8 Best Car Alarm Systems in 2023 – Reviews and Buying Guide

For many people, car security is an afterthought. After a long day at work, if I actually remember to lock my vehicle, I consider it a personal win!

But car theft is a real threat across the United States. Every day, 200 cars are stolen across the fifty states. (1)

And what happens if you’re the victim of grand theft auto?

The consequences of a car break-in can be severe. We take our cars for granted as a form of transport, and when that goes wrong, the system breaks down.

Do you have a plan B for getting to work on time? Or how about the next best way to the airport if you’ve got a flight to catch!

Aftermarket car alarms don’t leave anything to chance. From deafening sirens to adjustable shock sensors, they’re the best way to prevent anyone from tampering with your vehicle.

And in today’s technological world, these alarms are integrated with a wide range of handy features. Your car could be warming up in your driveway at the touch of the button – no more shivering on cold mornings, waiting for the engine to warm up.

GPS tracking gives you the tools you need to find your vehicle, should the worst happen. And second driver data gathering let’s you know your car is being driven well when you lend it out to friends or your own children.

Don’t let carelessness lead to carlessness! Here are the best aftermarket car alarms.

The Best Aftermarket Car Alarms in 2023

These aftermarket car alarms are a serious upgrade. Let’s take a look at the best on the market.

However, Compustar CS7900-AS doesn’t come cheap. In fact, it isn’t even the complete package – to get the CS7900 optimized you’ll be splashing out on accessories.

If you like burning money as well as burning rubber, Compustar CS7900-AS could be the alarm for you.

This Compustar CS7900-AS car alarm system provides a two-way link between your vehicle and the stylishly designed key fob. As well as arming your device, you’re now armed with information and control of your vehicle, from a distance.

The Compustar CS7900-AS alarm itself sounds at 105dB – optimally loud to alert the community and deter thieves instantly. And it’s exceptionally sensitive – adjustable motion sensors give you control over sensitivity. You control what degree of motion sets the alarm off, giving your comfort zone actualized parameters.

Compustar CS7900-AS’s a pricey number and you’ll need the locking harness and Idatalink blade – sold separately. But you can’t put a price on complete security.

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Keyless entry and valet mode are invaluable features – in fact, Viper 5305V comes with so many features that it’s almost mind-boggling.

Viper 5305V’s some of the controls are slightly unintuitive. Make sure you read the manual clearly, otherwise you might find yourself locked out of the glove box!

The Viper 5305V alarm system comes with everything required for installation – except for the instructions. It’s a complicated wiring job, so it’s best to call in the professionals. And the key fob’s range is somewhat unreliable – remote start is a great feature, but you may struggle to get it working out of line of sight from your vehicle.

Despite these drawbacks, Viper 5305V is one of the most all-encompassing systems money can buy. Your wallet will take a hit, but it’s worth it for total security.

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Whilst many car alarms feature a binary system – off or excessively loud – Avital has developed a more subtle system.

Three tiers of alarm are included in Avital 5305L system to give you complete cover without waking up the neighbors. There’s Nuisance Prevention, Warn Away and the Revenger siren, ensuring thieves are disincentivized from tampering with your vehicle – and scared off if they do. And the dual-zone impact sensor gives you a highly sensitive alarm system that misses nothing.

The Avital 5305L’s fob range is around 1,500ft – not top-end range, but adequate for using most of their features on a daily basis. Confirmation of car alarm settings on the LCD adds to your peace of mind when leaving your car for the day.

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The Prestige APS997Z alarm itself is highly sensitive and customizable. The dual shock sensor means there’s no tampering that a would-be thief can sneak past this car alarm, but city mode gives you more control, making it less likely for the alarm to be tripped accidentally.

Your neighbors will thank you for this feature! And the multi-tone mini siren gives you a range of choices for how the alarm is sounded should anything happen.

The Prestige APS997Z’s fob range is a whopping mile – that’s over 5,000ft and a step ahead of the main competitors. Peace of mind wherever you wander.

Prestige APS997Z’s automatic locking and alarm arming give you added security – no more wondering if you remembered to arm your vehicle. And starter interrupt prevents carjacking, in the unlikely event that someone should enter your vehicle.

Prestige APS997Z also happens to be one of the most expensive car alarms on the market, so it had better be good. Bonus features such as keyless entry and hot or cold start come as standard and ultimately it meets expectations – and beyond.

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CARLOCK 4th Gen’s also exceptionally affordable, at least at the outset. But for continued access to CARLOCK’s cloud storage and app features, you’ll be locked into a monthly contract. Although it doesn’t break the bank, it still adds up year on year.

But there’s plenty to make CARLOCK 4th Gen worth it. An easy-to-use app interface gives you real-time data about your vehicle. That includes security measures such as alerts when your engine starts, or if unusual vibration is detected around the vehicle. And you can use accurate GPS data to locate your vehicle in the case of criminals getting away with it.

