| $ Basic Radar Detector: $30-$180 | $ $ Mid-Range Radar Detector: $150 - $350 | $ $ $ Radar Detector + Additional Features: $400 - $650 |
At some point, every car owner had to struggle while being pulled up by a cop and getting a speeding ticket.
This situation actually happens a lot, showing that even the most careful drivers who are constantly checking their speed can miss a decreased speed limit sign or follow the traffic flow as it increases speed without noticing.
So, getting a radar detector can help you be more aware of your surroundings while on the road; a radar detector will work as a dashcam, protecting you from possible mishaps and making your drive safer.
This electronic device was designed to detect radar guns police officers use to measure a vehicle’s speed on the road; when the radar detects radar waver, it will alert you to make you slow down your speed; here’s a video that shows you all you need to know about radar detectors.
Thanks to them, you will improve your awareness of the road and your surroundings, and you’ll get many benefits, like saving money on speeding tickets (which costs an average of $150), preventing license suspensions, and improving your safety.
Table of Contents
Are Radar Detectors Legal?
In most states of the United States, radar detectors are legal in private vehicles; they are considered as preventing measures that tell the driver to slow down and be mindful of the speed limit, but laws vary from state to state.
Some people don’t like them and say radar detectors are dangerous as they can distract the driver from the road, while others say they can encourage overspending and allow reckless driving.
The states that don’t allow radar detectors on windshields are California, Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Aside from the listed states above, the other states allow mounting radar detectors, but what’s not permitted by federal law in any State of the United States is mounting radar jammers.
How Do I know Which Radar Detector to Get?
There are many brands and types of radar detectors; they come in various shapes, sizes, and styles, with different features and characteristics, making each of them unique to suit every individual driver’s needs and preferences.
So, knowing which is the best option for you can be quite hard and requires investigation; here are two articles made by Road Show and Forbes Wheels that list the best radar detectors of 2021 with reasons and more.
Basic radar detectors can cost $30 to $80, which usually feature a basic 360-degree radar detection; more specialized basic radar detectors can cost from 80 to $180 because they can be paired with Smartphones and work with them.
Then, there are also mid-range radar detectors that can cost $150 to $350; these can alert about radar and laser speed traps.
There are also some radar detectors that are equipped with additional features like GPS technology and software upgrades; these usually cost $400 to $650.
Price is a major factor that differentiates basic radar detectors from more specialized ones, but the difference in performance is quite significant; here’s a video made by Vehicle Virgins which shows the difference between a cheap and an expensive radar detector.
And you can typically find and get a radar detector at retailers like Best Buy or Walmart; and online retailers like Amazon.
Things to Consider
Before Buying:
- First, it is a good idea to do a little homework and investigate about radar detectors and their technology.
- Also, check about the different brands and their reviews online to determine which one is the best for you.
- There are Smartphone apps that are cheaper than a radar detector. They work by holding a database of speed and red-light cameras across the nation, alerting the user when they are in the vicinity of the cameras. The thing with these apps is that they are not very reliable.
When Buying:
- When buying a radar detector, you will notice that you should find the radar detector device, connecting cable, and the owner’s manual inside the box. Other things that can be included in the box are: a windshield bracket kit, a visor mount, a travel case, and a hardware kit.
After Buying:
- After making your purchase, you’ll have to mount the radar detector in your car. This can be done in various locations around the vehicle, and it’s a procedure that can $5 to $50.
- Radar detectors often need software updates from a speed and red-light camera database. This requires a subscription that can cost from $20 to $80, depending on the services included.
- How Much Does an Acetylene Tank Refill Cost? - May 20, 2022
- How Much Does an Acre of Land Cost? - May 20, 2022
- How Much Does an Acorn Stair Lift Cost? - May 20, 2022