I Tested And Ranked The Best Auto Gun Safe
Searching for the best auto gun safe to keep your firearms secure while on the move? I’ve tested and ranked the most popular options available, focusing on both security and accessibility. Here are my hands-on reviews to help you find the perfect auto gun safe for your needs.
1. RPNB — Mounted Gun Safe
Highlight: If you have young children who don’t understand the potential danger of firearms, it’s essential that you keep them safely stored. Placing them in this Pistol Safe is a responsible way to properly secure your small firearms at home or on the go
Helpful review: “It is a gun safe for easy and rapid access. Period.
Fingerprint reader works about 95% of the time, and I figured when it fails is simply because is not “smart” enough to read the finger if it is placed a little bit off or rotated. But cannot complain since you can program plenty of fingers so I programed all my 10 fingers. It also has a code you enter manually (either finger or code will open it) and it also has a regular key as backup (make sure to store the keys in a secure place).
WARNING: I would not recommend this to leave your weapon in it while you are out. If you must leave your weapon locked, I suggest you put it in a better safe. This safe is mostly to have your weapon in a safe place while being handy and ready to be used.
As for my application, I use it to keep one of my weapons next to my bed but secured as I have small kids. It works perfect for that purpose. If I have to leave my house without it, I lock it on my big gun safe with my other weapons.
One final note, it uses 4 AAA batteries. The battery holder is very small and placed on top of the weapon compartment. To access it is VERY DIFFICULT if you have big hands… and still difficult if you have small hands. The cable that connects the battery holder is very thin and short. Any wrong move and you will end up breaking it.
How I fixed this issue: I purchased a battery replacement kit (fake batteries with a power adapter) and used it instead of regular batteries. I had to purchase a separate power adapter as the one in the kit did not provide enough power when opening the safe (safe complained “low battery”) but wasn’t too bad as I spent less than $30 on the battery kit and adapter. I had to drill a small hole on the side of the safe (the side that is attached to the night stand so once the safe is installed, the hole cannot be seen) for the cable to go into the safe but it was well worth it. No need to EVER change batteries. I could have cut the battery holder off and attach the power adapter directly to the cables (so no need for a battery replacement kit) but I figured to leave it as it is just in case one day I want to use it on a different application or sell it.
Very happy with the product.
Note: most hand guns will fit in it, unless your gun has a very long barrel. Most hand guns for self defense will fit if not all. Also, it does not have a pocket for an extra magazine but If your weapon is small, you could place a magazine inside but you will have to modify the interior to create a pocket for it.
And please remember: ALWAYS treat your weapons as it is loaded and ready to fire, never point it to anybody, and keep it secured at all times. Make sure you know how to operate your weapon and if you buy this safe (or any other safe like this) make sure to do some practice with an unloaded weapon to understand how long it will take to pull the weapon out and use it for self defense.” — DannyTechSavy
Trending review: “This handgun safe is excellent. It mounted easily, the key code and scanner programmed easily. The hardest thing was to get the batteries into the holder. It took only a moment to realize that turning the safe upside down, gave a solid surface to support the dangling battery holder. The wires could be a bit longer, but it was fine. Do be aware of polarity of the batteries. I read a review of another product where the new owner claimed the unit was a defective fire hazard because one of the batteries got hot. That battery was installed backwards. Today is day one, and I have opened the door about 75 times, alternating between buttons and scanner. Nothing unexpected so far. Disclosure: I’m 76 and know how to use hand and power tools.” — Terror Wrist
Reassuring review: “OK, I am comparing this to a like product: Gunvault SpeedVault SV500 gun safe, that I bought over 5 years ago. This one is not very sturdy — I installed per directions, tightened the only mounting screw, and it’s flimsy — shakes all over the place. It doesn’t have an interior light — another drawback. It used 4 — AAA’s, where the other uses 1–9V battery which lasts more than a year.
I bought this one because it was $50 cheaper, and now I see why. Don’t get me wrong, it’s heavy — as in weight, and is almost identical to the other one. Also, the other one has multiple button presses used as codes — very hard to figure out.
Yes, this one has 4–6 digits as a code, but I like the ability to press multiple buttons at the same time for a code. I do both with touch, so not being able to see the button labels makes no difference.
It’s also cumbersome pulling out and placing the firearm into the foam — it’s a 3.8” 9mm semi-auto.
We’ll see how this one does over time — I take the other out every couple of weeks to test the battery and check the firearm. YMMV! Yes, made in china :( So just another copycat…but the other is also made there too, from what I understand…” — Michael J. Gorga
2. SOULYI — Digital Gun Safe for 3 Pistols
Highlight: The safety of users is our eternal pursuit. SOULYI gun safe meets the most rigid safety standards. All tests, picking or manipulating, forced removal inspection, tensile, shock, plug pulling, plug torque, sawing and drop, are approved by California Department of Justice. The DOJ certification tells you that it truly will protect you and your family all the time
Helpful review: “This is the thickest steel and heaviest personal defense safe I have found or owned. I have several including a Gun Vault mini for many years. I tried the Gun Vault micro (perfect size for a vehicle IMO) but I returned it as the micro’s lid did not pop open far enough for my liking and I often hit the lid and locked it again trying to open!