CARLOCK have also integrated a virtual mechanic, which keeps an eye on your vehicle’s battery health as well as a range of features to give you greater insight into how the vehicle is driven when you’re not around.

This CARLOCK 4th Gen monitors braking and acceleration. Ever wondered if your teen was driving safely? Wonder no more.

CARLOCK’s innovation is reinventing the car alarm. But they’re leaving old features by the wayside. With this CARLOCK 4th Gen alarm system, you’ll be relying on your factory car alarm to alert the neighborhood if someone tampers with your vehicle.

Installation of CARLOCK 4th Gen couldn’t be easier – simply plug it into your car’s OBD II port. It’s stealthily stashed, making it less likely that criminals will detect and disconnect.

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While the one-way design of Crimestopper SP-402 prevents you from receiving data about your vehicle, you still have long-distance control over your car. That includes remote start technology to get your vehicle warmed up on cold mornings.

The Crimestopper SP-402’s 2,300ft range should be more than adequate to make the most of this function.

The Crimestopper SP-402 car alarm system itself is pleasingly loud, and the LED display provides an intuitive approach to arming and disarming. The armed setting offers a blue flashing light that deters would-be thieves.

Installation of Crimestopper SP-402 can be done independently by the mechanically-minded, and the instructions provided by Crimestopper are easy to use. But for complete peace of mind, professional installation won’t break the bank with this gadget.

While there’s the option to upgrade this system to two-way through the purchase of an additional antenna and remote pager, Crimestopper SP-402 functions effectively as a one-way budget alarm with a few frills included.

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This Viper 3100V one-way security system lacks some of the bonus features of competitors, but it makes up for it by offering maximum security for your motor.

2-stage shock sensors can identify any degree of tampering with your vehicle, from subtle lockpickers to brute force. And door, bonnet, and boot protection isolate every area of your car that could be penetrated, offering you bespoke protection of your belongings and engine.

Viper 3100V comes complete with everything required for installation – but due to the complex wiring job required, professional installation is a must for this total security system.

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The Directed Avital one-way system won’t deliver data to your key fob or smartphone. But Directed Avital does boost your peace of mind by creating a secure system around your vehicle. Adjustable shock protection gives you total control over the sensitivity of your car alarm system. That means fewer false alarms waking you up in the night!

Directed Avital offers a loud siren to deter thieves and a subtler parking light flash which draws attention to your vehicle without disturbing the neighborhood.

DIY installation of Directed Avital is achievable in a few hours for those familiar with the wiring requirements, but Directed recommends you use an authorized installer to ensure adequate protection.

While Directed Avital’s a back-to-basics alarm system (even remote start is sold separately) you get a powerful alarm system for less than you’d spend on a takeaway for two.

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The Buyer’s Guide To Choosing Right Car Alarms

Along with every aspect of our lives, car alarms have changed with the ubiquity of smartphones. Now, car alarms join the ranks of other “smart” appliances and can give you real-time data and information about your car.

This is a new landscape in-car security! Hop in, let’s go for a rude one.

Do I Need An Aftermarket Car Alarm?

Most modern cars are fitted with a factory alarm system, raising the question of if you need to upgrade with an aftermarket car alarm.

How deep do you need to dive into the world of car security?

Whilst factory car alarms are usually reliable and can make a hell of a racket if someone’s breaking into your vehicle, they lack additional features that give you added security.

Aftermarket alarms have glass and shock sensors, triggered by any suspicious movement around your vehicle. And app compatibility that sends location data directly to your phone or tablet is invaluable if your car goes AWOL.

Anyone who takes the security of their vehicle seriously should invest in an aftermarket alarm. The added sensitivity and real-time data give you peace of mind about your motor.

One-Way Or Two-Way Car Alarms?

When it comes to alarms, one-way and two-way refer to how data travels between the vehicle and the user.

With a traditional one-way alarm, data only travels in one direction. And in this case, it’s from the car’s key fob to the vehicle, enabling you to arm and disarm your alarm system at the touch of the button.

Two-way systems take this up a notch and allow the vehicle to transfer data back to the user. Through the use of an app connected to the alarm, you can get instant access to a wide range of information about your vehicle.

Ever struggled for a parking space, leaving your vehicle down nameless side streets? Searching for where you’ve parked your car when you’re rushing to work is frustrating, but two-way alarms can give you location data in a snap.

And if your car really goes missing, that’s a great way to find it.

Of course, these alarms will also alert you to any tampering with your vehicle or attempted break-ins.

And they can even let you know if you’ve left your vehicle unlocked or left the lights on, draining the battery.

Two-way alarm systems utilize modern technology to provide you with everything you need to know about your car. For forgetful folks, that means no more fretting over whether you locked your doors!

