Last updated October 28th 2026
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By Nick Hall, who wrote our guide to concealed carry in a car.
The best car gun mount for most drivers is a holster mount, not a bare magnet. The Sticky Holsters Travel Mount sticks to the side of your center console and holds your gun in a holster, so the trigger stays covered and the gun is in the same place every time you reach for it. If you want the cheapest and fastest option, a rubber coated magnet like the Hornady Magnetic Gun Mount works, as long as you understand its one big flaw. And if you ever leave the gun in the car, none of these is enough: it goes in a locked box with a cable.
Below are six picks covering every way to carry a gun in a vehicle: holster mounts, magnets, a seat holster, long gun hooks and a lockbox. We pulled specs from the makers and retailers, live prices from our 200+ retailers on October 28, 2026, and drew the diagram most “best car holster” lists leave out: where each one actually goes in the cabin.
Table of Contents
How we tested: Every pick here is ranked against our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun.
Best Car Gun Mounts at a Glance
| Mount | Type | Where it goes | Trigger covered? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sticky Holsters Travel Mount | Holster mount | Side of the center console | Yes | Live price |
| Hornady Magnetic Gun Mount | Magnet, 43 lb | Under the dash or console | No | Live price |
| Allen Magnetic Handgun Mount | Magnet, 35 lb | Under the dash or console | No | Live price |
| DeSantis Kingston Car Seat Holster | Seat holster | Front edge of the driver seat | Yes | Live price |
| SnapSafe Vehicle Headrest Gun Rack | Long gun hooks | Behind the front headrests | No | Live price |
| GunVault NanoVault 200 | Locking box | Under a seat, cabled down | Locked | Live price |
Holster Mount, Magnet or Lockbox?
- Holster mount: A panel that holds a holster in the car. The gun sits in a real holster, so the trigger is covered and the gun can’t slide out under hard braking. This is the safest way to keep a gun within reach while you drive.
- Magnet: A rubber coated magnet you screw or stick under the dash or on the console. It’s cheap and fast, but the trigger hangs in the open, and a magnet only holds as well as the metal in your gun’s slide lets it.
- Seat holster: A holster strapped to the front of the seat, between your knees. Easy to reach seated, and some double as a waistband holster when you get out.
- Lockbox: A steel box with a cable. It’s not for driving. It’s for the times you have to leave the gun in the car, such as a post office or a workplace that bans guns.
Most people who carry in a car end up with two of these: a mount or holster for the drive, and a lockbox for when they walk away from the vehicle.
1. Sticky Holsters Travel Mount: Best Car Gun Mount Overall
- Type: Holster mount panel for any Sticky Holsters holster
- Size: 8 in. tall by 5 3/4 in. wide
- Mounting: One 4 by 6 in. adhesive strip plus hook-and-loop
- Rated temperatures: minus 30 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit
- Material: Nylon and rubber
- Versions: Right hand and left hand
Pros
- Trigger stays covered in a holster
- Same gun position every time
- Works with any Sticky holster
Cons
- Adhesive is semi-permanent
- Needs a flat hard surface
- Holster sold separately
The Travel Mount is a panel that holds one of Sticky Holsters’ rubberized holsters, and it sticks to the side of your center console or a flat panel near your knee. The panel is 8 inches tall and 5 3/4 inches wide. It comes with one 4 by 6 inch adhesive strip, and the holster attaches with hook-and-loop, so you can pull the holster off the mount and wear it when you get out of the car.
Read the surface rules before you stick it on. Sticky Holsters’ listings rate it for minus 30 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and they say it’s not recommended for fabric, dashboards or flexible vinyl, and that the adhesive can damage some finishes. The adhesive reaches full strength after 24 hours, so mount it the night before you need it. A dashboard in direct summer sun can run hotter than 140 degrees, so a console side panel in the shade beats anything near the windshield.
Best For: Daily drivers who carry and want the gun secured in a holster, in the same place, every trip.
2. Hornady Magnetic Gun Mount: Best Magnetic Gun Mount
- Type: Rubber coated rare earth magnet
- Rated hold: 43 lb
- Mounting: Screws included
- Hornady list price: $20.99
- Also holds: Magazines, chokes and other steel items
- SKU: 95910
Pros
- 43 pound rating is strong
- Rubber coating protects the finish
- Small enough to hide anywhere
Cons
- Trigger exposed when the gun hangs
- Screws mean drilling your trim
- Needs a steel slide to grab
Hornady’s Magnetic Gun Mount uses rare earth magnets rated for 43 pounds under a rubber coating, and it comes with mounting screws. That’s plenty to hold a steel-slide pistol through potholes. Mount it on a hard, flat panel under the dash or on the side of the console, where your hand falls naturally.
