Carrying Concealed While Driving

Over the past three decades I’ve taken multiple vehicle-tactics courses from top trainers, studied videos of actual incidents and evaluated different vehicle tactics using force-on-force scenarios. All these paths of study lead me to the same conclusions: if the car can move, drive away from the problem. If you must draw while seated in the vehicle, the on-body draw is typically faster than opening a glove box or console and charging the pistol, assuming the loose gun is carried unloaded. Using a car magnet or mounted holster is faster, but this leaves the gun in plain view, unless—as is preferred—the pistol is transferred to on-body carry each time the carrier exits the vehicle. Leaving an unattended pistol exposed to view from outside the vehicle, on the other hand, invites trouble.

Start by purchasing a quality holster that can be used for strong side, appendix or crossdraw position, preferably with strong metal belt clips that can attach to pants without requiring a belt. My favorite solution for this is Discreet Carry Concepts belt clips, which can replace the mounting system of most Kydex holsters. Sadly, the holster selection at most retail stores skews toward products that are ill-suited for serious carry within a vehicle. A model-specific Kydex holster purchased directly from one of the dozens of online holster shops is preferred when it comes to the vehicle portion of a concealed carry routine. Choosing one that has the option to attach a wing or a claw and a foam pad to maximize concealment and comfort is recommended.

Chamber a round, engage any safeties and put the pistol in the holster. Before you leave the house, put the holstered pistol on your person. Wear it while driving and when you stop for gas or errands or food. Don’t leave it in the car unless circumstances prohibit you from having it on your person, whether legal or occupational (remember that workplace prohibitions, or those of private property owners, may be stricter than statutory ones).

Purchase a metal lockbox. The box in the photo is from Harbor Freight Tools and comes with a sturdy metal cable that allows the box to be tethered to the vehicle. The box should be big enough to hold the holstered pistol. I leave an AirTag in the box as well. In the event that the gun box (or the car) is stolen, the AirTag can be used for location and recovery.

When you absolutely can’t wear the gun, leave the pistol in the holster and put it in the box, which is cabled to the car. Close and lock the box and push the box under the seat, or keep it locked in the hatchback area or trunk.

When you return to your vehicle, get the gun out of the box and put it back on. When you get home, wear the gun inside. The gun stays in the holster the entire time, eliminating unnecessary handling and display of an unholstered firearm. The storage box, not the gun, stays in the car. If you need a storage box for inside the home, a second box or larger gun safe is the best approach.

Develop the habit of wearing the gun as much as possible, only storing the gun in the vehicle when carry or home storage is impractical. When you must leave the gun behind, it’s much less likely to provoke uninvited attention, or worse, when it’s secured as I’ve described.