Owning a gun comes with a lot of responsibilities. From keeping it out of the wrong hands to securing it in your home, there is a lot to think about as a gun owner. In addition to just securing your guns, though, there is the bigger question of where you will store them.
How do you install a gun safe in your car? In order to install a gun safe in your car, you can go one of two ways: tying it down with a cable or bolting it into the ground. To tie the cable, all you need to do is secure it around the side or bottom of the seat of your choice.
The bolting process is a more permanent solution, and will also require a more detailed process. This is worth it, however, if you are looking for something permanent and secure. To do this, you will cut out a space in the carpet (if needed) and drill anchor holes corresponding with the safe openings. From there, you will insert the bolts and tighten them from the inside.
If you own a gun and are licensed to carry one, it is a common practice to travel with it on hand. This can be for personal protection reasons, in case something goes wrong while you are on the go, or you might need to carry a gun in your car in order to move to a new home or travel.
Either way, it is beneficial to have a gun safe in your car, in order to protect your belongings from theft, and ensure the safety of everyone who is present in the vehicle. When it comes to gun safes in cars, there are two different methods for installation, both of which we will discuss in detail when you keep reading.
How To Install a Gun Safe In Your Car: a Step-By-Step Guide
There are plenty of reasons why someone might want to install a gun safe into their car. Whether you are traveling or making a big move, it is always beneficial to have one of these at your disposal.
Regardless of the reason why you want to go through with this process, it is always important to understand how to do so properly. While it is true that you can attach your gun safe to the inside of your car in a makeshift manner, this will not prove to be effective, safe, or even legal in the long run.
Before we get into all of the specifics on why you might want to do this, as well as the specific legal limitations that come with the practice, we will go over how you can actually do this effectively.
Take a look at the list down below, where you will find a list of methods that you can choose from for gun safe installation in a car.
Here are the methods that you can choose for gun safe installation in a car:
- Attaching by cable
- Bolting it down onto the floor
The first method of attachment for your car gun safe is by cable. This is probably the easiest and most convenient option when this topic is being discussed.
Depending on the type of gun safe that you choose to purchase for your vehicle, you might have access to an attachment cable. This is true for most car gun safes, because the manufacturers have kept their uses in mind.
The different types of guns safes available and the benefits thereof will be discussed in the coming secitons. For now, however, we will be going over how exactly you can install a gun safe in your car by cable. Let’s take a look at the instructions, which are listed down below.
How To Install a Gun Safe In Your Car By Cable:
- Choose the location that you will be attaching it (the bottom/side of a seat)
- Attach and secure the cable around the bar
The only thing that you will really need to execute this method is the gun safe itself, and your vehicle, of course. These types of gun safes come with a cable already attached to the inside of the gun safe.
All you will need to do as the owner is choose the location that you will be attaching it, and secure the cable around this area. This will usually be under or on the side of any seat, using the bars that are present there. This, however, is another topic that will soon be discussed.
With that being said, there are plenty of benefits that come with attachment by cable.
Benefits Of Attaching By Cable:
- Easy mobility (if you need to move it from car to car or take it with you)
- Less permanence
- No damage to the inside of the car
First of all, you will enjoy easy mobility, if you need to move it from car to car or take it with you anywhere. In other words, this method is not as permanent as the alternative. If you really need to get rid of it or switch it out, it really won’t be much of a hassle.
In addition, there will be no damage to the inside of the car, because this process is very minimally invasive.
The next method for installing a car gun safe involves bolting it down into a certain location of the vehicle. Before we outline this process, let’s take a look at the specific materials that you will need.
Here is what you will need:
- Utility knife
- Measuring tape/ruler
- Pencil
- Anchor kit with bolts
- Socket wrench
- Level
- Drill
The main tools that you will need for installation include a utility knife, drill, and socket wrench. These can be found at your local hardware store, or they can be borrowed or rented for a short time.
Additionally, you will need a measuring tape or ruler, a pencil, level, and an anchor kit with bolts.
Once you have assembled all of these materials, along with your gun safe itself, you will be ready to get started with the steps that we will outline next.
How To Install a Gun Safe In Your Car By Bolting It Down:
- Choose the location that you will install your gun safe in
- Draw lines around the perimeter of your gun safe
- Cut out the carpeted material (if any) using a utility knife
- Draw lines where your anchor holes will go (measured accurately)
- Check your work by placing your safe back down
- Insert the bolts and secure them with a socket wrench
First and foremost, you will need to choose the location where you will install your gun safe. This decision will be dependent on a variety of factors, which we will get into soon.
Once you have made this initial choice, you will draw lines around the perimeter of your gun safe in the chosen location. Use these lines to cut out he carpeted material underneath, if any, using your utility knife.
