Lifetime warranty
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Best value
product image of chamberlain driveway sensor
Chamberlain
  • Icon Cons Light
    Up to 4 sensors
  • Icon Pros Light
    Affordable
  • Icon Pros Light
    Large receiver range
View on Amazon
Read Review
Best sensor range
product image of rodann driveway sensor
Rodann Electronics
  • Icon Pros Light
    Up to 12 sensors
  • Icon Pros Light
    Sensor range up to 50 ft.
  • Icon Pros Light
    Simple setup
View on Amazon
Read Review
Easy installation
Safety technology driveway sensor
Safety Technology
  • Icon Cons Light
    Up to 4 sensors
  • Icon Pros Light
    Designed to blend in
  • Icon Pros Light
    Tailored to sense vehicles
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Read Review
Katie McEntire
By Katie McEntire
Staff Writer, Safety & Security
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April 08, 2021

Whether you have a long winding driveway or a short road leading to your garage, driveway sensors—like our top pick, Guardline—are a smart way to monitor vehicles entering and exiting your property. These devices are easy to install and fit a range of budgets for long and short driveways.

Take a look through the different sensors and their effective ranges, and think about the geographic features around your home. Heavy foliage and hills may reduce those ranges, so figure out which sensor would work best for your home—and never be surprised by a visitor again.

Top wireless driveway sensors of 2021

  1. Guardline
    : Best overall
  2. Chamberlain
    : Best value
  3. Rodann
    : Best sensor range
  4. Safety Technology
    : Easy installation
image of a driveway in front of a home

Compare the best driveway alarm sensors

Product
Price
Sensor rangeIcon Tooltip Dark
Receiver rangeIcon Tooltip Dark
Sensor limitIcon Tooltip Dark
Learn more
Read Review
Best overall
product image of guardline driveway sensorGuardline
$149.9740 ft. 1,320 ft. Up to 16View on AmazonRead Review
Best value
product image of chamberlain driveway sensorChamberlain
$59.4930 ft. 2,640 ft. Up to 4View on AmazonRead Review
Best sensor range
product image of rodann driveway sensorRodann
$97.9050 ft.500 ft. Up to 12View on AmazonRead Review
Easy installation
Safety technology driveway sensorSafety Technology
$151.5912 ft. 1,000 ft. Up to 4 View on AmazonRead Review

Amazon.com list price as of 04/08/2021 at 11:48 a.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.

Notepad
What is a driveway alarm sensor?

Driveway alarm sensors consist of two main parts: a sensor and a receiver. You can use driveway sensors as standalone units or as part of a larger security system. These units can provide reassurance for people who live in homes with long driveways—you’ll know when someone is coming down your driveway before they suddenly appear in your yard.

The downside to driveway sensors is that they are prone to false alarms. Squirrels and larger animals can trigger the sensors, leading to hassle you may not want to deal with.

See also:

 

Wireless driveway sensor reviews

1. Guardline: Best overall

Best overall
product image of guardline driveway sensor
Guardline
$149.97
View on Amazon

Amazon.com list price as of 04/08/2021 at 11:48 a.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.

The Guardline allows for a quarter mile between the sensor and the receiver, although heavy foliage and thick walls will reduce this distance. The sensors can withstand all types of weather and work without interference, and the receivers come with a battery backup as well as a 12-volt relay to link them to additional external alarms.

Guardline claims two years of testing went into each product, and the reviews seem to back that up. With over 1,000 reviews on Amazon, the Guardline earns consistently high ratings—an impressive track record, no matter the product.

Pro Heading
Pros
Pro Bullet Customizable tones for each sensor
Pro Bullet Up to 16 sensors
Pro Bullet Lifetime warranty
Con Heading
Cons
Con Bullet Limited range
Con Bullet False alarms

Guardline comes with more than 30 customizable alert sounds and can be expanded to include up to 16 different sensors—or four zones with four sensors and one receiver per zone. You can pair specific sounds with specific sensors so you’ll always know where the motion is without looking.

2. Chamberlain: Best value

Best value
product image of chamberlain driveway sensor
Chamberlain
$54.49
View on Amazon

Amazon.com list price as of 04/08/2021 at 11:48 a.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.

The base system comes with a single sensor and receiver. You can add up to three more sensors later, but you must purchase them separately. When someone (or something) breaks the sensor’s line, the receiver sets off an alert with both light and sound.

The sensor detects motion up to 30 feet in front of it and will reach a receiver up to a half-mile away. However, it needs line of sight to function properly. The receiver uses AA batteries or an AC adapter, allowing you to carry it with you into the yard.

Pro Heading
Pros
Pro Bullet Large receiver range
Pro Bullet Affordable
Con Heading
Cons
Con Bullet Fragile equipment

Chamberlain is one of the better-known driveway alarm companies out there. As far as features go, the Chamberlain is rather barebones. But it's also the most affordable brand on our list so that makes it a great pick for folks on budget.

