Nowadays, most cars have many safety features like lane departure warnings, sleep detection, etc. But to have bulletproofing as a safety feature is going the extra mile. Though every feature, including bulletproofing, is designed to protect you, not everyone can easily afford it. So today, let’s see how much bulletproof windows for cars cost. And also, is it worth paying for them?
In light of recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more Americans died in 2020 – the most recent year for which reliable data is available. Of these, most deaths were gun-related injuries, more than in any previous year on record. There were also an unprecedented number of firearm suicides and homicides.
The repeated incidents of gunfire have called for a rise in the number of people in the United States looking for ways to protect themselves against it. In simple terms, many people in the US think it prudent to put bulletproof glass in their homes and cars. This blog will look at how much bulletproof windows cost for cars and decide if it’s worth getting them.
How much are bulletproof windows for cars?
Bulletproofing a car is a complex affair that involves a lot of money, and that simply explains why only high-profile officials like honchos, doctors, and politicians ride armored automobiles.
The cost of bulletproof protection depends upon the level of protection it comes in. It can start from around $14,000 and exceed $100,000 based on the customization you’d like to have on your car.
Some civilian armored cars may also be bespoke vehicles with no standard equivalent. These are usually Presidential state cars, like the current US Presidential state car, The Beast, also known as Cadillac One, is built on a medium-duty truck platform designed by Cadillac.
How is bulletproofing done?
First, you must have an appropriate vehicle to armor. In the first step, a complete stripping down of the vehicle is done, including seats, roof lines, carpets, and door panels, to replace them with reinforced material.
Bulletproof windows made of layers of thick ballistic glass and opaque armor made of hardened steel, ballistic nylon, and other materials replace windshields, window glasses, and company-fitted steel on the sides, top, and bottom.
Reinforcing the pillar posts and hinge mounts ensures that the hinges will move the extra weight of the door to the vehicle’s interior structure. But then the brakes, shocks, and sometimes even the engine must be changed to make the car capable of moving all that weight.
What are some special parts of bulletproof cars?
Some highly sophisticated armored cars may also have an emergency escape hatch over the second seating row, which is discreetly integrated so that an outsider cannot spot it. They also have strategically located gunports. Gunports enable the security personnel to insert their guns and operate them in the event of an emergency
Owners can also add additional safety add-ons like run-flat tires, smoke emitters, and electronic door handles. These add-ons complement the bulletproof worthiness of their cars. In addition, car owners can also spec up their cars with nail dispensers and equip bomb blankets underneath.
The tires are a very important part of keeping the car safe and under control. Tires in a bulletproof car aren’t bulletproof, but bullet resistant. Tires acquire this feature due to ‘run flat inserts’ placed on the rim inside the tire.
Factors influencing bulletproofing costs
Level of protection
Before armoring your car, you must know the cost of bulletproofing, which depends on what kind of protection you’d prefer for your vehicle.
It would not cost a lot for small levels of protection against handguns compared to those against highly lethal machine guns. However, a higher level of protection calls for thicker glass windows, which will cost you more.
Bulletproofing cost is proportional to the area of coverage
The cost of car bulletproofing is also proportional to the area you want to shield. Costs may skyrocket if you armor the whole car with sophisticated equipment, like the president’s Beast.
Vehicle size and type
Since armoring materials are expensive, bulletproofing a larger car, like an SUV, will cost more. In addition, some manufacturers, particularly those in Europe, are also picky about how much labor they use in the process, which makes it more expensive.
Some of the most expensive bulletproof vehicles in the world
- Cadillac One (The Beast) – $3 Million
- Mercedes Maybach Pullman Guard – $2 Million
- Karlman King – $2 Million
- Mercedes-Benz S-Guard – $1.5 Million
- Audi A8 L Security – $750K
- Range Rover Sentinel – $500K
- Tesla Model S Plaid ($190K)
Can you own a bulletproof car?
As the number of daily shootings continues to rise, having a bulletproof car is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury. There are no restrictions on civilians as far as the ownership of bulletproof cars is concerned. So, if you are somebody with deep pockets who wants a safer medium of commute, give it a try.
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