When it comes to gun holsters for cars, the options or alternatives on which to buy are immense – price, size, security, accessibility, concealment, looks, and before you know it, your head is spinning and you don’t even know where to begin.
While I cannot cover every single option available out there in such a complex array of alternatives, neither can anyone else for that matter.
But what I can do for you is narrow down those options sufficiently to help you make the most sensible decision on which CCW tactical car holster to buy, without really going through a bunch of really unnecessary and distracting considerations.
In A Rush? Here's The QUick List
What is a Car Holster?
Well, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to answer this one, do you? Pretty much, a car holster is a car gun holster, is a car firearm holster. What more can I say?
O.K., so, yes, if you want to call it a “vehicle” gun holster mount, you may do so as well – it is all simply a matter of semantics.
As simple as the definition is, however, there are a multitude of options available in this type of holster mount.
Car holsters make for easy access to your weapon when you're on the go.
What To Look For In A Car Gun Holster
Mounting your firearm in your vehicle is not a matter of comfort only, as much as comfort may be, for many, a primary objective for using a car gun holster.
That said, whenever purchasing a vehicle holster mount there are some inherently serious considerations that go along with it.
Issues such as safety, ability to draw your firearm, concealment, visibility, mounting options, driving obstruction, and legality, to mention a few.
Safety
Anytime I am talking about firearms, regardless of which product, it all starts and ends with safety.
When it comes to vehicle holsters, the safety theme becomes ever that more relevant.
There are a lot of firearms that lack a safety locking mechanism, and there are a lot of handgun owners out there who just cannot be without a round in the chamber, which comes with its own set of safety issues.
Pulling your firearm from a gun holster in a car means having to deal with plenty of obstacles such as seats, seatbelts, steering wheel, center console, etc., all of which can end up making your firearm be pointed in all the wrong directions, including but not limited to yourself, your passengers – not to mention what could happen in a bumpy road.
The point is, car firearm holsters play a very important role as it relates to safety.
Getting the right gun holster and mount for a car is critical when you want to make sure that your firearm will always remain pointing in the right direction.
Accessibility
When you carry a handgun in your waistband, you know that, if there ever came a time you needed to draw it quickly, it is almost intuitive, you know that there is no interference.
When carrying that same handgun in a vehicle, however, drawing or pulling your firearm will have you dealing with all kinds of objects in the way.
Drawing a handgun in a car or truck can become sort of an “obstacle course” of sorts, and you really don’t want that, as your life or the life of your passengers could very well be on the line.
Luckily, there are many holster manufacturers who realized that accessing a gun in a car is as critical an issue as any and, accordingly, they have designed all kinds of holsters that were specifically made for easy access – something you need to keep in mind when buying your car holster.
Legality
Keeping a gun in your vehicle or truck may be, for many, a simple necessity for personal protection.
Having said that, and given the fact that you are very much aware of the rights afforded you under the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution, you figure you just go out, get yourself a car gun holster and start riding with your friendly sidekick, right?
Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
The first thing you need to research before you buy yourself any vehicle holster mount for your firearm is what your state and local law say about concealed carry in the vehicle.
These laws vary from state to state – some allow it, and some don’t, so you should check what your state and local laws allow or don’t allow.
I certainly would not want you going through the expense of buying a vehicle-mount holster only to have to return it after the fact.
What Are The Best Car Gun Holsters?
QUick List
To answer this question, we purchased (none of the companies in this list gave us a “review” product for free) 27 of the top-rated car holsters that we were able to find in our research.
Each product was thoroughly tested using a simple methodology that assesses three important factors: safety, reliability, and accessibility.
I feel pretty strongly that if a product scores strongly in these three areas, it’s worth mentioning.
So…without any further ado, the following are our top car holster choices, based on our research and testing:
1. Alien Gear ShapeShift Driver Defense Holster - Best Gun Holster For Trucks
At the top of my list is the Alien Gear ShapeShift Driver Defense Holster.
