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.
Compare Gun Safes
 Fort Knox PB1 Handgun Safe |
 GunVault Nanovault 200 Pistol Safe |
 Vaultex VT20i Biometric Handgun Safe |
 SnapSafe Treklite Lock Box XL |
 GunVault MV500 |
 GunBunker GS-1 Gun Safe |
 SentrySafe Biometric Pistol Safe |
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| Price | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
| Type of Lock | Mechanical push button | Keyed lock | Biometric, code keypad, backup keyed lock | Keyed lock | Code keypad, backup tubular keyed lock | Dimple-keyed lock | Biometric/
fingerprint scanner, code keypad, backup tubular keyed lock |
| Material | 10-gauge steel | 18-gauge steel | 16-gauge carbon steel | Impact-resistant polycarbonate | 20-gauge steel | 16-gauge powder-coated steel | steel |
| Dimensions | 5.25 x 12.5x 10.5 in. | 1.5 x 6.5 x 9.5 in. | 11.5 x 9.0 x 2.75 in. | 10 x 7 x 2 in. | 11 x 8.5 x 2.25 in. | 2.5 x 6.5 x 8.75 in. | 6.6 x 9.7 x 2.2 in. |
| Weight | 22 lbs | 3 lbs | 5.2 lbs | 1.6 lbs | 4 lbs | 5 lbs | 12 lbs |
| Car Attachment | None | 1,500-lb. test security cable | Steel security cable, mounting hardware | Steel security cable | Steel cable | Stainless steel cable, mounting screws | None |
| Certifications | TSA, CDOJ | TSA | TSA, CDOJ | TSA | TSA, CDOJ | TSA | TSA, CDOJ |
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.
Pro Tip: Practice Opening Your Safe
Honorable Mentions
Best lightweight safe: SnapSafe Treklite Lock Box XL
If you’re looking for something truly lightweight and easy to carry, the SnapSafe Treklite is ideal. At only 1.6 lbs., it’s one of the lightest car gun safes on the market, but it’s not flimsy: it’s made of an impact-resistant polycarbonate, with the same strength as its heavier steel counterparts. It retails for less than $20, and it comes with a security cable to attach to your car. Like the Nanovault, it may be compromised by someone who’s prepared with tools, but it’s a decent deterrent for the smash-and-grab criminal.
Best key-coded safe: GunVault MV500 Microvault Pistol Gun Safe
The “no eyes” keypad on the GunVault is the next best thing to biometrics if you want quick access to your weapon. With over twelve million code combinations and a built-in tamper-detecting lockout feature that kicks in after several failed attempts to enter the code, it’s unlikely that a burglar would be able to thwart this safe. The safe also includes a backup override key and a security cable, but it doesn’t include the nine-volt battery required for the keypad operation, and its twenty-gauge steel construction is the weakest of the safes on our list.
Best compact design: Gunbunker GS-1 Gun Safe
Unlike most of the portable gun safes on the market, the Gunbunker GS-1’s unique design is more like a garage than a box: it lets you open the side of the box and slide the gun out, rather than opening the entire box like a briefcase. If you put this gun safe under your car seat or in the center console, you can easily unlock the safe, flip open the door, and remove your gun or valuables without having to remove the entire safe from its location. It’s the most compact of all the safes on our list, but that also means it may be a tight fit for your gun.
Best budget biometric safe: SentrySafe Biometric Pistol Safe
The SentrySafe Biometric Pistol Safe has a lot of the same features as the Vaultek Biometric Safe, but without the extra bells and whistles and, most importantly, without the tamper protection upgrades. The safe has a gap big enough to allow the inner latch to be released with the right tools, and you can only program two fingerprints. But at around $130, it is a good choice for those who like the ease and convenience of a biometric scanner. No security cable is included, but it does have screw holes for mounting.
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.
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