Buying guide for Best radar detectors
In almost all states, unless you are a commercial driver, radar detectors are legal devices that you can have in your vehicle. However, it is always prudent to double check, as laws may change. The battle with radar detectors is like an arms race: the best models are the most effective.
Your primary consideration is deciding if the radar detector will be for multiple cars. If so, you will need a portable model. If not, a dash-installed unit is usually the better option. You'll want a sensitive detector with an adjustable antenna that can discriminate against false alarms and is WiFi- or Bluetooth-enabled.
How radar detectors work
A radar detector is an in-car device that identifies many of the radar guns used by law enforcement to measure the speed of a passing car. Using the Doppler shift, a radar gun measures the distance and speed between the electromagnetic beam sent out by the handheld gun to a passing car and then back to the device.
Depending on the sophistication of the device, a radar detector can alert a driver via a panel that signals the presence of police radar as well as the posted speed limit and the car’s current speed. Newer, high-end radar detectors can also send out jamming signals that block the radar from tracking a car equipped with such a device.
The radio waves present in any one area – TV and radio signals, garage door opener signals, and so on – can create many false alarms, but some newer radar detectors can differentiate between various kinds of electromagnetic waves to limit the number of errors.
Radar guns have been used by police for more than 50 years, and as radar detectors have improved, law enforcement agencies have added lidar guns to their arsenal. Lidar, a technology used to create 3D topographic maps, sends out a laser beam that can be directed at a single object to detect its speed within 1.9 miles per hour. In addition, a lidar beam can capture a vehicle's license plate and even an image of the driver.
Lidar creates problems for most radar detectors. While some are tuned to be able to detect laser-based speed guns, many do not provide adequate warning for a driver to slow down. To combat the power and effectiveness of lidar, a number of manufacturers have come up with technologies that can absorb the lidar laser beam and nullify its ability to detect speeders.
These anti-lidar solutions are independent of the radar detector device; they are polymers that can be applied to a car’s headlights or other parts of the front grill. In many states, such laser jammers are illegal because of safety issues with laser beams.
Our team evaluated dozens of different radar detectors to find the most reliable models for everyday drivers.
Portable radar detectors are ideal for use with multiple vehicles, so we evaluate different models to find the most versatile and easy-to-use options.
We assess radar detectors for their reliability and obscurity from police detection to determine which models are worth the investment.
We appreciate radar detectors that are easily installed or discretely windshield-mounted, making them user-friendly for non-commercial drivers.
Our researchers highlight radar detectors with embedded WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities for advanced, albeit more expensive, performance.
Our team looks for radar detectors that provide the best features for the price to find models with the greatest overall value.
Bonus points go to quality portable radar detectors with advanced features like real-time traffic alerts and red light camera detection.
Radar detectors are legal in many areas, but our team encourages users to consult their local regulations before deployment.
We look at radar detectors with built-in dash cams because we understand some consumers want this feature.
Our team looks for radar detectors with displays that are easy to read and understand while a user is behind the wheel.
Selecting the right radar detector for you
Finding the right radar detector for your purposes isn’t as simple as searching, clicking, and running your card. There are a number of considerations to take into account.
Should you choose a radar detector that installs on your dash or a portable one?
The advantage of a dash-installed radar detector is that it is far more difficult for a thief to steal and equally difficult for law enforcement to detect. And when it comes to radar detectors, a less-conspicuous device is optimal.
Those who change cars frequently or rent vehicles often would be better off with a portable radar detector. If the dangling power cord is an issue or annoyance, there are radar detectors that run on battery power, although battery life could then become an issue.
How sensitive is the radar detector?
In the U.S., traffic radar is done over three bands of the radio spectrum: X-band, K-band, and Ka-band.
Not all radar detectors can easily detect signals from all three bands.
It is wise to check which bands a specific device covers and whether it uses a high-end, adjustable antenna to provide the ability for greater coverage.
Testing radar detectors
We spent 38 hours researching 63 radar detectors before picking our contenders. We then selected our top model and tested it in our lab.
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How likely are false alarms?
Aside from sensitivity, one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a radar detector is the number of false alarms it sets off.
With so many radio waves in the atmosphere, lower-end radar detectors can be set off by any number of devices, including automatic door openers (the kind you would find at the entrance of a supermarket) and other radar detectors.
To avoid false alarms, higher-end radar detectors have built-in filters used to tune out frequencies common to the radio waves that generate false alarms.
Does the radar detector have access to the internet?
WiFi and Bluetooth technology have been a big plus for the radar detector industry.
Because no radar detector can be 100% accurate, a number of higher-end units come with both WiFi and Bluetooth (your car must have WiFi in order for some of these features to work) that can communicate with other drivers for crowdsourced info on speed traps and other hazards.
This information can also come into your smartphone and then be shared with your radar detector via Bluetooth.
Caution
To combat drivers using radar detectors, police now use VG2 guns which can determine the presence of a radar detector in an oncoming car.
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Legal ramifications
At the time of this writing, radar detectors were legal for passenger vehicles in 49 of the 50 states, with Virginia and the District of Columbia being the exception, and all 50 states forbid the use of radar detectors in commercial vehicles.
Also at the time of this writing, radar detectors are legal only in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
The restrictions are the same for lidar detectors.
It should be noted that in the state of Virginia, simply having a radar detector in your car – even unplugged – is against the law and could result in a fine.
Because laws can change quickly, it’s always wise to check the law detector regulations imposed by any region in which you’ll be driving.
Caution
Radar detectors are illegal in parts of Canada and some parts of the U.S. Using your device in these areas could lead to a major fine.
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Radar detector prices
Under $50
There are a number of radar detectors in this price band that might be considered bargains, but customers uniformly complain about displays that are difficult to read, weak battery life, and a large number of false positives.
Another issue some cheaper radar detectors may have is a constant beeping that makes it difficult to determine whether or not the unit has detected a speed trap.
Under $100
Moving up in price, you’ll find radar detectors with added features such as laser detection and the ability to filter out false alarms.
Many of these radar detectors will offer various modes for driving in the city, where false alarms are more common.
Under $200
What you find as you climb up the price ladder are such features as the ability to detect Ka-band, which is prevalent in Europe and possibly coming to the U.S. Higher-end radar detectors may also have a shut-off feature that makes them undetectable by police in areas where the devices are illegal.
Under $500
In this lofty price range, one special feature you’re likely to find is the superior ability to detect lidar from a distance. For less-expensive radar detectors, this is challenging if not impossible.
FAQ
Q. Does it matter where I place my radar detector in my car?
A. The best placement for your radar is pointed slightly down and in line with the center of the vehicle.
Q. Can radar detectors pick up red-light cameras?
A. In general, only the most expensive radar detectors can pick up the radar used for such cameras. Older red-light cameras operate on a pressure pad in the highway and cannot be detected by any device.
Q. Are laser jammers legal?
A. Devices that block lidar detectors are illegal in some states. Check the specifics for any state you’ll be traveling in.
