Vehicle Firearm Safes – What you Need to Know

 Crime levels have spiralled out of control in South Africa

Thinking citizens keep self-preservation top of mind.  This means being armed, trained and ready to act with a self-defence firearm whether at home, on the road or away from home.  Personal safety needs you to minimise the time that you are unarmed.  This is precisely where a vehicle firearm safe comes in.

How does a vehicle safe help?

You should always carry when on the road, but there are many scenarios that can separate you from your gun at your destination:

• Your employer does not allow you to carry on company premises.
• You visit clients who don’t allow you to carry on their premises.
• You want to spend time in the casino or pub with your pals after work.
• Your job takes you onto national key points.
• Your child’s school and/or after school activities disallow guns.
• You need to go to court, a consulate, trade embassy or other public institution.
• You want to go to gym, or run, or cycle, or play sport.
• You want to go to the beach or swim or play games with the kids.
• Your holiday destination has a gun free policy, but no acceptable firearm safes.
• Your doctor, lawyer, auditor, etc. does not allow you to carry on their premises.

It’s bad enough for these times, but what makes it worse is having to leave your gun in the safe at home.  Not only are you without your gun for longer, but it often means extra travelling time and cost.  You avoid this entirely with a vehicle firearm safe.  With a Pangolin vehicle firearm safe you can:

Always travel armed and simply lock away in your vehicle safe when the occasion requires it.

What does the law say about firearm safes in vehicles?

The South African Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 recognises that firearm owners sometimes need to temporarily store a firearm in a vehicle or caravan.  Provision is made for doing so in the form of the type B3 vehicle firearm safe to SANS 953-1 as prescribed in the Firearms Control Regulations 2004.

What you Need to Know

Here are the legal requirements to store your firearm in your vehicle when you are away from home:

• The vehicle must be equipped with an immobiliser (factory fitted is acceptable).
• The safe must conform to the prescripts of SANS 953-1 for type B3 safes.
• The safe must be installed in conformance with SANS 953-1 for type B3 safes.
• The installation must be certified in conformance SANS 953-1 for type B3 safes.
• The safe and installation do not need to be inspected by SAPS (but your DFO may request it).
• An evidential record proving a compliant installation is highly recommended!

NOTE: A vehicle safe is for temporary use only (i.e. when you do not have access to your normal safe) and may not be used as a permanent storage solution to replace your SAPS inspected and approved home safe.

Pangolin: your partner in safe and secure firearm storage

Pangolin is a specialist South African manufacturer of premium vehicle safes with international recognition for setting the highest standards in the industry for security and quality, backed by matching top-rated service.  We understand not only the letter of the law, but also the real life dangers that our customers face daily.

Partner with Pangolin to safeguard your safety and rest assured that you are acting responsibly and legally, while protecting your firearm and your community.  Granted it will make a dent in your pocket, but can you afford not to be proactive on personal safety?  Join the elite group of Pangolin owners who lead the way.

An essential piece of equipment that minimises unarmed time, protects your firearm and your licence.

27th November 2025