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Most firearm owners have (or should have) a quality gun safe at home, but what happens when you are out and about? That is where vehicle safe comes into play. In this article, I will show you the highest quality and best options for vehicle safes that I have found over the years. This will range from vehicle-specific versions, and universal fit versions.
Why should you trust me? I have years of experience helping people shop for gun safes on this website and in a retail environment. This article is a culmination of years of research, talking with customers, testing my safes, and discussing safes with owners, salespeople, and more representing brands. Want to learn more about me? Visit this link here.
Here are my favorite gun safes that work for cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks!
1. Console Vault
- Lock: Key or roller lock
- Dimensions: Varies by application
- Steel: 12 gauge
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Weight: Varies by application
- Custom fit to your vehicle
- High gauge steel
- Hidden away in your vehicle
- High quality locking mechanisms
- Not available for all vehicles
This brand is the biggest name in the industry regarding vehicle firearm storage! I have tried them out in person (in this review here) and agree they work well. These safes cover up or fill the center console in your vehicle, making it a secure place (using 12-gauge steel) that is lockable, doesn’t take up any additional space, and is easy to access.
They offer safes for cars ranging from Ford, Dodge, and Chevy to brands like Volkswagen, Subaru, and Hummer. If you need a motorcycle safe, they have a solution for your Harley! Another favorite thing about this company is the availability of lock options.
Upon order, you can choose from a barrel key lock, a three-digit combo, and a 4-digit combo. Their build quality is exactly what you would expect, which is high quality, and their support is fantastic.
2. Lock'er Down Console Safe
- Lock: Combo, Tubular Key, Abloy Key Lock, or E-Lock
- Dimensions: Varies by application
- Steel: 12 gauge
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Weight: Varies by application
- Many lock options to choose from
- Great steel gauge
- Doesn't take up additional space in vehicle
- Not available for all vehicles
- Expensive
If, for some reason, you don’t like Console Vault, Locker Down is going to be your next option! At first glance, you will find that this offering is almost identical to Console Vault, and honestly, you would be right! This company also offers safes specific to your vehicle, with similar quality and construction.
I don’t think either has better quality and offers many vehicle options. A couple of things that set Locker Down apart from Console Vault are its upgrades.
- You can purchase an upgraded ten gauge steel (instead of 12 gauge) version of their safes, called the EXxtreme Console Safes.
- Another option to set them apart is the availability of an electronic locking mechanism, which many people will prefer.
Speaking of locks, you can choose from the aforementioned electronic lock, a four-digit roller lock, or an abloy key lock (what police use and is supposedly not pickable). It should also be mentioned that if they don’t offer a safe for your vehicle, they also provide one-size-fits-all options!
3. Hornady RAPiD Vehicle Safe
- Lock: RFID, Keypad, Backup Key
- Dimensions: 12" High by 6.4" Wide by 2.2" Deep
- Steel: 14 gauge
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Weight: 9.72 pounds
- Mounts into any vehicle with a center console
- Multiple ways to open the safe
- Decent steel gauge
- Only fits one handgun
This safe is one of the fastest safes you can access on this list and one of the most unique. It has an air bladder that you place between your passenger seat and the center console, and once you pump up that bladder, it secures the safe in place so that the safe sits right in front of your seat for easy access to your firearm.
Of course, it is also tied to the vehicle using a security cable. With a couple of ways to access it, including RFID, a keypad, and a barrel key port, you can get into the safe any way you want. The safe is made of 14 gauge steel and run by a 12-volt car adapter or four AAA batteries.
Remember that while many other safes on this list can hold two or more firearms, this one can only handle one.
- Lock: Electronic Lock w/ Key Bypass
- Dimensions: 5" High by 26" Wide by 20" Deep
- Steel: 14 gauge
- Weight: 51 pounds
- Great steel gauge for the price
- Built by reputable company
- Drawer like build
- Capacitive buttons
The relatively low cost and the ability to be used as an under-bed safe and vehicle safe make this safe incredibly versatile. It can bolt into the bed of a truck or the rear of an SUV, and then a slider tray slides out, where you can place firearms and other valuables.
You then slide it back in, and it locks. These safes come in medium, large, and extra-large styles to fit them into your vehicle. As for specifications, the safe is made of 14 gauge steel and offers an electronic lock that can handle a 3 to 8-digit combination for entry. It can either be bolted down or attached to something else using a provided security cable.
5. Vaultek Lifepod
- Dimensions: 2.25" High by 7" Wide by 10.25" Deep
- Steel: N/A
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Water Resistance: 3 feet for 30 minutes
- Extremely portable
- Water resistant
- High quality build
- Not extremely theft proof
Vaultek makes some fantastic, high-tech, and high-quality products. This Lifepod 2.0 is likely their most versatile! While it may not be automotive-specific, it is lockable via a key or an electronic lock (they recently rolled out a biometric version). The safe can also be secured to the vehicle with a 24″ cable, making it on par with many other safes people use for their cars.