When this is removed, you will draw lines where your anchor holes will go, which should all be measured accurately. Check your work by placing your safe back down onto this area, and make sure that the holes all line up perfectly.
After the process of measuring is completed, all of the hard work will be done. The last step is virtually seamless from here.
In order to finally attach your safe to the car, all you need to do is insert the bolts into the holes and secure them with your socket wrench.
This is as simple as pushing the bolts through from the inside of the safe, and turning your tool in a clockwise direction until it is properly tightened. Make sure that you are securing it all the way, in order to make sure that it will stay in place for a long time, especially when you are operating your vehicle on a daily basis.
As with any other method, there are plenty of benefits that come with attaching your gun safe to the inside of your car with bolts.
Benefits Of Attaching By Bolt:
- Increased security
- Permanent solution for carrying a gun
With a bolt attachment, you will enjoy increased security of your gun safe. This will protect it from theft as well as movement when you are driving around.
Last but not least, bolting your gun safe will give you a more permanent solution for carrying your gun with you, if this is what you are seeking.
Types Of Gun Safes For Cars
While we are on the topic of securing a gun safe to the inside of a car, it is important to note that there are a lot of different types of safes that you can choose from. This is another vital factor that must be considered, especially if you will be going with a more permanent method of attachment.
In this section, we will be going over the options that you have for gun safes. Refer to the list down below to get an idea of what some of these are, with a brief explanation of each to follow.
These are all of the different types of gun safes that can be used in cars:
- Console safe
- Cabled safe
- Mounted safe
A console gun safe for a car is exactly what it sounds like. It is specifically designed for being placed in the position of the console. This is increasingly convenient for a driver who will need to access their gun for any reason.
In case of an emergency, it can be accessed with one hand, without directing the driver’s attention away from the road that they are driving on.
Next, you have your cabled and mounted safes. These are exactly the types of safes that were discussed in the previous section, and they are also exactly what they sound like.
Cabled safes come with the cable for attachment that was previously discussed, while mounted safes have pre-made holes in the inside on the bottom floor of the safe.
Each of these options make for an easy installation either way that you would like to go with it. Whether you are going for something temporary or more permanent, you will benefit greatly from choosing the correct type of safe.
The Best Places For Car Gun Safe Installation
When it comes to gun safe installation in a car, there are some locations that are most ideal for a variety of reasons. In particular, there are two main areas of any car that will be the most convenient or practical.
Both of these options are outlined in the list down below, and explained throughout the rest of the paragraphs underneath.
These are the best locations in your car for a gun safe:
- Trunk
- Driver’s seat
The two best locations in your car for a gun safe include the trunk and the driver’s seat. The position in which you install your gun safe in your vehicle will depend on two main factors, though. These factors include the laws in your area as well as what will be most convenient for you as the gun owner, in that order.
We will get more into detail about the laws of gun safes and cars in the next section, but for now, we will go over the particular locations for a gun safe in your vehicle.
The trunk is a beneficial location for a gun safe due to the fact that it will be kept away from the driver and all passengers while the vehicle is in motion. This can be considered to be the safest option for gun safe installation.
In addition, you will be able to bolt the gun safe down onto the ground in the trunk of the car, whereas this will not really be possible near the driver’s seat.
The driver’s seat location, on the other hand, will grant you immediate and convenient access to your firearm if you ever need it when you are in your car.
This is the less permanent option as well, because you will need to attach it by cable for this particular location.
Regardless of the location that you choose to install your gun safe in your vehicle, you should be able to easily attach or install it for maximum quality and efficiency for the long term, using the tips and processes that were previously outlined.
Keep reading to finally get the full scoop on the legal restrictions that come with gun safe installation in a car, which is something that we all should be aware of before getting deeper into the decision process.
Is It Legal To Have a Gun Safe In Your Car?
Along with knowing exactly how to attach a gun safe to your car, it is important to understand the legal limitations and regulations that come with it. The last thing that you want to do is go through with the installation of your gun safe, only to find out that you are breaking the law.
This can be detrimental if you get pulled over while on the road, because you can be faced with a lot of fines and even jail time, if the violation is that serious.
In order to avoid any kind of potential issues when you are driving on the road or crossing state lines, there are a number of factors that you should keep in mind. Take a look at the list down below to get an idea of what these consist of.
Gun Safe Regulations For Cars:
- Will vary between states
- Will sometimes require the gun safe to be placed in certain locations only (ie the trunk)
- Always require a license to carry the gun
When it comes to the gun safe regulations for cars, it is important to first keep in mind that this will vary between states. Depending on the state that you reside in, you might have different laws to follow.
