Best Car Horns: Get People’s Attention With These Top Picks
You won’t be hard to miss with these top car horns
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A car horn is an often overlooked but necessary accessory for your vehicle. Most states require vehicles to have working horns. but choosing the right one can be challenging. You want one that other drivers and pedestrians can hear, but you don't want it to be annoying. The type of sound and tone it emits is very important. Our buying guide will help you find the best car horn for your car or truck.
HELLA Sharptone Car Horn Kit
A great-looking car horn that is surrounded by a protective metal housing and yellow shield. The horn is loud and stands out once mounted.
- Horn has a low tone frequency of 350 Hz and a high tone frequency of 415 Hz
- It is capable of reaching 115 decibels, and it comes with its own relay and mounting hardware
- It isn’t designed to fit in all vehicles
- Housing may make it too large to fit properly
HELLA Black 77mm 12V BX Disc Horn Kit
These universal-fit, ultra-durable disc horns offer a lot of quality at a low price. The kit includes one high-tone 420 Hz horn and one low-tone 350 Hz horn.
- This is a loud and solid-sounding horn
- It is louder and sharper than your stock horn, and it's easy to install
- It gets people's attention without being deafening.
- Relay may be required if you want a louder and deeper sound
- May be difficult to mount on certain models
Super Loud Marco Tornado Compact Air Horn for ALL 12V Vehicles
The Tornado horn has a noise level of 150/151 decibels and includes two harmonized tones. It's rigorously tested before leaving the factory and comes with a two-year limited warranty.
- This horn is much louder and much more attention-grabbing than an OEM horn
- Installation is simple, and it sounds good with a nice dual-tone
- Fairly heavy
- You might need to install a relay if your fuse is not strong enough
- Instructions are not very clear
Best Car Horn Reviews & Recommendations 2021
For our best choice, the HELLA Sharptone Car Horn Kit is sleek and mighty. It has a modern look to it and even though it’s tucked away out of sight, it stands out from other standard-looking horns on the market. Its design is coated with a black metal body and yellow shielding that protects it from being thrashed around while you drive.
As for how loud it gets, it is able to reach around 115 decibels. It has a frequency range between 350 Hz and 415 Hz for each of its low- and high-toned horns. Plus, it comes with its own relay for increased sound and performance, and it has all of the necessary mounting hardware you’ll need to install it. It’s also reasonably-priced.
They may not fit properly in all vehicles, though, because they may be too big due to their housing. This can also make installing the horn a bit difficult as well. They may also be higher pitched than you’d expect.
HELLA is a brand synonymous with car horns, and the HELLA Black 77mm 12V BX Disc Horn Kit is functional and capable. As our best budget choice, the horn has a high tone of 420 Hz and a low tone of 350 Hz. On the decibel meter, the horn is rated to top out at around 111 decibels, which may not be insanely loud, but it’s enough.
The surprising thing about the horn is that while it won’t win any awards in the decibel department, it is still shockingly loud. The horn is universal as well, and should be able to fit in any vehicle. It even makes a great addition to any motorcycle, too.
However, you may need a relay for better sound and increased volume. Also, while the horn is compatible with all types of vehicles, you may find it difficult to mount on certain models.
The Super Loud Marco Tornado Compact Air Horn, or simply The Tornado, does what its name suggests: It’s loud, compact, and built for trucks, cars, and motorcycles. When you want to warn people of your location, the horn tops out at 150 decibels, making it the loudest and mightiest vehicle horn to make this list.
Installing it is easier than laying on the horn itself. It’s light, too, making it that much easier to mount in place. As a dual-toned horn, it is twice as loud and resonates between a low and high frequency, so those around your car will know you’re there.
The one thing you may need to make the horn just a bit louder and more impressive is a relay. Also, while it can be easy to install, the instructions aren’t the most easy to follow and you may need to go to the Internet for answers.
The HELLA Twin Trumpet Car Horns are unique, loud, and certainly attention-grabbing. For starters, you get two horns, including one powerful high-performing horn for added noise. They both feature at least 400 Hz and pump out around 110 dB per horn. The kit comes with all of the necessary equipment to install it yourself.
One of the most interesting features of the HELLA Twin Trumpet Car Horns is its included app. Once you get the horns in place, you can download the app to listen to how your horn would sound in different traffic situations. It sounds odd, but it could be helpful or just a fun way to interact with your horn.
However, they can be difficult to install in certain vehicles. Depending on the layout, the horn may interfere with other components due to their size. The horns also may not have the same sound as stock or OEM horns. The sound isn’t the most aggressive either.
Wolo’s Car Horn is a single 12-volt device that offers a deep bass tone. The horn is set at a reasonable price and is made out of a combination of sturdy plastic and steel. The mixture of the materials makes the horn dependable and reliable enough to last several years.
The horn is rated to function with all vehicles built after 1955, making it rather versatile. The horn is rated at 410 Hz and 115 decibels. Together, the frequencies make for a clear and audible burst of sound. The kit is also easy to install and includes a heavy-duty mounting bracket and hardware. It also makes a great horn for motorcycles.
However, the terminals may be too long to fit on certain vehicle models. It also may not be all that loud when compared to other brands. While 115 decibels is quite alarming, we feel it could be much louder.
Tips
- If you don't know what size horn you need, select one that's a bit smaller than the original one that came with your car. It will be easier to install than one that is bigger and may require modification.
- Be aware that honking your horn can be startling to other drivers or pedestrians. If possible, slow down or stop instead of honking your horn because that may be safer in certain situations.
- If you aggressively sound the horn when you're driving in traffic or do so really early in the morning or late at night, you may be fined.
FAQs
Q: When is it okay to use my car horn?
You can use your horn when it's necessary to promote safe driving practices. For example, hit the horn if a person tries to turn in front of you, and you want to avoid a collision.
Q: When shouldn’t I use my car horn?
Do not honk your horn to make a driver or bicyclist go faster. Do not honk your horn to alert a driver that they made a mistake, because this may make them mad and eager to retaliate. Don't honk it simply because you're upset.
Q: Are loud car horns legal?
Some states have laws that limit the volume of acceptable decibels. Typically, car horns on passenger vehicles are rated between 100 and 150 decibels.
Final Thoughts
Our pick for the best car horn is the HELLA Supertone 12V High Tone / Low Tone Twin Horn Kit. You get both a high-tone and low-tone horn that are very loud and grab people's attention.
For a more budget-friendly option, consider the HELLA Black 77mm 12V BX Disc Horn Kit.
Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
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