Of course, these alarm systems come at a premium. And if you’re not the type to worry, it might be overkill. We’ve examined a range of one- and two-way alarms in the article to give everyone a choice for them.

Can A Car Alarm Lower My Insurance?

With insurance premiums soaring, anything you can do to mitigate that cost helps your monthly budget.

Car alarms offer insurers some additional assurance about the safety of the vehicle, and thus your premiums can come down.

However, insurance is determined by a range of factors, from where you park it to your career. And how much a car alarm impacts your insurance will depend on these factors as well as the individual insurer.

Car Alarm Features To Look Out For

As with any contemporary gadget, there is a wide range of added features to look out for. Car alarms range from the bobby basic to the science fiction tech. The choice is yours.

1. Sensors And Alarms

How your alarm actually functions to alarm is crucial.

Some work silently and cause your car’s parking lights and headlights to flash, giving a visual alarm without raising a ruckus.

And some have insensitive sensors – for example, some alarms are only triggered if the car door is opened.

For maximum security, you need a sensitive sensor with shock and glass sensitivity. That way you’re alerted when a window’s broken or your vehicle takes a knock.

And a sensor that makes a racket is more likely to scare off thieves and alert you to trouble. An alarm that is linked to your car’s horn should make an adequate ruckus. Car horns range at around 100-110dB, so look for alarms that integrate this level of sound.

2. Signals Range

The alarm’s range can refer to both how close your key fob needs to be to arm the system, as well as the distance at which it can communicate with your phone to give you digital alerts.

Many aftermarket car alarms can send signals of up to 3,000ft – over half a mile. This creates a radius of around a ten-minute walk from your car within which you can arm the vehicle and receive a signal in return. Hopefully, you’ve found a closer parking space!

3. Targeted Carjack Protection

Whilst broken windows and ransacked interiors are a pain, they’re usually an easy fix. But when your car goes missing altogether? That’s when the trouble starts.

Losing a car full of prized possessions is a double-whammy of loss.

So picking up an alarm system that really deters would-be car thieves is invaluable. And many alarms have multiple in-built features that disincentivize the carjacker.

High-pitched sirens have been demonstrated to deter thieves, and kill switches that prevent the engine from starting are highly effective at stopping criminals from getting away with your motor.

If you’re worried about car thieves in your area, carjack protection is a vital feature.

4. Encryption

Times have changed, and the technology thieves employ to break into your car has evolved way beyond the traditional coat hanger!

Thanks to evolving electronics, car thieves are now bonafide hackers, digitally infiltrating the signals your key fob sends to unlock your vehicle.

BY replicating these signals, your hacker can build themself a key to your vehicle!

Fortunately, modern-day alarms can defend against digital attacks, as well as traditional physical break-ins.

An encrypted alarm that adds layers of digital security to your car protects you from the most sophisticated attacks.

5. There’s An App For That!

From online dating to grocery delivery, there’s an app for that. And car security is no different.

Smartphone integrated car alarms put total control of your car’s security in your pocket.

You can receive text and app alerts about the security of your car, track its location by GPS (as handy for when you’ve simply misplaced your parking spot as when thieves make off with your vehicle) or even unlock your car from your phone.

App integration makes security easier than ever.

6. Bonus Features

The growth of technologically integrated car alarms provides a range of bonus features to look out for.

Remote-start lets you boot up your car’s air-con or heating before you leave the house. No more waiting for the engine to warm up on cold mornings.

Valet mode is increasingly common, unlocking the vehicle for parking attendants without giving them access to the trunk or glove compartment.

And keyless entry or trunk release gives you easy access to your vehicle when you’re juggling a few things.

7. Installation

For complete security, car alarm installation needs to be done by a professional. These complex wiring jobs need to be undertaken meticulously. After all, false alarms cause unnecessary stress.

And we’ve all been woken up by rogue car alarms on our street – don’t be that person!

DIY installation can be achieved by the electronically savvy, but often messing with your car’s electronics will undermine the manufacturer’s warranty. That means if your alarm does malfunction, you’re left in the lurch.

For peace of mind, employ the professionals.

Wrapping Up…

For many of us, our cars are our prized possessions. And yet it’s the only thing we store on the street.

You’d normally lock up your valuables. Well, an aftermarket car alarm is akin to placing a safe around your vehicle.

Losing a car to theft is a pain, but it can have serious ramifications. Are you sure your boss will understand if you don’t turn up to work that day?

And the cost of car theft catches many off-guard. Even with insurance, deductibles can hit your wallet hard. And if you lose a car to theft, your insurance premium is likely to skyrocket.

Investing in an aftermarket car alarm is a no-brainer. So fast track car security with an aftermarket car alarm – let complete car security take the wheel!