As a result, you should always educate yourself on what these are and what that means for you.
To give you a general idea of what to expect before you conduct your research, we have outlined the basic laws that may or may not apply to you.
Some areas will require the gun safe to be placed in certain locations while driving. This usually happens to be the trunk. So, if this applies to you, you must install your gun safe in this location.
Regardless of where you must place your gun safe in the car, you must always be licensed to carry the gun. This is especially true when you plan to do any kind of traveling where you must cross state lines.
Should You Have a Gun Safe In Your Car?
So, now that you understand when you are typically allowed to have a gun safe in your car, as well as how you can execute the installation of one, you might be wondering whether or not you should have a gun safe in your car.
To help you out with making this decision, we have outlined some of the benefits that are associated with having one in your car, which you can clearly see listed down below.
These are the benefits of having a gun safe in your car:
- Traveling through state lines
- Keeping your gun(s) safe from theft
- Keeping your gun(s) away from children
- Avoiding law-breaking
The first benefit of having a gun safe in your car is traveling thorough state lines. Traveling with a gun can be a tricky subject, so it is best to stay safe and keep it secured, to avoid any kind of problems in doing this.
In addition, you will be keeping your gun safe from theft and getting into the hands of children when it is secured with this method.
Finally, you want to avoid breaking the law at all costs. All in all, it is best to stay safe by securing your firearms in this manner, to avoid any possible issues that may occur.
While these benefits might help someone out who will find an advantage in car gun safe storage, every individual has different needs. In addition, there are different regulations throughout various state lines and locations.
To find out if a car gun safe is right for you, there is a lengthy decision process that you must go through thoroughly.
Along with being aware of the benefits that come with car gun safes, there are a few questions that you should ask yourself, which are all listed down below. Take all of these into careful consideration before you decide whether or not you should have a gun safe in your own car.
Factors To Consider:
- Is your current car gun safe going to be your permanent one?
- Do you own your car, and do you plan to own it for a long time?
- Do you need a permanent solution?
The first question that you should ask yourself is whether or not your gun safe is going to be your permanent one, or at least one that you will use for a long time after your initial purchase.
If the answer is yes, you might be more inclined to bolt it down. On the other hand, you might want to use the temporary cable attachment instead.
Do you own your car, and do you plan to own it for a long time? This is also important in making your decision of installing a gun safe into your vehicle.
Finally, do you need a permanent solution? This will help you decide your method of attachment, as well as if you should purchase one at all.
Overall, though, it is always beneficial to have a gun safe to protect your firearms and abide by any laws that might be present in your state of residence, or an area that you might be traveling to.
Safety Tips For Gun Storage In a Car
To tie this all up, we will be going over some additional safety tips that you can follow in order to store a gun safe inside of your car. If you have made the decision to carry and install one inside of your vehicle, you are only half of the way to smooth sailing.
It is one thing to have the proper installation of a gun safe in your car, but you must also be safe about it in order to avoid any injuries or accidents while it is present there.
Refer to the list down below to get some helpful safety tips for storing your gun(s) and gun safe inside of your vehicle.
Here are some safety tips for storing your gun in a car:
- Always use a gun safe (never leave it out in the open)
- Make sure your safety is on and the gun is unloaded
- Keep the gun safe closed and secured at all times
- Make sure you have direct access to the safe in your car (if possible)
- Choose the most efficient safe option for easy and convenient access
First of all, you should always use a gun safe for carrying a gun in your car, no matter what. You should never just leave it out in the open for any reason. This is due to the fact that it can potentially go off while driving or get into the wrong hands of a child in the back seat.
Similarly, you don’t want your gun to be stolen while you leave your car unattended. If it is in clear view, someone might be inclined to break your window to take it. On the other hand, if they do break in, they will be able to simply grab it and go, instead of being locked out.
Next, you should make sure that your safety is on and the gun is unloaded completely. This will ensure the safety of you as the driver and everyone else who is present in the vehicle.
Keep the gun safe closed and secured at all times. The door should never be open for easy access or high probability of an accident while driving.
Make sure you always have direct access to the safe in your car, if at all possible. If your state requires trunk storage, you can’t do much about this tip. However, if it doesn’t, you should go with the driver’s seat or console option.
Last but not least, choose the most efficient safe option for easy and convenient access. There are a multitude of gun safes to choose from when it comes to the lock that secures them.
When you choose yours, make sure that you can easily pop it open when you need to, and that you can get to it quick enough. Even if you must store it in the trunk, you should get rid of any obstructions that could get in the way of you accessing it own the case of any kind of emergency that you might encounter.