The weakness of every bare magnet is the trigger. When the gun hangs on a magnet, the trigger guard is open, and anything that shifts in the car can reach it. If you use a magnet, keep the area around it clear, and think about a gun with a manual safety or a long trigger pull. A magnet also only grabs steel. Polymer frames are fine because the slide is steel, but check that your gun’s slide sits flat on the magnet.
Best For: Drivers who want the fastest, cheapest way to keep a pistol in reach and accept the open trigger.
3. Allen Magnetic Handgun Mount: Best Budget Magnet
- Type: Rubber coated magnet
- Rated hold: 35 lb
- Mounting: 3M tape for smooth surfaces, or screws and drywall anchors
- Size: about 1.2 by 4.05 by 5.75 in.
- Holds: Handguns, rifles and shotguns
- SKU: 18530
Pros
- No drilling with the tape option
- Rubber coat is weatherproof
- Cheaper than most magnets
Cons
- 35 pounds is less than Hornady
- Trigger exposed like any magnet
- Tape can let go in heat
The Allen 18530 is the budget version of the same idea: a rubber coated magnet rated for 35 pounds. The big difference from the Hornady is the mounting. Allen includes 3M tape, so you can stick it to a smooth panel without drilling into your trim, along with screws and drywall anchors if you want it permanent.
Tape is the right call in a leased car and the wrong call in a black interior that bakes in summer. If you use the tape, clean the panel with alcohol first and give it a day before you hang a gun on it. The same trigger warning applies as with any magnet.
Best For: Drivers on a budget, or anyone who can’t drill into their car’s interior.
4. DeSantis Kingston Car Seat Holster: Best Seat Holster
- Type: Holster that straps to the front of the seat
- Mounting: Adjustable nylon strap around the seat base
- Hand: Ambidextrous
- Extra: Front magazine pouch
- Off the seat: Detaches and wears as an inside-the-waistband holster
- Sizes: Fits by frame, including small revolver, large single action and large frame
Pros
- Trigger covered between your knees
- No adhesive or drilling
- Doubles as a waistband holster
Cons
- Sized by frame, not exact model
- Strap fit varies by seat
- Gun sits low when you stand
DeSantis built the Kingston as a carjacking answer. It straps around the base of your seat with an adjustable nylon strap and holds the gun at the front edge of the seat, between your knees, where your hand can reach it without twisting. DeSantis gave it a front magazine pouch and based the carrier on its inside-the-waistband design, so you can unclip it and wear it when you leave the car.
It’s sized by frame type rather than by exact model, which makes it flexible but not as snug as a molded holster. Check the size chart for your gun, and test the draw seated with your seat belt on before you trust it. DeSantis launched it at a $59.99 MSRP.
Best For: Drivers who don’t want to stick or screw anything into the car.
5. SnapSafe Vehicle Headrest Gun Rack: Best for Long Guns
- Type: Two coated wire hooks
- Mounting: Hang on the posts of the two front headrests
- Hook size: about 4 by 1.75 by 6 in.
- Also holds: Range bags, jackets and grocery bags
- Coating: Won’t scratch or mar a firearm
- SKU: 75881
Pros
- No tools, installs in seconds
- Coated wire protects the finish
- Cheapest long gun option here
Cons
- Long gun is out in the open
- Not secure against theft
- Only fits removable headrests
A truck gun or a hunting rifle needs a different answer than a pistol. The SnapSafe headrest rack is a pair of coated wire hooks that hang from your front headrest posts, so a rifle or shotgun rides across the backs of the front seats. It installs with no tools and comes out just as fast.
It holds a gun, it doesn’t secure one. Anyone who opens a door can lift the gun off the hooks, so use it for driving to the range or the field, not for parking. For truck gun ideas, see our best truck guns.
Best For: Hunters and range trips with a rifle or shotgun in the cab.
6. GunVault NanoVault 200: Best for Leaving a Gun in the Car
- Type: Key lock steel pistol box with cable
- Exterior size: 9.5 by 6.5 by 1.75 in.
