Best Blind Spot Detection Systems (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023

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All vehicle mirrors, including older ones, are essential driving aids. Their purpose is to depict items, people, places behind, around, and adjacent to vehicles. Modern-day cars are much more high-tech, making even further alterations to improve vehicle safety and technology features. Automotive makers use new technological developments to offer preventative safety tools for drivers to keep passengers safe. Yet, not all vehicles, especially older ones, come with the latest technology. Some car owners need to determine and install newer systems that are right for their vehicle.

Drivers can use systems like the blind spot detection system to notify them of any potential hazards that may exist outside their eye view. Many items and people can be undetectable or invisible to those in the driver’s seat, especially in certain areas. Dealing with a blind spot(s) is a significant issue most struggle with regularly. To boost traveling safety and the driving experience, you need to know which blind spot monitoring system is the best one for you, and we’ve narrowed down some of the top picks available on the market.

Increase your driving awareness. A single pair of eyes can only look at so many things at once. When you have a lot of different things going on around your vehicle, it helps to have as much extra coverage for your senses as possible. A blind spot monitoring system does just this by consistently viewing the spots you can’t always track while driving.
Increase response time. Reaction time can be the difference between life and death. In order to respond to something, you need to actually notice it in the first place. Blind spot sensors tend to be more effective than mirrors alone since they give an active notification of something that is nearby or in the blind spot itself. With mirrors, you still have to see the reflection in order to react accordingly.
Make passengers feel safer. Few people will argue with the opportunity to ride in a car that increases safety however possible. With a blind spot monitoring system, you can give passengers some extra piece of mind when riding in an older vehicle. Better still, the basic indicators notify everyone in the vehicle, so extra passengers can help you notice important things in tandem with the sensors.
Help drivers of larger vehicles. Blind spot detectors help drivers of big vehicles as your blind spots are larger-than-usual. Whether on highways or city streets, you can decrease your stress levels with the ability to monitor large, unseen areas surrounding your big vehicle.
Prevents car crashes. Along with monitoring the areas around your vehicle, blind detection systems can keep you from running into another car, preventing collisions with other vehicles that are moving in the same direction or an adjoining lane.

Factory-Installed Systems

The most common type of blind spot monitoring system is the one automotive manufacturers offer as standard or as an upgrade feature at certain trim levels. While more and more manufacturers are starting to offer these systems free-of-charge, most continue to reserve them for more expensive vehicles. As a result, they tend to be custom-tailored for the specific model, making few (if any) compatible with older vehicles.

Aftermarket Systems

Aftermarket blind spot monitoring kits make up a small market, but it continues to grow as more startups and major automotive accessory companies begin to offer custom-designed kits for a variety of cars. Many of these kits are meant to be near-universal in application, meaning you don’t have to worry about the make, model, and age of your vehicle quite as much. With that said, accuracy tends to be less than factory-installed kits, but this varies between different options.

Brandmotion

In a space that lacks recognizable brand names, outside automotive manufacturers, making in-car blind spot monitoring systems, Brandmotion has started to emerge as the niche leader. Formed in 2005, the company makes a range of 12-volt devices that enhance the driving experience of older vehicles lacking modern-day safety and convenience touches. The Brandmotion Radar Blind Spot System is the company’s primary blind spot monitoring system.

Under $250: Budget blind spot monitoring systems tend to be limited in functionality and accuracy. Most come with a couple of sensors and basic indicators.
$250-$500: The midrange of blind spot monitoring systems increases the accuracy of the included sensors, but most still fail to match the performance of OEM systems found on most modern cars.
$500 and up: For the most reliability and accuracy, this is the range you will need to consider. Here, sensor accuracy is high, and the internal controls tend to use advanced algorithms to reduce false triggers as much as possible.

Key Features

Sensor

Sensors are the eyes of any blind spot monitoring system. Using different technologies like radar, sonar, and lidar, a sensor can “sense” the environment in front. Generally, a blind spot system will use two or more sensors to cover different sides of the vehicle. When something enters into the “view” of the sensor at or above a specific speed, the sensor will trigger the indicator.

Indicator

Notification is important for any blind spot monitor system; otherwise, you would have no way of knowing when a sensor is tripped. Indicators come in many forms, but most aftermarket kits use a combination of visual LED lights and an audible alarm to notify you. Many systems will also give you some control over the notifications, like the volume level of the alarm.

Other Considerations

Accuracy. One thing that varies somewhat with different systems is the accuracy of the sensors. Essentially, accuracy for blind spot detection is how well the sensors can ignore false triggers (things that don’t present a danger) without ignoring anything that needs to be noticed. High-quality sensors tend to offer better accuracy, but keeping false trigger rates down also requires an advanced controller programmed to differentiate positive and false triggers as much as possible.
Installation. To use a blind spot monitoring system, assuming your car doesn’t come with one, will require installation. Professional installation tends to be the easiest route if you want good results, but many kits to make it somewhat easy to install the individual components yourself. In these cases, separate parts like the sensors and indicators will need to be mounted, usually using a drill and some fasteners.

Best Overall

Brandmotion Radar Blind Spot System

Best Value

Accele Automotive Blind Spot Sensor Detection System

Honorable Mention

Boyo Blind Spot Detection System

Honorable Mention

Brandmotion AVMS-3540V2 360 Degree Blind Spot Detection Vision System

Honorable Mention

CarBest Radar Based Blind Spot Sensor

Honorable Mention

CUB Trailer Blind Spot Detection System

Tips

You may have to play around with the placement of sensors before making holes in your car. Try some tape or Velcro to see what works during installation.
Make sure you mount the LED indicators somewhere you can see them without averting your eyes from the road. Many kits will have recommendations or instructions on proper indication placement.
Read the instructions carefully if you choose to install a blind spot monitoring kit yourself. Many kits require permanent alterations of the vehicle like drilling, so mistakes can be costly.

FAQ

A sensor projects a beam (light, radio, etc.) that bounces back when reflecting off of the surface of another vehicle. Based on the timing of the returning beam, the system can detect the object and alert the driver.

It’s not legally required, but many manufacturers offer some kind of blind spot monitoring system as a standard or upgrade feature.

It depends on the system since false trigger rates vary. Even the most reliable systems, however, are no substitute for using your mirrors, checking your own blind spots, and other safe driving habits.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to getting a blind spot monitoring system that nearly rivals factory-made options, the Brandmotion Radar Blind Spot System is your best bet. If you are looking for a budget system, the Accele Automotive Blind Spot Sensor Detection System is a great solution for the price.