10 Best Car Gun Safes – Tested & Reviewed

January 6, 2021/Riley Draper Table of Contents

If you’re a responsible firearm owner, you know how dangerous it can be to leave a gun lying around for any jerk to come and snag. When you became a gun owner you understood the risk and responsibility you took on. 

A good gun safe is the kind of thing you buy so you can bring your firearms with you wherever you need to without running the risk of a car break-in turning into something much worse for you. You’re also looking for something that will grant you easy access without tying you up when you need to access the safe. Some states require you to lock your gun away in a car safe anyway, so you might as well grab one that will serve all of your needs no matter the scenario. So take a look at the ten top picks out on the market right now!

In a hurry? Here’s the test winner after 10 hours of research:

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10 Best Car Gun Safes – Overview

Here are the top 5 picks (keep scrolling for more details and picks 6-10).

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1. VAULTEK LifePod Secure Waterproof Travel Case

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Right off the bat, the first feature we have to discuss with the Vaultek LifePod is the anti-picking feature. With the pod open you can totally disable the key lock on the front of this sleek looking, compact, and versatile safe. The micro-USB port on the front of this safe will keep you from running into the unfortunate predicament of a dead battery (although, a fresh 9-volt should last you about a year), should you deactivate the manual key entry. This is an incredibly versatile piece of equipment.

The Vaultek LifePod is waterproof, with a pair of anti-impact latches clamping it shut against the elements. The lightweight design and tight waterproof gaskets make this pretty buoyant up to about two pounds of weight as well. If you find yourself dropping this case while camping, and it ends up in a lake, you’re not going to have to go bobbing for pistols halfway through an otherwise pleasant trip. 

The programmable 4-digit digital keypad is touch activated and neatly separated to make entry of your code quick, easy, and reliable. The LifePod comes with a 19-inch steel cable and some nice crate foam, adding an additional layer of security to your safe. As long as you replace the battery once a year and keep the code to yourself, nobody’s going to be snatching your pistols out of your car while you’re traveling, and should you find yourself needing quick access to your Glock, this thing is reliable and simple to operate.

PROS

  • Excellent form factor
  • Sturdy and straightforward
  • Waterproof

CONS

  • No biometric entry
  • The four-digit entry method may feel too easy to guess
  • Not made from steel

Check Latest Price

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2. Sunnydaze Portable Safe

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The Sunnydaze Portable Safe has it all in the name. It’s a simple 16-gauge solid steel security safe that will fit basically anywhere you need it to. It’s sturdy, not too flashy, and gets the job done right. You’ll find a three-digit programable tumbler combination lock on the outside of the case, and a simple knob you twist to grant yourself entry to the safe. 

Let’s wrap back around to the 16-gauge steel. This is a sturdy little box. If you’re concerned about forced entry, somebody is going to have to come quite prepared. It’s drill-resistant, tamper-proof, rust-proof, and impact resistant. It’s heavy-duty without being flashy. You can trust this portable safe to keep your valuables safe during travel and keep your firearms secure during transport. The safe comes with a 36-inch steel cable capable of taking about 1500 pounds of pressure. It’s easy to attach to your safe through a little notch on the side, and long enough to grant you easy access to your safe while it’s tethered to whatever you decide to loop it around without becoming a liability when you need to get your safe open. 

It’s everything you want in a portable gun vault, without tacking on features or points of failure. It’s incredibly affordable and comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty for that last little boost of mental security. If you don’t know what you’re looking for and you don’t want to fiddle with fingerprints and batteries, then grab yourself one of these, and hit the road.

PROS

  • No frills security
  • Customizable three-digit combination lock
  • Sturdy 16-gauge steel construction

CONS

  • No waterproofing of humidity control

Check Latest Price

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3. VAULTEK VT20i Biometric Smart Handgun Safe

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This is another one of Vaultek’s incredible portable safes. It trades the capacitive touch combination buttons for about a million other features. 

The first thing you’ll notice about this safe is how much larger it is than some of Vaultek’s other offerings. If you’re traveling and you want to keep a handful of valuables with you along with your handgun, then you’re going to have a lot more room to work with. It’s also going to immediately feel much more sturdy than some of their smaller offerings as well. Vaultek will sometimes use a proprietary blend to construct their safes, but this Vaultek safe is made of 16-gauge steel and dares burglars to break into it. 

The hinges are mounted on the inside, keeping someone from trying their luck on the outside, the latches are impact-resistant, and the anti-pry bars built into the safe make crowbars basically useless. The overall construction is rugged and reliable, and if you want to make this portable safe a little more permanent you can use the pre-drilled holes to mount it to whatever surface you find appropriate.

