Security - Car shield

How to have a better protection for your car

Armoring a car is a highly complex procedure and therefore quite expensive: costs can easily match the car's value and not rarely overcome. Data Molicar, company research the prices actually charged on the market

Like other high-impact financial decisions, the shield must also be studied carefully so that the investment pays off. The following is what you need to know before you shield your car.

Shield Value

A shield with the level of protection most used by the market, III-A level, is unlikely to have cost less than $ 15,000. A value less than this to that level may indicate that the armoring is taking a loss to a lower price or she is passing on some kind of injury to the consumer.

Due to the complexity of the process, very low values ​​can be suspected. To be shielded, the vehicle is completely disassembled, keeping only the bodywork, engine and dashboard. Are taken from the inside of the roof cover and the lining of the doors, the seats, the windows and wheels for materials with ballistic resistance are installed. And then you still need to remount the drive with extreme care to preserve the vehicle's characteristics. All this maneuver is reversed at a high cost.

 Currently the average price of shielding is $ 17,000. The value depends on the level of shielding and the car model. "In larger and more sophisticated cars are used more materials and labor should be specialized, since the bulk of domestic items and equipment requires more detail," explains Fábio Rovedo de Mello, diretorda Concept Shields, a company that 10 years on the market.

To show more concretely the values ​​of shields, Mello divided into three groups process costs for some of the most commonly armored cars. Prices are related to the level IIIA protection, which is used by 95% of the market, according to Abrablin.

lower-cost screening: In this price range, some commonly armored cars are the pickup trucks, such as the Saveiro Cross and the Fiat Strada, which are sought by a public that wants to combine a lower cost to a more discreet protection, says the Concept of director . The value for these models is around $ 10,000 to $ 11,000

average cost of shielding: In a value considered medium to shield fit the average sedans like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta. The protection of these cars cost between $ 12,000 $ 14,000

expensive shielding: The most expensive screens are usually the most sophisticated cars, requiring greater care in the service, and great cars like SUVs SUVs. In this range, the shield exceeds 18mil dollars and the sky is the limit. The shield of a Porsche Cayenne, which is a more sophisticated SUV, for example, costs about $ 25,000, according to the director of Concept shields.

The protection levels I, II and II-A already have lower costs, which can from $ 7,000. They are protection levels less used and available by few companies. They are more common among the most popular cars, whose drivers are willing to spend less money and also between small cars and low power, which do not support the weight of the IIIA protection.

Maintenance costs

The shield also implies larger car maintenance costs. Fabio Mello states that in the event of an accident or repair, the cost of repair is at least 20% higher. "In addition to higher cost, it is necessary that a specialized company, preferably their own armoring, make repairs," says Mello.

Because of the weight gain, the fuel consumption is also higher among the armored cars. But according to Mello, increased spending for non armored cars can greatly depend on the model and the type of shielding.

shielding companies usually offer guarantees at least two years, covering only the shield defects. This means that if the car pass by an accident, the armoring does not cover the repair.

Protection levels

there are four shielding protection levels: I, IIA, II and IIIA, and the level I the smaller, cheaper and less weight and more resistant level, more expensive and more weight, III- THE. They follow the American standards, which specify which projectiles a certain level of shield must withstand.

Level I: It is the smallest protection available. Resists arms shots 32 and 38, but is vulnerable to larger calibers. With this protection, the driver would need to analyze the type of weapon to see if the car would withstand bullet, a very complex decision in such a critical moment.

Levels II and II-A: These levels are part of a single level according to the American table. They resist the arms 9 mm and the Magnum 357. It would not be a tough protection, for example, kidnappings when bandits often use larger weapons.

Level III-A: According to Abrablin, the IIIA level has a resistance four times greater than the level I and is the protection used by 95% of the market. It is resistant to hand weapons of all calibers, including submachine guns (pistols) 9 mm and 44 Magnum.

Fábio de Mello argues that IIIA level is what has best cost and benefit. "The IIIA level has the best relationship between protection and price. In seeking to shield the consumer now seeks greater protection, already has this in mind. So if the OBEJECTIVE protection is more worth giving up a more expensive car and buy a cheaper car to use the highest level shield ", he says.

It is noteworthy that even with the greatest protection, the car will not be quite tough. Some car points as columns and handles may prevent a perfect fit of the materials and glasses also have a limited resistance. According to international standard, the vehicle must be able to withstand up to five shots in an area of ​​20 square centimeters, which means that if there is a sixth bullet that area the vehicle can not resist.

What cars can be shielded

The president of Abrablin explains that with the currently available technology, any car can be shielded, but depending on the case the shield may not make sense. According to him, the commercial appeal some companies are willing to shield any model, even if the shield affects car performance, stability or become prohibitively expensive.

"Some companies force the bar about it. There are people who want to shield convertible car. It is even possible armor, but some parts of the bonnets will be more vulnerable. very large cars also are very heavy and require changes in the suspension. I would not say there are cars that can not be shielded, but the project cost may be too high and not worth it, "says Christian Conde.

According to him, it can not indicate specifically for which cars not recommended shielding, but one can say what types of vehicles are more and less suitable.

Cars less suitable for shielding: Convertible and sunroof car, the greater complexity of installation of materials and the high value; large vans, such as the Chrysler Town and Country, car at high weight will also require suspension of the review and can generate a very high cost; with lower motor cars to 1.6, because with shielding power and the weight increase is removed quite significantly.

most recommended cars: cars with more power, better support for the additional weight of the armor, and medium-sized cars, the largest economy since end up requiring less use of material such as, for example, the average sedans. There is not a more specific indication of the best cars to armor, but check what were the most armored models in recent years can be a good clue to find which ones best match extra protection
How to choose company

Although there is no kind of quality test for armoring, but to manufacture materials bullet proof, companies must undergo ballistic tests carried out by the military. Only companies that have the registration of securities issued by the army are authorized to market the products. And the armoring must also be registered in the Army and get authorization for armouring and market each vehicle (Certificate of Registration - CR). Check the registration of title and the CR is the first step in choosing the company.

According to Abrablin, and wary of companies with very low values, companies that promise very light shields can also be suspicious. According to the association, to do business, some companies say the cabin of a sedan is protected against guns shots or 9 mm handguns Magnum 44 with an increase of only 100 kilograms. But, only the armored glass of an Omega, for example, weigh 164 kilograms (IIIA level).

The president of Abrablin points out that it is imperative to visit the company before closing the deal. "Many dealers make agreements with armoring, and vendors offer the armored vehicle at the time of purchase of the car. For added convenience, consumers then close the deal without knowing what the company and without visiting the store, "he says.

Doing so can be risky because the utility may be interested only in receiving the commission and make the statement without having made sure of the reliability of the company. And second Count, in a few cases the shield has a support of the assembly, most of the time the purchase and the shield are independent processes.

To avoid pitfalls, seek references about the company on the Internet or with people you know can also help.

Weight shielding and power reduction

The additional weight of the armor also varies according to the car model and the level of protection. To take a measurement using the level I in which the materials are lighter in a compact car like the Fiat Palio, the additional weight is 70 kilograms. As for a car like the Vectra, using the most protection, IIIA level, can be added over 130 kilos to the car.

The added weight, with consequent loss of power, is a major concern when it comes to shield the car. If the weight is greater than the vehicle can handle, the car can be damaged in its structure and gain restrictions on the volume of cargo and passengers that can be transported.

As there is no reference that shows exactly which cars support each type of shielding to whether the protection is compatible Christian Conde suggests that the driver check the vehicle's manual for the maximum car load and consult with the armoring the weight that the shield add.