An armored car generally has many features that help safeguard the passengers, driver, and possibly and valuables inside the vehicles. Although armored cars vary widely, some common features of these vehicles include:

  1. Secured glass. In most standard cars, a key point of resistance is the window glass, which can easily be penetrated by a bullet. All armored vehicles have reinforced glass or special glass to help prevent bullets and other materials from entering the car. Many armoured cars, for example, combine glass with special bullet-resistant plastic or layer multiple layers of automotive glass to provide a bulletproof glass. Many armoured cars also have tinted glass to provide an extra level of protection by helping to prevent a criminal from taking aim at a passenger inside the car.
  2. Special chassis and clearance. Some armored vehicles have features such as four-wheel drive chassis and off-road ground clearance. Such features allow for quick escapes from dangerous situations and in some cases even permit the driver to drive across sidewalks, off-road terrain, and other obstacles to get to safety.
  3. A special body. Early armored cars had reinforced windows and sides but were not reinforced all the way around. In 1927, manufacturers realized the importance of securing the entire body of the vehicle when thieves robbed a Brink’s truck by setting explosives in the road in order to access the un-reinforced area under the truck. Today, armored vehicle manufacturers reinforce the entire area of a car or build an armored car that has floors, ceiling, walls, and doors made from an impenetrable or sturdy material, such as steel. In some cases, the interior of the vehicle is reinforced with ballistic fiberglass cloth to provide additional protection.
  4. Armed tires. The tires of armored vehicles are protected, often with a hard plastic liner. These protect tires from bullets and other dangers. As well, if a tire is punctured during an attack, armed tires generally allow the driver to drive on the deflated tires in order to escape the situation.
  5. Special grill guards and bumpers. Some armoured vehicles feature special steel ram grill guards in the front and bumpers which allow the car’s driver to push through larger obstacles and obstructions on the road, such as a vehicle roadblock.
  6. Weight and ballistic resistance. Good armored cars are designed to balance good levels of ballistic resistance with light weight to ensure that a truck is not clunky and slow but still offers the needed resistance to bullets and other forms of attack.
  7. Security features. Armored trucks, especially, may have additional safety features. For example, an armored truck designed to transport cash or goods will generally be separated into three areas – one for the driver, one for a passenger, and one for the valuables. This helps ensure that even if a criminal gains access to one area, the other two areas are still secure.
  8. Clearly, when selecting armored vehicles, there are many features to keep in mind. If you need help selecting the features or armoured car that will best suit your needs, contact INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing today for a consultation. INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing is a leading North American manufacturer of armoured cars, with the experience and expertise to help you with your security needs.