- Cable: Rated to 1,500 lb, loops around a seat bracket
- Interior: Memory foam
- Capacity: One handgun
- Travel: Sold as meeting TSA checked bag guidelines
Pros
- Cable locks it to the car
- Fits under most seats
- Cheap enough to buy two
Cons
- Key lock is slow to open
- Thin steel, not a real safe
- Not for use while driving
Thieves look for guns in cars. If you leave the gun in the vehicle, it needs to be locked and attached to the car. The NanoVault 200 is a key lock steel box, 9.5 by 6.5 by 1.75 inches, with a cable rated to 1,500 pounds that you loop around a seat bracket and lock inside the box.
It’s not a safe, and a determined thief with tools will get into it. It does stop a quick smash-and-grab. Slide it under the seat where it can’t be seen from the windows. For stronger boxes, see our best gun safes for cars.
Best For: Anyone who ever has to leave a gun in a parked car.
Where to Mount a Gun in Your Car
The diagram near the top of this page shows the five places that work. Three rules decide which one is right for you.
- Your hand has to reach it with your seat belt on. Sit in the driver’s seat, belted, and reach for the spot. If you have to lean, twist or unbuckle, move it.
- The trigger should be covered. A holster mount or seat holster covers it. A bare magnet doesn’t, so keep the area clear and the gun pointed somewhere safe.
- Nothing should be able to fly loose. A gun on the passenger seat or in a door pocket becomes a projectile in a crash and slides out of reach under hard braking. Mount it or holster it.
Don’t mount anything where an airbag deploys, on the steering column cover, or where it blocks your pedals or knees. The side of the center console near your right knee and the lower dash panel are the usual winners.
Leaving a Gun in the Car
A mount is for driving. When you walk away, the gun goes on your body or in a locked box that is cabled to the car and out of sight. A gun on a magnet or in a headrest rack is the easiest thing in the car for a thief to grab, and a stolen gun is gone for good.
Some states have laws about how a gun must be stored in an unattended vehicle. Check our concealed carry in a car guide and your state’s rules before you leave a gun behind.
Car Carry Laws Vary by State
Whether you can keep a loaded handgun within reach in your car depends on your state, whether you have a permit, and sometimes your city. Some states treat your car like your home, some require the gun to be unloaded and cased unless you hold a permit, and a few restrict it further. A mount doesn’t change any of that. Read your state’s rules, and if you travel across state lines, check each state on the route. Our concealed carry guide is a good place to start.
How I Picked These Mounts
I started from what people actually search for and what the top-ranking lists recommend, then cut anything I couldn’t confirm from a maker or retailer listing. Each pick covers a different way to carry in a car, from a holster mount for daily driving to a lockbox for parking. Every pick has to be in stock at our retailers, so you can buy it today at a price we track. Prices change daily, and the live price boxes update on their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best car gun mount?
The Sticky Holsters Travel Mount is our pick because it holds your gun in a holster, so the trigger stays covered. A rubber coated magnet like the Hornady Magnetic Gun Mount is the cheapest fast option.
Are magnetic gun mounts safe in a car?
They hold a steel-slide pistol well, but the trigger is exposed while the gun hangs on the magnet. Keep the area clear and mount it where nothing can shift into it.
Where is the best place to mount a gun in a car?
The side of the center console near your right knee or the lower dash panel. You should reach it with your seat belt on, and it should never sit where an airbag deploys.
Can you leave a gun in your car?
If you must, lock it in a steel box cabled to the car and out of sight. Some states set storage rules for unattended vehicles, so check yours.
Is it legal to have a gun mounted in your car?
It depends on your state and whether you have a permit. Some states allow a loaded handgun within reach, and others require it to be unloaded and cased without a permit.
How strong is the Hornady magnetic gun mount?
Hornady rates its Magnetic Gun Mount at 43 lb. The Allen 18530 is rated at 35 lb.
Will a Sticky Holsters Travel Mount stick to a dashboard?
No. The listings say it's not recommended for dashboards, fabric or flexible vinyl. Put it on a flat, hard panel such as the side of the center console.
How do you carry a rifle in a car?
For driving to the range or field, headrest hooks like the SnapSafe rack hold a rifle across the seat backs. For parking, case it and lock it in the trunk or a vehicle safe.
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