Last updated: 10 Feb 2023

Best Car Horn in 2021 – Reviews and Buying Guide

Most of us pay little attention to our car horn. We’re happy with it as long as it blows and convinces those ahead of us in the road to give way. What we fail to realize is that most factory horns produce a weak or less intimidating sound. Upgrading them is a must if we want to gain authority on the road.
Which is why we have come up with this article. We have prepared a list of the ten best car horns currently available on the market. Some of which are really, really loud. Others are more subtle in delivering the message. Yet all have one thing in common: they’ll help clear the road for your vehicle.
We have also included a detailed car horn buying guide. That is to make sure that you end up picking the right model for your requirements. Keep the factors mentioned in the guide in your mind, and you’d be able to select the right car horn for you.

Best Car Horn in 2021 – Reviews and Buying Guide

1

FARBIN Waterproof Auto Horn

Check latest price

The Farbin Waterproof Auto Horn provides the best of both worlds. On the one end, its 130dB voice level is loud enough to force others on the road to give way. On the other, its 12V power consumption is low enough to not weigh heavily on your car’s battery.

What’s more, the utility of this alarm isn’t limited to passenger cars. Its classic design means you can as easily fit it on trucks, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles. We have also seen it on pocket bicycles, off-road vehicles and even karts. The good news continues.

You can also count on this horn to keep going for years. Mainly because its high-quality ABS shell can withstand rain, dust storms and other outdoor elements. It is also protected by a fixed bracket iron sheet that doesn’t let road debris make its way to the horn.

2

HELLA 003399801 Supertone 12V High Tone/Low Tone Twin Horn Kit

Check latest price

What is it that separates these horns from others you see in this review? Start with their tone. One that sounds like nothing else you get from other horns. It is also loud enough to guarantee that your car has the maximum attention of every other thing that moves on the road.

Then comes their black coated metal body. It protects the horns from scratches and also keeps rust and corrosion at bay. Equally useful is the red protective grill. You can count on it to shield the horn’s inner components from dirt, dust and moisture particles. 

 Everything you need to get these horns up and running is included in their kit. That includes 2 horns (1 low-tone, 1 high-tone), one 12V relay, and a couple of mounting brackets. You’d also get a booklet of instructions telling you how to mount this horn. 

3

Wolo (310-2T) Loud One Horn - 12 Volt

Check latest price

The Wolo Loud One Horn is designed for the faint-hearted. It produces a low tone noise that works best in dense city traffic, on highways and in the middle of the night. You won’t hear any complaints from your neighbors about the loudness of this product.

Which is what makes it a must-have for those of you who didn’t have any problems with their factory horn, but have to replace it for the simple reason that it broke down. And for those who are now looking for a horn that could mimic its factory counterpart in both tone and loudness.

Yet another area where this product will rival its predecessor is durability. Steel and plastic construction has provided it with years of hassle-free service. The former will keep rust and corrosion at bay and plastic will make its presence felt with its waterproofing qualities. 

4

Zone Tech 12V Single Trumpet Air Horn

Check latest price

The Zone Tech 12V isn’t your average aftermarket horn. Mainly because those horns aren’t capable of producing sound as loud as 150dB. Which is what this model does. But also because their voice can’t be heard two miles down the road. Which is how much distance its sound covers.

You might find it surprising to note that, despite its ultra-loud sound, this horn is exceptionally affordable. It also boasts great build quality and can be mounted on any 12V DC vehicle on the road. That’s why you may have noted its presence on trucks, vans, cars and tractors. 

That this horn can be installed on your car’s roof means you’re saved from the trouble of making modifications under the hood. Though we still suggest hiring a professional as the installation process isn’t as straightforward as one may think of it. 

5

Petsply 24V Train Horns For Trucks

Check latest price

Most ultra-loud horns you see on the market use a bulky air compressor. One which takes their sound level north but makes the entire structure bulky and difficult to install. This is why we were surprised to note that Petsply didn’t use its 300dB sound level as an excuse to use an air compressor.

Instead, what these horns use to generate massive sound is a small electromagnetic device. One which you won’t even be able to notice unless you decide to look closely. And which can be credited not only for this horn’s loud sound but also for its ease of installation. 

What’s more, while this horn relies on 24V power supply, you can as easily hook it up with 12V SUVs, passenger cars, motorcycles and ships. However, if you’re concerned about your neighbors’ opinion of yourself, we suggest not using it in your street.  

6

PIAA 85115 Superior Bass Horns

Check latest price

What we really liked about this horn is its uncomplicated design. No complicated wiring, no unnecessary relays and no added fuses. The only that that is there is a circular coil. One that looks more like a tape measure than a horn, let alone one that can emit 112dB sound.

Apart from its massive sound, yet another feature of this horn that you cannot guess by looking at its design is its two-tone functionality. That is right. You can operate this horn either at low tone (330Hz) or at the high tone (400Hz). This makes it suitable both for city traffic and empty highway roads.

Equally impressive is this model’s ease of installation. With no fuses or wiring to send your mind into a tizzy, you simply have to remove your old horn and hook the ground and power to the PIAA horns. The entire process is so straightforward it shouldn’t take more than half an hour. 

7

SEGER Trumpet Car Horn Set

Check latest price

One may have many concerns about this car horn set. You can point out the fact that it’s smaller than other models on the market. Or that it isn’t as affordably priced as some of the other models out there. But you can have no complaints when it comes to its sound and build quality.

Start with sound. This middle-priced product is capable of producing both high and low tone sounds. It can produce a maximum sound level of 118 decibels, which is enough to ‘convince’ other people on the road to give your vehicle the way.

