How much of your time do you spend in your car? Probably more than you’d like. Between commuting, taking kids to sports, picking up dinner, etc, sometimes I feel like I live in my car. And that’s just me, an average Joe. If you’re a police officer or carry a firearm for a living, you likely spend even more time behind the wheel. With that in mind, we need to factor our time in vehicles into how we carry a firearm. Today, we’ll cover how to carry in a vehicle safely — focusing specifically on holster considerations.
Legal considerations tend to be challenging to cover since laws vary widely from state to state. If you’re going on a multi-state road trip, it would behoove you to do that research independently.
What Not To Do
Bottom line upfront: don’t buy or use car magnets or mounts. Those are ridiculous and unnecessary. I’d go as far as to call them dangerous. Taking your gun on and off every time you get in and out of a vehicle is silly and encourages unnecessary handling. Leaving your firearm in a holster in your car also puts it at risk for theft.
These car magnets and mounts are a nightmare if you get into a car accident. Imagine not only dealing with the crash itself but also with a gun flying loose, bouncing around the cabin. You’re adding more danger to an already dangerous situation. If you need to remove your gun inside your vehicle, you should secure it in a safe that is properly secured to the vehicle.
Vehicle Considerations
No one designs cars, trucks, or SUVs with concealed carry or duty carry in mind. Even dedicated police vehicles come with challenges. Your specific vehicle may present unique obstacles, depending on the make and model.
For example, I’m a big guy — 6’5” and 280 pounds. I drive a fairly standard sedan, and it creates all sorts of challenges when it comes to carrying a firearm.
As a right-hander, my gun would traditionally sit on my right side. This means it’s jammed against my center console and often pressed into my side. Carrying a firearm in a strongside OWB or IWB configuration is a hassle. It’s tough to access my gun and is downright annoying on longer trips.
A simple way to evaluate your setup is through a vehicle-based dry fire session. Dry fire refers to practicing with an unloaded firearm. First, clear your gun and visually and physically inspect the chamber to ensure it’s empty. Then, don your holster, get in your vehicle, and try to draw your firearm.
Ensure your seatbelt is on and your foot is pressing the brake. (I’d keep the car in park for training.) Draw your gun and try to see what happens. Can you quickly and efficiently access your firearm? Can you draw without muzzling yourself or others in the vehicle?
Take note of how much your body has to move to draw your gun and any required motions and steps. I’d most certainly use a timer or stopwatch as well. Heck, record yourself with your phone; this will help you spot issues from a different perspective.
Holsters, Vehicles, and Carry Positions
Strongside OWB
For users like me, this method is tough because the firearm gets jammed against the center console. However, if you’re not built like a giant, this can be an easy way to access your gun inside a vehicle. The holster sits away from the body, creating space for a clean draw, and it usually remains clear of the seatbelt.
Strongside IWB
Big guys, beware — this position can be challenging. However, for most people, it works well. It sits tighter to the body, so it’s less likely to dig into your center console. Access might require some slight body movement, but it can be mitigated. It’s also free from seat belt issues in most cases.
AIWB
I’m partial to AIWB for vehicle carry. There is no center console in the way, and the steering wheel is far enough away to not be a concern. I can draw quickly and efficiently, and so can most other people. While it seems like the seatbelt will be a problem, in reality, it’s not. If it is, you’re either wearing the gun or the seatbelt wrong.
Duty OWB
Duty rigs are often big and large and a pain in the butt in vehicles. One great way to overcome these problems is a mid-ride setup. It lowers the holster down the leg and is typically out of the way of the center console and other challenging gear. It’s easy to access and comfortable.
Crossdraw
Crossdraw is an old-school carry method, once favored by highway patrol officers. With the gun facing the door, it can be easier to draw inside a vehicle. However, its drawbacks outside of a vehicle make it hard to recommend for everyday carry.
Shoulder Rigs
Shoulder rigs are my go-to for long road trips. When I drove from Florida to Houston, I used a shoulder rig. The gun sits up and under the arm, staying clear of the seat, center console, and passengers. Plus, I can crank the AC, so a light button-down shirt over my gun doesn’t bother me.
It’s easy to draw from, and its orientation makes it simple to avoid flagging passengers. However, the draw requires practice and effort, and it can be a little slower. That said, if you’re willing to put in the work, it does work quite well inside vehicles.
Carry On
Every person, vehicle, and situation is different. You may need to experiment with various carry positions to find what works best for you. For most people, their daily carry setup will work just fine. However, if you spend a lot of time in a vehicle, you may find that switching from strong-side IWB to AIWB — like I did — makes a big difference in comfort and accessibility
One of the best things you can do is take a vehicle combative course with a qualified instructor. That’ll allow you to pressure test your gear and gun in a controlled, safe environment with someone who can teach you to work around and in vehicles. Taking that kind of course this year was an eye-opener for me.
Regardless, carry on your body. Carry often, practice regularly, and be prepared for whatever comes, whether inside or outside of a vehicle.
