The Forbes Home editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Home site. This compensation comes from two main sources. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market. Second, we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles; these “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Home. While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Home does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.
Manufacturers are always working to improve the anti-theft measures in vehicles, but thieves work just as hard to defeat them. According to FBI statistics, in 2020 the U.S. saw an 11.8% increase in car thefts over the prior year, and the trend has continued. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported that over 1 million vehicles were stolen in 2022. That’s a 7% increase over 2021, and the first time there were over 1 million vehicles stolen since 2008. History Product
Thieves will always find high-tech ways to steal cars, including carrying around spare body and engine control units or even matched keys. However, there are steps you can take to foil them, or at least slow them down. Aftermarket car alarms are the first line of defense beyond the systems installed in your car at the factory, and a great way of protecting older cars that don’t have anti-theft systems.
Today, there are two basic kinds of car modern car alarms. Classic one-way alarms simply set off lights and a siren if someone tries to break in. Two-way alarms do that and send data to either your key fob or your phone, alerting you in real-time to threats. Two-way alarms often have additional features like keyless locking and entry, GPS tracking and other functions controlled through your cell phone.
In addition to protecting your car, aftermarket alarms can often result in lower insurance premiums. Check with your insurer before installation to see if an alarm discount is available, and what the requirements might be to qualify for the discount. Top considerations when alarm shopping are compatibility with your vehicle, the range in which your remote can communicate with the alarm, ease of installation, features, maintenance costs and price. Looking For Car Accessories? Match your car to your style with varied car accessories like seat covers, floor mats and more. Get competitive pricing from top brands here. Advertisement THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Please note that we do receive compensation for any products you buy or sign up to via this advertisement, and that compensation impacts the ranking and placement of any offers listed herein. We do not present information about every offer available. The information and savings numbers depicted above are for demonstration purposes only, and your results may vary. Explore Options On Amazon
Match your car to your style with varied car accessories like seat covers, floor mats and more. Get competitive pricing from top brands here.
CARLOCK Anti Theft Car Device
CARLOCK Anti Theft Car Device
At nearly $200 plus the cost of installation, the Compustar CS7900-AS isn’t “cheap,” but its huge array of features make it a champion of protection. It offers a 105-decibel alarm paired with bright LED lighting as well as instantaneous paging for tamper alerts and alarm activation, so it not only disrupts the thief but also lets you know what’s going on. There are some other nice extras as well. The remote works within 3,000 feet of the vehicle and has remote start capability, allowing a driver to pre-heat the interior on cold days or pre-cool it on hot days, although this feature isn’t compatible with every vehicle. The Compustar’s many pros are counteracted by the need for professional installation, and the company only offers customer service help through pro installers.
Best Budget One-Way Car Alarm
Best Budget One-Way Car Alarm
Viper’s 3105V is a more modern iteration of the company’s classic 3100V alarm. Updated with more features than the old model, it’s still affordable around $75. Crucially for a one-way alarm, the 3105V is very loud at 121 decibels. The system comes with two remotes that have four buttons, which are more advanced than older models and have dedicated, separate lock and unlock buttons. The system optionally includes GPS tracking, remote starter features. As an additional deterrent, the system includes soft chirp warning sounds for minor shock disturbances, which reduces false alarms and warnings. Requires two AAA batteries, which are included.
The Avital 5305L is a solid two-way alarm system that’s built for expansion later on. That helps keep the up-front costs low, and, indeed, it’s 40% cheaper than the Compustar listed above, but doesn’t lock-out options if you want to add them later. What you give up to the more sophisticated Compustar is range (the Avital’s signal reaches only 1,500 feet) and five decibels of alarm scream, though the difference between 100 and 105 decibels isn’t really all that perceptible. Like the more expensive alarm, it can be upgraded later, and consumer reviews suggest that the Avital is one of the most reliable alarms on the market. Nearly 80% of buyers give it a five-star rating on Amazon.
Best Two-Way Alarm With Remote Start Standard
Best Two-Way Alarm With Remote Start Standard
Viper’s 5305V two-way alarm is a full-featured model at a reasonable price (about $150). The system comes with a two-way remote with an LCD screen, as well as a one-way remote to use for additional auxiliary functions. The remotes work up to a quarter mile away. The system also includes Viper’s Failsafe starter kill system to prevent hotwiring. With six different siren tones and shock sensors, the alarm warns would-be thieves or any others who bump into the car. If there’s continued disturbance, the full alarm is activated. It’s also compatible with SmartStart modules, so the car can be started anywhere as long as an owner has their phone with them. Requires one AAA battery.