Then comes its build quality. Unlike many other horns out there that want you to believe their word about their sturdiness, SEGER gives proof. Its horns meet European ECE R-28 and EEC70/388 quality control regulations. You can thus count on this product to withstand abuse. 

8

FARBIN Compact Air Horn

Check latest price

Here’s another budget-friendly horn that offers high-end features. Foremost among which is its super-loud 150dB sound level. It ensures that when you honk the horn, no one on all four sides of your vehicle will be able to ignore it.

This air horn is easy to install too. Farbin has made sure of that by providing it with the harness using which you can get it up and running manually. That means there’s no need for you to hire a professional or take your car to the mechanic. 

This model’s design takes things one step further. It has a built-in air pump and therefore requires no air source on the car. You’re thus saved from placing an ugly looking air compressor on your vehicle’s roof. What more can you ask for!

9

HELLA 011225881 Black 77mm 12V BX Disc Horn Kit

Check latest price

The first thing you might want to note about this horn kit is that it’s available in three versions. The first two versions – which are designed for Honda and Toyota vehicles respectively – cost the same. That isn’t the case with the third ‘universal’ version. It is the most expensive of the three.

The model we’re reviewing here is made for Toyota vehicles. It can churn out 118dB of sound level and comes with a specific connector for the Japanese brand’s cars. Other items that form its kit include one low tone horn and one high tone horn.

To further sweeten the deal, it meets strict ECE requirements. This horn also exceeds OEM requirements for passenger cars, heavy-duty trucks and off-road vehicles. Throw into the mix its moneyback guarantee, and you don’t have any reason to complain about it. 

10

Carfka Air Train Horn Kit

Check latest price

Do other drivers refuse to take you seriously on the road? Want to get a horn that will force them to give way? Then you might want to check out the Carfka Air Train Horn Kit. This best car horn upgrade has too many features forcing others to take note of its presence.

Foremost among which is its 150dB sound level, which makes this air horn at least 40dB louder than other models you see on the market. Then comes its copper and zinc construction. Both these materials combine to provide this horn with a long and trouble-free shelf life.

They’re followed by its 30-day moneyback guarantee and 1-year warranty. Both of these are examples of the level of trust Kafka has placed in this horn. They also show that if anything goes wrong with this product, the chances of which are pretty slim, you won’t have anything to lose. 

Car Horn Buying Guide

What to consider when buying a car horn? Here’s the answer:

Size

The best aftermarket car horns are available in three sizes. Small horns are incredibly compact and will replace your old horn in its original position. Medium horns will require you to install additional mounting space on the steering wheel. Large horns, meanwhile, can only be mounted outside the engine bay.

Make sure you know how much space you have on your roof or under the hood before you invest in aftermarket horns. Then compare that space with your potential horn’s dimensions. There should at least be a difference of half a foot between the former and the latter.

Voltage

How much voltage your next horn needs to operate? The answer to this question lies in the voltage of your car’s battery. Most passenger cars work with twelve-volt batteries these days. Plenty of off-road vehicles, motorcycles and even boats do the same too.

That’s why you must ensure that the aftermarket horn’s voltage rating is twelve. Check out its packaging or ask one of its company’s representatives. For, if its voltage rating is greater or less than twelve, you’ll end up with a useless horn.

Decibels

The loudness of car horns is determined by their decibels. The greater a horn’s decibel rating, the louder it is going to be. Most OEM car horns, excluding those that come with large trucks, have a decibel rating of around 106. That is the bare minimum your next horn must be able to produce.

If you’re looking for the loudest car horn, check out air horns. Some of them produce 150 decibels and can be heard from a distance of nearly two miles. However, you might want to check out with your local authorities whether they allow usage of such ultra-loud horns. 

Tone

Do you regularly travel long distances on reasonably empty roads? Or are you almost always stuck in dense city traffic? Answers to these questions will determine whether you need a high or low tone horn. High tone horns produce sound with a higher pitch that can travel greater distances.

Even with a low decibel rating, they will produce a piercing sound that will alert drivers at a considerable distance of your presence. That isn’t the case with soft tone horns. The closer you’re to the next driver, the louder low tone horns will appear. This is what makes them an excellent choice for city traffic.

Pro Tip: Can’t decide between a low and high tone horn? Then invest in a model that offers both. Such horns allow you to change their tone based on your requirements.

Material

Steel, plastic and metal are the three most common car horn materials. Steel horns last the longest because they can resist rust and corrosion and keep wear and tear at bay. However, they’re also the most expensive and attract scratches.

Plastic horns might be cheap but that doesn’t mean they’ll break down quickly. Some of them, especially those made of PVC or other polymers, can keep going for years. Metal horns boast more or less the same properties as that of steel. But they aren’t as pricey as steel. Nor is their rust resistance as excellent.

 FAQs

Q: What are the benefits of an air horn?

Air horns produce a thunderous noise by pushing compressed air through a diaphragm. You can blow them to let your buddies know you’re waiting for them outside their great, without switching off your vehicle. 

They also let you make pedestrians and other drivers on the road aware of your presence. The intensity of sound produced by air horns will also force other drivers to react quickly. 

Q: How to install a car horn?

No two car horns have the same installation method. That’s why we suggest that, unless you have advanced knowledge of mechanics, you must hire a professional to install the horn. Many things could go wrong if you go about with the process on your own. 

Q: What is the legal decibel limit for a car horn?

In the majority of US states, the legal decibel limit for a car horn lies somewhere between 100 and 110 decibels. It is therefore advised that you check with your state laws before investing in a loud or air horn. Or else, you could be exposing yourself to a ticket.

Related posts