The Lifepod 2.0 is an excellent option for people who want something to take with them outside of the vehicle, as it offers water and dust resistance, is buoyant, and is airtight.
6. Fort Knox PB4 Auto
- Lock: Simplex Lock
- Dimensions: 3.75” High by 7.75" Wide by 4.75" Deep
- Steel: 10-gauge
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Weight: 14 pounds
- Extremely thick steel
- Great locking mechanism
- Compact sizing
- Front opening door
- Anchor points available for bolting down
- Quite heavy for its size
The Original PB1 Fort Knox safe is the staple of the pistol safe industry! It is an incredibly easy-to-use, straightforward pistol safe with high-gauge of steel. However, did you know they have an automotive version? This one has a front-facing door, making it perfect for securing underneath the seat in your car!
It still has ten gauge steel, a simplex locking mechanism, and padding inside the safe. It’s everything you need and nothing that you don’t need. Remember, this isn’t the quickest access safe on the market today and would be perfect for someone just wanting to transport a firearm and not necessarily have access to it while driving. I have a complete article here if you want to learn more about this safe.
7. DECKED Drawer System
- Lock: Utilizes Tailgate Lock
- Dimensions: Depends on Application
- Steel: N/A (High-Density Polythene)
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Weight: Depends on Application
- Extremely high quality
- Allows for a flat load area, while maximizing storage
- Weather-resistant
- Not lockable on its own
If you are looking for less of a secure solution, and more of an organizing solution for your truck, DECKED makes some excellent options. Essentially their system fits in the bottom of your truck bed and gives you huge drawers that you can slide out of bed, giving you quick and easy access to whatever is inside.
If your truck has a locking rear tailgate, it will provide that extra protection, as the tailgate has to be dropped to gain access, meaning your items are stored, locked away from not only the elements but also from prying eyes.
It’s not the most secure thing, but a terrific solution for many people looking for a way to store their firearms while heading out to hunt in their truck!
Please Note: Check your local laws regarding firearms not having proper locks.
8. SnapSafe Treklite Lock Box XL
- Lock: Simplex Lock
- Dimensions: 3.75” High by 7.75" Wide by 4.75" Deep
- Steel: N/A (Polycarbonate)
- Fire Rating: N/A
- Weight: 14 pounds
- Very inexpensive
- Multiple lock options
- Lightweight
- Polycarbonate build
If everything else on this list is out of your budget, consider getting this Lock Box from SnapSafe! While it is only made of polycarbonate (plastic), it offers a reasonable amount of protection, as long as you don’t leave it out of sight. You can choose from several lock options, including a TSA-approved lock.
At only 1.5 pounds, it is also one of the lightest weight options on this list. However, it will be challenging to carry away, as it can be tied down with the included 1500-pound cable. That said, make sure you are fully aware of what you are buying here, as it is not a true safe and is just a lock box
What should you look for when buying a vehicle safe?
Buying a vehicle safe is slightly different from purchasing a standard gun safe because you have to think about a few other things!
1. Fitment
Unlike most other gun safes, you must think closely about fitting a safe into your vehicle. If you are unable to buy car specific safe like a Console Vault or Lock’er Down, measure out the space you plan on putting the safe to ensure it will fit correctly.
A great way to do this is by cutting out a large piece of cardboard the size of the safe you would like to purchase, and place it where you want it installed.
2. Weight
If you plan on taking the safe you are buying from the car to your house, you must ensure that the safe is easily transported from place to place. The heavier a safe is, the more difficult that will be to transport it.
If you want a heavier safe like the Fort Knox in the list above, consider permanently installing it in your vehicle and using this Stopbox to transport between your home and your car.
3. Locking mechanism
Keep an eye on what lock the safe you are buying has. You need to consider what you want from the safe and ensure you have a lock that fits that. Mechanical locks are reliable but tend to be slower to open. Biometrics are quick to access but could be more reliable. Electronic locks are a great middle-ground but are rare in vehicle safes.
4. Steel Gauge
With vehicle safes, steel gauge becomes less critical, and hiding is more important. However, you still want to know what steel gauge the safe you are buying has. The thicker the steel, the heavier but more secure. The thinner the steel, the lighter, but the less secure it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
This list has helped you find a suitable vehicle safe for your purpose! With plenty of different styles and options, there should be something for you.
Regardless, if you are taking your firearm from place to place, you should have some form of safety, even if it isn’t on this list.