This system has almost everything I was looking for that a vehicle holster mount should have.
First, it can be quickly, easily, and fully mounted for pistol-ready action. So, the angle-of-carry position can be adjusted to your own preferences at a moment’s notice.
This system comes with a harness that straps across the bottom of your driver’s seat with the ShapeShift holster mount attached to it. The mount is sturdy and the straps cinch down long enough to fit any vehicle seat.
Two detachable buckles allow for quick removal of the mount if so needed.
Unlike many of their counterparts, this one does not require any modifications to your vehicle, so it can remain with you as you trade or change your truck or car.
As far as ease of access and comfort, well, this one has both.
When mounted, the ShapeShift Holster’s straps and mount are completely out of the way, held securely and safely between the legs yet allowing for a quick and easy draw if need be.
The fact that this car holster is made by Alien Gear, a name synonymous with quality in the industry, and the fact that is offered with a “Forever Warranty” and a 30-day Test Drive, was just the “icing-on-the-cake” for me in buying this one and recommending it to you today.
2. Alien Gear Cloak Dock OWB Holster Mount - Best Gun Holster For Cars
In case you are wondering why the “OWB” [Outside the Waistband] abbreviation is included in this one, which takes 2nd place in my list of preferred vehicle-mounted holsters, I will tell you why.
I think of this one as a perfect hybrid model, which offers the best of all worlds – this one, you can choose to either use in your waistband or in your car or vehicle.
At a price point of $15 dollars, you just cannot go wrong with this one.
But first things first, as you might have guessed by now, yes, I am an Alien Gear fan.
Not so much due to loyalty to the brand, but due to the fact that, after buying and testing dozens of CCW holsters, Alien Gear has always come through with quality and reliability.
This car holster mount is no exception.
It can be secured to just about any surface of your heart’s desire, including wood, metal, plastic, and more.
This mount comes with two brackets which allow for easy placement of your firearm while inside the holster.
I mounted mine inside the front panel of my SUV on the panel in front of my legs right below my steering wheel, providing me with an easy reach.
The mount came with all kinds of mounting hardware which made it possible for a very secure mount.
This mount’s simple and inexpensive design allows for a fluid motion while attaching and detaching the Cloak Mod.
It also provides plenty of adjustment alternatives as positions that bring the firearm and holster closer or further from the base.
No question you must include this one in your considerations for buying the ideal vehicle holster mount.
3. Stinger Gun Magnet - Best Magnet Gun Holster for Cars
At the number 3 spot on my preferred car-mount holsters, I have the Stinger Gun Magnet.
This is, as the name implies, a pistol magnet mount with an integrated trigger-guard protection system.
Your firearms will definitely have a secure holster and easy access while fully protected against an accidental discharge – remember safety always first and foremost.
The gun holder is lined with rubber to prevent scratches.
Powerful neodymium rare metal magnets are designed to hold up to 15 lbs., with each magnet coated with soft rubber to safeguard your gun against unwanted scratches.
The Stinger Gun Magnet installs in minutes with little effort and it was designed to mount anywhere which has a flat surface.
Will safely and securely hold nearly every type and brand of gun - Taurus Judge, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Mossberg, H&K, Colt, Beretta, Winchester, Walther, Glock 17, Ruger, Remington, Kimber, CZ, Taurus, and more.
And, yes, this one mounts pistols, handguns, revolvers, shotguns, rifles... you get the point.
Ask me, and I tell you, can’t go wrong with this one.
4. Jotto Gear Quick Access Locking Handgun Holster - Best Locking Holster
Ranking number 4 in my list is the Jotto Gear Quick Access Locking Handgun Holster.
Among some of the features which made me pick this one, was its simple access and locking security.
You can easily install it into your car glove box compartment, trunk, or center console as it comes with secure mounting brackets which allow for the holster to be fitted either horizontally or vertically, whichever way suits you best.