WORD OF CAUTION — You MUST clear all finger prints (see manual) for the biometric function to work properly or yes ANY finger or object on the sensor will work. My guess it is set to ANY mode from the factory so the safe can be opened while being manufactured and not accidentally locked with the keys inside. Also put the safe in the location to be used before recording finger prints and do several.
This safe is a little large for most vehicles and I believe they have a slightly smaller version. This will definitely hold 2 full framed autos.
I have used many biometric devices and this is one of the best for my finger prints I have used and my hands are always rough from working. None are 100% but it also has the key pad and key.
I do like the ability to turn on and off the sound but if you do then you will also not hear any error beeps (incorrect key pad entries or biometrics) so I’m leaving it on.My only concern is the longevity of the unlocking mechanism. My Gun Vault mini has a simple electric release but this safe sounds like it has an electric motor that rotates to unlock. I personnally like the loud noise this safe makes openning as I do the sound of a 12 gauge pump! 😃” — JFixit
Trending review: “The Soulyi SSZ-01 works decently to protect small firearms. I have two S&W semi-auto handguns (loaded and chambered), extra magazines, extra ammo, and a speed loader tool and they all fit. I’m padding them with two face towels to keep them from bouncing around inside and getting dinged up. The original unit did not fit the provided security cable (hole was too small), but after I contacted the seller via email with evidence, they promptly shipped me (Amazon Prime) an entire replacement. Excellent customer service! Lightning fast replies, too. And now, the new one works great! I’ve seen the lockpicking lawyer videos and after testing myself, I have to say you need to be a decent lockpicker with professional kit to open this safe. He makes it look easy, but it’s not easy at all in my experience. I spent over 30 minutes and got nowhere, so I’m not wasting anymore time. Good enough for me. The goal isn’t to stop every single lockpicking lawyer. It’s to deter theft and access to unauthorized people. I do need to add that the cable is too short, so I ordered an additional 6 foot double loop ended security cable to extend the reach for those emergencies when you need to defend yourself. Overall, a good buy if you can get the unit with the proper sized hole. An alternative (will probably void your warranty) is to simply drill the security cable hole a tad bit larger. YMMV. I guess I’ll need to buy more guns to find a use for the second case…” — 杨杰夫
Reassuring review: “The first impression of the product is packaged very well. There won’t be any dings or scratches happening during delivery. The safe comes with 2 keys, 4 AA batteries, a metal wired cable, the user manual, and the warranty card. The manual is clearly guided and the safe is easy to set up. The material looks sturdy and the style looks even better than the product images on the page. The key lock and the passcode buttons are responded to immediately. Somehow the fingerprint reader is a little bit tricky. Tried several times and found out the reader will be more accurate if put your finger *slightly* on it to scan, which is mentioned in the manual. More pressure will cause the reader to fail to recognize it right. Over all the safe looks well-built and I’m satisfied with the quality.” — moonjeep
3. LANGGER V Gun Safe for Pistol
Highlight: QUICK ACCESS to your gun safe and valuables, firearm(s) from the automatic opening door. Get in quick when it matters most using the rapid backlit keypad, spare key or biometric fingerprint scanner
Helpful review: “The fingerprint reader works well and responds quickly. The overall set up for the reader and the combination is easy to do. The safe easily holds my gun, extra extended magazine, and some important papers. You could easily keep two compact guns inside. I turned off the beeping sounds so it is much quieter. Helps when using it and would be important in the middle of the night if needed. I have used one of these safes for about 18 months now and it works great. I just purchased a second safe for my wife.” — Amazon Customer
Trending review: “Sturdy and well constructed. Easy to set up for instant fingerprint access. With 120 fingerprint storage, both husband and wife can record multiple fingerprints for multiple fingers/thumbs. So far the electronic access has been flawless. We purchased two for bedside access in our primary suite. Each unit easily holds a Glock and extra magazine. It allows one finger access for authorized individuals, while keeping firearms and ammunition away from unauthorized children/family members/guests or casual thieves. I plan to order more for installation in our “safe room”. I also have a Langger biometric gun storage cabinet. I am very impressed with the quality of their products.” — Edgewater House
Reassuring review: “Been using this safe for about 3 years now. I haven’t had a single issue with it. Every time I need to pull out my weapon to clean or go to the range it’s easily accessible but not for anyone that I don’t want to be able to access my firearm. I love the quick finger print scanner. I do wish you could program two fingers instead of just one but I understand the safety reasons behind this. It does come with an included extreme duty cable for securing the safe. I haven’t used it myself but you can’t tell it wouldn’t be easy to cut through. Hopefully I never have to learn how hard it is to break into. If I had a free one I would be happy to test this out. Would be great to know just hoe hard it would be to break into this safe but I’m not sacrificing mine lol but 3 years and one move between houses later and this safe is still on the same batteries from when I bought it. Highly recommended.” — Lmao
4. Dalmbox — Mounted Fingerprint Gun Safe for Pistols
Highlight:This unique and vertical design fingerprint handgun safe can be stored under a desk, beside a nightstand, on a bookshelf, or inconspicuously in a vehicle. The handgun safe for nightstand can be mounted from the right, left, or top, depending on the desired setup.
