Cars are a necessity for many as they provide convenient transport from place to place. Most Americans own cars, with only 12% of the respondents reporting not having one in a 2024 survey. Personal cars make you feel comfortable and safe. Even being in your car can feel scary if you live in dangerous areas. Bulletproof cars are durable vehicles that protect you from most ballistic attacks and ensure your safety. You can get a bulletproof car from this website. If you are considering getting an armored car, here is a guide to help you understand its use and production.
Who Should Get A Bulletproof Car
The market for bulletproof cars is expanding as people want to feel safe and secure in their vehicles. Due to the following people, the demand for bulletproof cars is steadily increasing:
1. Important Individuals
Notable individuals, particularly government officials, should only travel in bulletproof vehicles. They are at an increased risk of violence due to their official capacity. Likewise, senior journalists, especially those working on critical investigative stories, should take extra precautions and use armored vehicles for conveyance. As the lives of diplomats and politicians carry political importance, they often use bulletproof SUVs to travel.
2. People In Conflict Zones
A bulletproof car can help you feel safe driving through conflict zones. Driving through conflict zones can be uneasy even if you are not a notable personality. Getting an armored vehicle can ease some of your anxiety regarding going through areas rife with violence. Getting an armored car will be a sound investment if you have to take a trip to a country deep in conflict and war. Armored vehicles can protect you from burglaries, hijackings, and other acts of violence.
3. People Transporting Valuables
If your daily job involves transporting valuables like precious metals, consider investing in an armored vehicle. You might be at a higher threat of robberies, and a bulletproof car can increase your safety. The cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicles banks and jewelry shops use are bulletproof and provide the drivers and the valuables extra protection.
How Much Does It Cost to Bulletproof Your Car?
While the added protection of a bulletproof vehicle is critical, you must also make cost considerations. The final quote depends upon your car size and how much of it you want to be bulletproofed. Each panel of bulletproof material costs around $500 to $1,500, and there are labor costs as well. Bulletproofing complex parts such as the engine costs even more.
Bulletproof material is heavier than your regular car, so you need an engine upgrade to tow extra weight. Once you total these costs, your final quote will be around $16,000 to $50,000. If you go for additional defenses such as smokescreens and electric shock, your bill can increase to $100,000.
The Process of Bulletproofing a Car
A bulletproof car requires a bullet-absorbing body, interior, and doors. An armored car’s windshield and window glass are different from that of a regular car. The vehicle also uses other engines. Here’s how the manufacturers armor each of these components:
1. Body and Doors
The first step to bulletproofing a car is removing unnecessary materials from the car’s body and interior to reduce the final weight. Bulletproof material is heavy, and the car will get very bulky without this step. Manufacturers remove interior trim, carpets, wiring, and seats and cut open the doors and other cavities, such as pillars. They are then bolstered with specialized bulletproof materials such as steel plates, ballistic nylon, or Kevlar. The fortification of doors may make them heavy and difficult to move, so manufacturers add a third hinge.
They also fortify the rear bulkhead and firewall with steel plates, leaving the ceiling and floor with only ballistic fibers. The stock bumpers absorb energy during significant impacts, so they are also reinforced to ensure the car can maneuver without damaging internal parts like the radiator. Once you armor your vehicle, it will not look much different from your original car but will be much safer.
2. Glass
The armored vehicle’s glass is called ‘transparent armor’, which accurately describes its function. Its chemical composition differs significantly from regular glass as it is a polycarbonate and leaded glass sandwich. The leaded glass contains significant lead oxide and is more robust than standard glass.
Polycarbonate, another vital material in bulletproof glass, is a plastic that makes the glass more durable. It is also light, so it reduces the bulkiness of the car. Bulletproof glass is available in different sizes, with 0.8 inches being the thinnest and 2.0 inches being the thickest. The former can absorb a round from a 9mm handgun, while the latter can protect you against most rifles.
3. Tires
Conventional run-flat tires depend upon the stiff sidewalls for support. This fact means they cannot stand up to gunfire as it can shred these sidewalls. Instead, specialized polymer-donut tires find application in armored cars. Manufacturers clamp this polymer ring around the wheel’s centerline and inside the tubeless tire. If the tire loses pressure, the vehicle can run on this ring for a while. It allows for around 60 mph speed for over 60 miles and will take you out of danger.
4. Suspension and Engine
A bulletproof vehicle is heavier than your typical car. Even the lightest armoring can add several pounds, and a regular engine cannot support it. You will need engine modifications such as a modified chassis and the drivetrain that give the engine more power to ensure drivability.
Another improvement is to raise the damping and spring rates and add in extra air springs. Generally, sedans can bear 1,400 pounds of weight without modification, and SUVs can support up to 2,000 pounds without needing any engine change. If you have a different vehicle, consult the manufacturer if you need engine modifications.
Endnote
A bulletproof car can make you feel safer and protect you from crimes. Most politicians, diplomats, and celebrities use bulletproof vehicles, as do people like journalists in conflict areas. Bank employees who transport valuables also require a bulletproof car.
However, bulletproofing involves a lot of money, as bulletproofing materials like leaded glass are expensive. A vehicle is armored through modifications to its body and doors, glass, tires, and engine. The final product looks not very different from your original car but is much safer. If you like the extra protection, consider bulletproofing your vehicle.