3. Rodann Electronics: Best sensor range

Best sensor range
product image of rodann driveway sensor
Rodann Electronics
$97.90
View on Amazon

Amazon.com list price as of 04/08/2021 at 11:48 a.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.

The unit is composed of a sensor and a receiver that sends out a sound when triggered. The unit is small and unobtrusive, and runs on two AA batteries. The receiver has no battery backup and relies on a 12-volt power supply to operate. The receiver also has an LED display that shows how many times the sensor has been activated.

The downside to this device is the cost. The Rodann starts around $100, but for so few features it seems the price should be lower. The unit has solid reviews from its customers, but there are other less-expensive options that provide far more features and reliability.

Pro Heading
Pros
Pro Bullet Sensor range up to 50 ft.
Pro Bullet Simple setup
Pro Bullet LED trigger counter
Con Heading
Cons
Con Bullet Steep price tag

The receiver range of Rodann is limited (up to 500 feet), but the sensor can detect objects up to 50 feet away from the sensor. It's the best sensor range on our, though the shorter receiver range keeps it confined to smaller properties.

4. Safety Technology: Easy installation

Easy installation
Safety technology driveway sensor
Safety Technology
$151.59
View on Amazon

Amazon.com list price as of 04/08/2021 at 11:48 a.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.

The sensor can be as far as 1,000 feet from the receiver, but it has a maximum detection range of only 12 feet. What this sensor does right is ignore shadows, animals, and people.

The driveway monitor will be triggered, in theory, only by passing cars. It uses a magnetic sensor to detect passing vehicles, and the sensor itself is solar powered—so there’s no need to change batteries in it. However, the cost is a bit steep at around $150.

Pro Heading
Pros
Pro Bullet Easy to install
Pro Bullet Tailored to sense vehicles
Pro Bullet Designed to blend in
Con Heading
Cons
Con Bullet Limited sensing range

The Safety Technology driveway monitor is sneaky in that it looks like a solar driveway light more than an alarm. The installation doesn’t require any wiring, which makes it much easier to set up than other driveway alarms on our list.

Final word

Even though Guardline is one of the more expensive driveway sensors on our list, it includes a lot of thoughtful features like unique alarm tones, a long receiver range, and support for up to 16 sensors.

When paired with other outdoor security equipment like security lights, outdoor cameras, and other motion sensors, driveway sensors can keep you aware of what's happening at your home whether you're there or not.

Light Bulb
Why use a driveway sensor?

Driveway sensors do little more than let you know someone is approaching your home. However, this serves as the first line of defense in your home security system. Many driveway sensors can be connected to other devices, and from there they can be linked into your security system as a whole.

Imagine if someone triggers your driveway sensor, which in turn activates your outdoor security camera. It would begin recording long before that person ever stepped within range.

Driveway sensors FAQ

Driveway sensors use similar technology that of other motion sensors.

  • Infrared beams sense movement with heat and are more common in trail cams and outdoor sensors.
  • Magnetic probes only sense metal, making them less prone to false alarms triggered by pets or kids playing in the driveway. However, they’re much more expensive.
  • Rubber hose sensors look like those at a professional garage or drive-thru. When a car or heavy vehicle drive over the hose, the sensor triggers.
  • Photo beam sensors use light. When an object blocks the sensors, you’ll get an alert from the sensor.

Yes, it depends on the sensor type, but driveway sensors can pick up activities from people or animals. If you’re concerned about home invaders, package thiefs, or other threats, installing a security camera in tandem with your driveway sensor.

It depends on your driveway. If your home borders a busy road, it’s best to move the sensor closer to your home to avoid false alarms from traffic. Sensors for longer driveways may be best halfway between your home and the beginning of your driveway.

Quick example

 If you live in a rural area, you may have a driveway that looks more like a road than a private path. Putting a driveway sensor right at the front would result in too many alarms; after all, people often get lost and use driveways to turn around.

But if you put a driveway sensor about halfway down your drive, you’ll know when someone is coming to your home.

Related articles on SafeWise

Disclaimer

Amazon.com list price as of 04/08/2021 at 11:48 a.m. (MT). Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Katie McEntire
Written by
Katie McEntire
As a renter, pet-owner, and woman living alone, Katie McEntire takes safety seriously. She’s tested devices like pet cameras, home security systems, and GPS trackers in her own home and devices in the name of safety. In addition to testing, writing, and reviewing for SafeWise, she also makes videos for the site’s YouTube channel. She’s been featured on publications like TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Healthy Moms, and Digital Care. Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She’s held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Top Ten Reviews.
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1 Comment
  • Tom Martin

    I like the idea of a sensor half way down the drive in rural situations. This is my situation. I’m curious if there is a model receiver that is internet connected with an app that alerts you when away from home? When your house is a quarter mile from the front gate and out of site of neighbors, opportunistic daytime burglaries when the house is unoccupied are more of an issue.