Helpful review: “I purchased this to hang in my coat closet in the event of “unwanted guests” coming to call. So far I have been quite impressed as to the functionality and quality of the unit given the pricing. It is indeed smaller than you may figure but it will certainly perform the task for which it was intended. Happy with the purchase and will most likely get another.” — Crabman
Trending review: “TL;DR — Seems to be a sturdy unit, but installation was not as easy as it should be, and the fingerprint reader is not very accurate.
I picked up this unit to keep my everyday pistol out of reach of my grandkids. It fits nicely under my desk and allows me easy and quick access to my pistol. It shipped quickly enough with no delays, and all parts were in the box when it arrived. Once installed, it’s not going to be a “Fort Knox” kind of unit, but it will work for its intended purpose. The grandkids (or anyone else not authorized) will not easily gain access to the pistol.
However, there were a few things that kept me from giving this a 5-star rating.
1) Installation was not as easy as it could/should have been. I needed to drill out the hole on the vault for the thumb-screw that holds the vault to the bracket. Why? The hole on the vault didn’t exactly line up with the hole on the bracket. Once I made the hole on the vault a little bigger, I was able to finagle the screw into the bracket. That was a stupid problem to have, and pretty frustrating.
2) The battery compartment is not overly easy to access. Before you mount this vault, make sure you understand where the compartment is and how you’re going to get to it later.
3) The fingerprint reader is not very accurate. I’ve enrolled by fingerprint twice, using 2 different fingers, and both time, my fingerprint fails to open the vault. Disappointing.
4) The keypad is only 4 digits. Not a deal-breaker, and I guess that’s made necessary by the limited amount of room for the keypad. But if you really, really want to use more than 1–4, you’re going to be out of luck.
Generally, I’m satisfied, and I’d honestly give this a 3.5 (in my world, 3 is average / works as expected). We’ll see how it goes over time.” — Sean McClanahan
Reassuring review: “Very reliable sturdy safe. Fits any full size glock and I even put a extra mag up on top. Easy to install under desk at work. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a reliable safe.” — Big Rich
5. VAULTEK Slider Series Rugged Smart Handgun Safe
Highlight: ALL NEW BLUETOOTH 2.0 offers a highly interactive experience from your smartphone within Bluetooth range of the safe. New features and redesigned UI for managing safe and monitoring activity. Bluetooth can be toggled on/off using the available hotkeys if desired and still maintain all other safe functions. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides power up to 4 months, and charges in 2.5 hours with the included micro-USB charging kit.
Helpful review: “I have heard nothing but great things about this safe, so i had to get one for my first firearm. It is the most protective & upscale safe i have seen. It is pricey but worth every penny. Having the app to see when its opened or locked… or been tampered with is awesome. Its quick to open to retrieve your firearm and holds an extra mag as well. I would recommend this safe to everyone.” — Deborah
Trending review: “When I unboxed this the setup seemed straightforward. I was able to quickly mount this, and get it plugged in. However, programming fingerprints has not been easy. Also make sure you pay attemtion to what App you download because this only works with the 2.0 app, i learned that one the hard way. I was able to program codes, and it took several tries but eventually programmed the Nano Key. The Fingerprints however are not really working very well for me. I’ve been able to program two prints, but when I go back to use the print it wont recognize my finger. So as a Biometric there is room for improvement, maybe others do better but for me its still a struggle. I tried to remove the prints and start over, but you need an Admin print to be able to do that.. and none of the prints I’ve been able to program will recognize me after I’ve programmed the print in order to delete the existing ones and start over. So its dumb, but overall I like that its plug in, and that its rechargeable, and that the app will alert you if someone attempted to tamper with it. This is the best most full featured pistol safe, it does release quickly with the code and the nano, so overall 4 out of 5 start. Disappointed in the Biometric so far, I’ll update later if I can ever get that working as advertised.” — Jobu’s Corner
Reassuring review: “This is as described. My second option, first would not fit a full size Sig 226 w/optics. Barely fits in this one, but it clears. Well made, keys and biometrics work perfectly. Don’t be cheap, spend money and buy right the first time. 100% recommend.” —Shooter