The bells and whistles here are high-quality. The battery is rechargeable so you won’t be running out to grab 9-volts, and the Bluetooth feature allows you to check the status of your safe with a quick glance at your smartphone and the free Vaultek app, and the biometric fingerprint entry stores several prints, meaning you can get several copies of all of your fingers stored in the safe allowing for reliable entry when it matters. This entry into the Vaultek catalog brings their safes confidently into the 21st century without sacrificing the base security and functionality of a portable safe.

PROS

  • Added features are reliable and more than just functional
  • Great for granting peace of mind without having to visually check on your safe multiple times a day

CONS

  • A little bulky
  • Biometric entry can be a little more finicky than access code

Check Latest Price

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4. RPNB Mounted Firearm Safety Device

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If you’re looking for something mounted, and easy to access, then this is exactly the safe you’re looking for. It’s sturdy and ergonomic. The size and shape of this gun safe lend it perfectly to the job it sets out to do. All you need to do is program a code, slide a gun into its vertical storage space, and mount it to a surface. You won’t have to worry about this safe fitting into a tight space and allowing you access to your firearm. The unique build of this safe is more like pulling it out of a holster than opening a treasure chest full of valuables.

This is a utilitarian safe through and through. It’s here to hold your guns and give you access without allowing anybody else inside. The sturdy steel construction means that intruders aren’t going to be prying this open quickly, and children or rowdy friends won’t be able to yank it open without permission (or your key).

PROS

  • Swing down opening mechanism grants easy access to your firearm
  • Easy to mount in multiple positions
  • Programmable keypad and backup key entry
  • The black finish is subtle and sleek
  • Pry-resistant

CONS

  • If you want to store anything other than a firearm in here, it’s not going to be a great fit

Check Latest Price

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5. Caesar Safe Portable Electronic Digital Car Multipurpose Laptop Pistol Safe

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This is a more deep-set and involved portable safe, but if you’re transporting more than one firearm, or you’ve got an equally valuable (but significantly less dangerous) camera you want to keep under lock and key during your travels this will fit your needs much better than one of the handbag-sized portable safes.

You lose a little bit of compact portability here. This is the kind of safe you’ll be tucking in between the seat and the middle console, or jamming into the glovebox under your owner’s manual. It does, however, fit neatly under a car seat, and it’s every bit as accessible as any other gun safe on this list. If you’re looking for something to whip your guns out of at the drop of a hat while you’re in the heat of the moment, you’ll be losing out on precious fractions of a second, true. But if you’re looking for something that can carry all of your handguns and all of your ammo safely and legally on your way to the gun range or to drop it off with a gunsmith, then consider this your war chest.

It connects well to a steel cable, so anybody brazen enough to attempt to commandeer this laptop steel trap won’t get far without having to demolish whatever you selected as an anchor for your safe. You also get a full electronic keypad and a pair of override keys for this safe. If you’re the type that feels uncomfortable with those easy-to-guess 4 to 6-digit keypads, then this keypad should lend you some mental relief.

PROS

  • Sturdy on the outside, and padded on the inside
  • Full electronic keypad
  • Larger than most portable gun safes

CONS

  • Larger than most portable gun safes

Check Latest Price

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6. Hornady 98210 Rapid Safe

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The Hornady Rapid Safe is a pretty interesting take on the gun box. This one comes equipped with an RFID reader on top of the safe, allowing you touchless entry to your safe. If you’ve been burned by fussy fingerprint readers, but you still want the convenience of simple yet secure touch and go solution, then give this safe a chance. RFID tags are an excellent alternative to most security solutions out on the market right now. You can place the tags really anywhere you want. Your phone can become a touchless key for your safe by tucking one of the tags into your case, or you can wrap one around your wrist, and you’re never more than a simple watch tap away from your firearms.

If you decide that the touchless entry isn’t for you, then you’re not stuck with the RFID tags, either. This safe comes stocked with a key bypass as well as a keypad on the side. If you’re worried about getting locked out of your safe because you can’t remember where your tags are, then worry no more.

Installation for the Hornady gun safe is also quite unique. Here you’ll be inflating an extended air bladder connected to the safe, and wedging it in between seats rather than allowing it to roam free within your car, or bolting it into your console. An included steel cable thwarts would be thieves. This protects your gun, yourself, and your car’s resale value, and that can’t be beaten.

PROS

  • California legal
  • Durability was independently tested
  • Great foam padding inside

CONS

  • Lacks an option to bolt the safe to your console

Check Latest Price

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7. AmazonBasics Quick-Access Firearm Safety Device

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Amazon and their Amazon Basics have been branching out further and further. They’ve finally reached the gun safe market, and honestly? They did a great job. Any savvy shopper knows that more often than not the store brand is just as good as a name brand product, and that extends to the AmazonBasics line of products. 