The Jotto Gear Quick Access Locking Handgun Holster was designed to keep the gun clean, free from dirt, nicks, and scratches.
The design was also made of steel for durability.
This holster also features a locking device which simply sets it apart from most others in the market keeping it safe from thieves and curious children.
It comes lined with a soft Goodrich™ premium tanned cowhide leather. The fact that this one is made in the U.S.A., was all I needed to go for it.
5. Highway Holster Multi-Mount - Best Holster Mount for Cars
At the number 5 spot, I have the Highway Holster Multi-Mount.
This one is mounted between two car seats.
For the car purists among you, no drilling into panels, no weird straps in your seats, or awkward fumbling under your steering wheel.
Big plus, no permanent modifications to your vehicle, car, or truck, only removing that sticky Velcro residue.
The holster mount moves and follows along with the seat without issues.
Mounts and conceals really well.
It does take a bit of breaking-in, and I could tell the retention improved as I drew my firearm a few times.
This one is also made in the U.S.A.
Priced right don’t think you could go wrong with this one.
About Vehicle Mounted Holsters in General
So, as I said to you before, let’s agree on the fact that, if you really think about it, holsters were not really meant for vehicles, as much as many would have you believe otherwise.
Sliding in and out of your vehicle can cause a lot of physical damage to your firearm, your holster, and yes, your car or truck as well.
Buying a holster specifically designed for use in your vehicle, as opposed to just wearing your standard IWB’s or OWB’s, while driving, will spare you from having to deal with a lot of aesthetic damage to your firearm which can quickly devalue it, much more so than the cost of a vehicle-mounted holster - a no brainer if you ask me.
In the world we live today, carrying a concealed handgun has become for many, myself included, sort of a ritual; an impending need as natural and customary as brushing our teeth, combing our hair, or simply putting on a pair of shoes.
As such, most holster manufacturers identified a need to come up with holster designs made specifically to be used in conjunction with car-mounting applications.
Today, thankfully, the industry has developed sufficiently to where there are some great designs of car-mount holsters out there which offer you just about anything and everything needed to carry your sidekicks with you whenever you are in your car or truck.
Summary and Conclusions
Keeping a gun in your vehicle can be an integral part of your personal defense strategy.
As such, accessibility, and ease of draw in a vehicle become rather critical issues at that.
Whereas most all body-mount holster styles afford you easy access to your firearm, vehicle mounts do have a lot more hurdles to deal with such as car seats, steering wheels, glove compartments, stick shifts, etc., etc.
Common sense will tell you when purchasing a vehicle holster mount, you must give some serious considerations to issues all of which translate into safety concerns for you and for others as well.
I think of purchasing a car holster mount as sort of a balancing act.
While it may at first appear to be a rather simple and straightforward decision, it can require, trust me, a much more sensitive judgment than you first thought.
Issues such as point of placement in your vehicle, ease of access; concealment, are all rather important considerations that you need to think about in deciding which vehicle holster mount best suits your particular needs.
In my reviews today, I have tried my best to give you some of what I consider my best choices in vehicle-mounted holsters.
As much as I hope to have helped you in the decision-making process as to which system to purchase, as much as I also urge you to do your own due diligence before making your final decision.
After all, in the end, it will be you who will have to live with whichever your final.
In the meantime, I do hope you will make the right decision as I find, nowadays, car gun holsters have become an imminent need for all of us handgun owners.
The photo at the top of your main page looks like a leather Texas Holster. That’s what I’m looking for. Can you access their products or an Internet site for them
Hey Craig, thanks for stopping by the site! I believe the holster in the featured image is from American Leathersmith. Here’s a link: https://americanleathersmith.com/collections/featured-car-holsters/products/leather-car-holster-mountable-truck-jeep-car-desk-table-with-included-mounting-bracket
Hope that helps!
If I will use magnet holster. My weapon will become magnet too? During the time?
Not really. The magnets are powerful, but not powerful enough to penetrate your gun. Hope that helps. Thanks for reading!