Carlock GPS Car Tracker & Alarm System
Carlock’s GPS Car Tracker and Alarm System is easy to install, offers lots of features and is available for just under $50. The only installation required is plugging the device into your car’s OBD-II port. From there it relays various information on your car’s status and location directly to your smartphone. The system relies on an internet connection and GPS, so there’s no separate remote or range limitations. However the system is passive, and isn’t a theft deterrent. It can only tell you where your car is located after it’s gone. It’s battery-powered, which is included.
To determine the best aftermarket car alarms for your vehicle, we considered the products most accessible to the widest swath of consumers in the U.S. and compatible with the widest range of vehicles. At least one of our selections uses your vehicle’s OBD-II port, which means it will only work with post-1995 vehicles, but many other choices can be wired into older vehicles by a professional installer.
When considering the range of alarms, we specifically chose our picks based on availability, performance (decibels, range, reliability), price and complexity of installation. Most of the more sophisticated modern car alarms require professional installation and may not be eligible for customer support without it, but they’re also the most effective deterrents. Our research also factored in a broad range of end-user ratings and evaluations by multiple testers.
We rate all car alarms by the following weighted criteria:
A good car alarm system can be cheap insurance if the lights and sirens they emit scare off would-be burglars or car thieves. Some studies also suggest GPS tracking gives an owner a better chance of recovering a stolen vehicle, though there aren’t any guarantees. Thankfully, it isn’t necessarily an either-or. Some two-way alarms include both the traditional light and noise alarms as well as GPS tracking should the thief make off with the car. Some alarms also provide optional extras like remote starting and locking capabilities, which are value-adds above and beyond theft protection.
Yes and no. There’s no guarantee that a thief will be deterred even by the loudest and most obnoxious alarm, and professional thieves can usually disable systems in under a couple of minutes. But loud sirens and lights on a sleepy residential block or in a busy commercial area might deter joyriders or casual thieves. In older vehicles, any protection is better than the almost total lack of theft deterrents on classic vehicles from the 1980s or earlier.
One-way alarms send a signal from the key fob to the alarm. It’s usually pretty basic—arming or disarming the remote for the lights and sirens. Two-way systems send that signal, but they also send data back from the vehicle to the user. Depending on the vehicle and the system in question, that data can include vehicle status and location, text or visual depictions of open doors or activated lights, or even the interior temperature of the vehicle. Two-way systems offer more sophisticated tracking and protection, but they also cost more to buy and install.
Some simple systems just plug into your OBD-II port, so there’s no installation cost, but most require some additional wiring. The simpler installations use wiring harness connectors that already exist or come with adapters, and might only cost $100 to $200. High-end, complicated alarm system installations can cost between $500 and $1,000. It’s best to check installation prices with your budget in mind before purchasing an alarm.
Factory alarm systems are usually extremely reliable and free of false alarms. Where aftermarket systems excel is in additional features like shock and glass breakage sensors, status and location data sent directly to a cellphone or tablet, and the ability to add new features as they’re introduced. Most factory systems don’t offer these extras, and cars built before the 1990s rarely have any modern theft protection features.
Yes, they can. However, the amount you save will vary by insurer, and savings are not guaranteed. It’s best to check with your carrier before any purchase or installation to find out if a discount is available and if there are any requirements of the system. Theft is only one factor in the pricing of your insurance policy, and an alarm would only reduce the part of the premium attributable to that portion.
If you live in a very cold or very hot climate, probably. Drivers who live in a cold climate often opt for remote starters to warm up their vehicles before driving in winter months, and these systems also allow you to cool the car during hot summer months before you enter. For some drivers, that convenience is worth it.
A car-crazy California kid, I’ve been writing and talking about vehicles for 25 years on TV and radio, in print and online, including AAA magazines in Arizona, Oklahoma, Northwest Ohio, South Dakota and the Mountain West, as well as BBC Autos. I serve as vice president of the Western Automotive Journalists, a professional group for automotive writers based in San Francisco, and have no relation to McKeel Hagerty of Hagerty Classic Insurance, who is younger, better looking and wealthier.
Fleet Management Education Corey Lewis a journalist based in Cincinnati, with a lifelong interest in cars and all things automotive. His formative car experience was arranging Matchbox cars on the carpet in the 1980s, but more recently he's branched out into automotive journalism. He enjoys the historical aspects of cars and little details lost to time. You can find his historical content at "The Truth About Cars," and follow him on Twitter at @CoreyLewis86.