This is a simple gun safe. It has the standard four-button keypad that’s quiet, and programmable, it’s made from a pristine 16-gauge powder-coated steel, and the padding inside makes this easy to mistake for a more premium offering from a more established brand. You have a key bypass right on the front should your memory or your keypad ever fail you, and pre-drilled holes right on the bottom of the safe.

It’s every bit as robust and secure as any other safe on this list. It’ll serve you for years, and it’ll keep your firearms safe. You’re not going to find any Bluetooth or fingerprint scanning here, but when it comes down to cost, function, and reliability, this safe is right on the money.

PROS

  • Everything you could ask for in your standard gun safe
  • Backlit keypad with a key bypass
  • Excellent choice for the money

CONS

  • No cable slot

Check Latest Price

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8. Hornady Lockbox for Guns and Valuables

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This is a simple choice. If you’re looking for a reliable vehicle gun safe with a simple mechanical lock that’s durable, tough to break into, with a matching steel security cable, you could look around the internet for a couple of hours, or you could grab the Hornady Lockbox without a second thought.

Hornady makes great products, if there’s anybody to buy a gun safe from sight unseen, it’s them. Luckily, you don’t have to go in blind, we’ve tested this case, and it’s a great fit for any car, it’s sturdy and padded on the insde. Your valuables and this safe can take many a tumble, and they’re always come out on the other side looking good as new.

PROS

  • Cheap and dependable
  • No frills

CONS

  • If you’re looking for a safe that’s more than just steel and padding, this safe won’t fill your needs

Check Latest Price

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9. RPNB Gun Security Safe

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The RPNB locking system is simple and allows you get what you need when you need it. It’s a tough little safe with four different methods of entry. The RFID, keypad, manual key, and fingerprint locks all work in concert to keep your guns under wraps, without locking you out. If you’re prone to misplacing keys or forgetting codes, you’ll love this safe. You’re not likely to be separated from all of the methods of entry, in fact, it’s borderline impossible to totally lock yourself out of this safe.

PROS

  • Several methods of entry
  • Comes with a 1-year warranty

CONS

  • If you’re not the trusting type, then having so many methods of entry floating around might be nerve wracking

Check Latest Price

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10. FUNSHION Gun Safe for Pistols

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This gun safe is a little different from others. It’s great for storing underneath a surface or sliding into a tight spot. The cash register-like release mechanism is excellent for tight quarters. If you’re willing to drill into your center console, the pre-drilled holes on the safe make installation a breeze.

The fingerprint scanner here is robust. You can store up to 120 different fingerprints in here. If you’ve been burned by scanners refusing to pick up your prints, you can use this feature to enter your prints from every conceivable angle.

PROS

  • The foam that comes with this safe is cut into a convenient pistol shape for simple storage
  • Flat design makes for a wide range of hiding places

CONS

  • A little small for a gun safe. If your pistol runs a little thick, then consider a different safe

Check Latest Price

Our Winner

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The Vaultek LifePod Secure Waterproof Travel Case is our winner this time around. This portable safe is sturdy and built to go anywhere you do while minimizing the amount of friction between you and your valuables. It’s uncomplicated, and the anti-picking feature is an easy win here. You’re essentially given the opportunity to handicraft your portable safe experience with this feature. 

The safe is plenty durable without being made from steel. It’s capable of absorbing many of the same shocks your traditional steel safes can endure, but the added waterproofing and buoyancy make it, in some senses, more durable. Enduring the elements, in our opinion, is a more practical application of a portable safe. The versatility of this safe grants you the ability to take it more places and use it in a wider range of circumstances. The form factor here also doesn’t hurt its placement. It’s a nice looking piece of equipment that will frame your firearms nicely. You’ll feel secure, and your pistol will rest in a well-cushioned secure home.

Bonus tip: If you’re in the market for a gun safe, then responsible gun storage is probably a passion of yours. Have a look at this video of tips for safe and effective gun storage!

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Riley Draper

Riley Draper is a writer and entrepreneur from Chattanooga, Tennessee. As a world traveler, he has been to more than fifty countries and hiked some of the most elusive trails in the world. He is the co-founder of WeCounsel Solutions and has published work in both national and global outlets, including the Times Free Press, Patch, and Healthcare Global. When he’s not writing, he’s probably on a hiking trip or climbing in the mountains.

Riley Draper

Riley Draper is a writer and entrepreneur from Chattanooga, Tennessee. As a world traveler, he has been to more than fifty countries and hiked some of the most elusive trails in the world. He is the co-founder of WeCounsel Solutions and has published work in both national and global outlets, including the Times Free Press, Patch, and Healthcare Global. When he's not writing, he's probably on a hiking trip or climbing in the mountains.

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