Are Armored Cars Legal in the US? What Owners Should Know

The short answer is yes. In the United States a private citizen can buy, own and drive an armored car. The longer answer is about who builds it, and how.

Ownership: no federal ban

There is no federal law that stops a private citizen from owning a bulletproof car. It is titled, registered and insured through the state like any other vehicle. Executives, public figures and families buy them for the same reason the Secret Service does: to leave a dangerous place intact.

The work: the make-inoperative rule

Federal law looks at the builder, not the owner. Under 49 U.S.C. 30122, a manufacturer, distributor, dealer or motor vehicle repair business may not knowingly make inoperative any device or element of design installed to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

If a new car is armored before its first retail sale, the armorer is what NHTSA calls an alterer. Under 49 CFR 567.7 it must make sure the car still meets every standard its work affects, and fix a permanent label naming itself, the date and that statement, next to the original manufacturer’s label. NHTSA does not approve cars in advance; the use of a car on the road is a matter for the state that registers it. (NHTSA interpretation)

For an armoring shop, that means the airbags, seat belts, lights and other required systems must still work when the car leaves. Heavier doors, thicker glass and uprated brakes and suspension are how a good builder carries armor without breaking a safety system on the way.

State rules still apply

Every state has its own vehicle code. Armored glass must still meet the state’s rules on window tint and visibility. Emergency lights and sirens are reserved for authorized vehicles. A heavier car may also be registered in a different weight class. The rules differ from state to state, so they are worth checking with the state DMV before a car is built.

Body armor is a separate question

It is easy to confuse the two. Body armor laws cover wearable vests, not cars. New York, for example, has restricted the purchase of body armor to eligible professions since July 2022. (New York Department of State) Those laws say nothing about armored vehicles.

Choosing a protection level

The level should match the threat, not the brochure. Most private cars are built to stop handgun rounds or rifle rounds, and each step up adds weight. Read armoured car protection levels explained for the BR, VR and STANAG scales, and how an armoured car is built.

DARTZ in America

A DARTZ Black Stallion Type C is available in Los Angeles, and American clients order through DARTZ’s US website or the office of Leonard F. Yankelovich. Every car is built to commission, armored or non-armored. Read DARTZ in America and the history of the US presidential limousine.