Advertiser Disclosure
The best car horns don’t necessarily have to be air horns. Some of the standard electrical horns can make some significant noise. However, if you really want your vehicle to sound something like a train, then air power is the way forward.
Whatever the reason you’re looking to replace your standard horn, there’s a wide variety of different horns available. They range from around $25 right up to hundreds of dollars. But, all you really want to know is “will it wake the dead?” and “will it last?”
Safety First
Before we get too involved in the products, it’s worth pointing out that some replacement horns will need a significant upgrade to the electrics also. This is for two reasons.
The first reason is that to make some serious noise, some horns use quite a lot of electrical power. Regardless if they’re air horns or not; if the existing electrical wiring and set up isn’t up to the job, it could seriously impede the amount of noise the horn(s) will make. So, a 130 dB horn may only be making something like 110 dB.
Secondly, loading up electrical circuits beyond their safe limit leads to overheating wires. This, in turn, could lead to an electrical fire. You don’t want to burn your car out just for the sake of a poorly fitted horn.
The Best Car Horns
We’ve selected six different horns that all make a better noise, a louder noise, and in the case of one or two of them, could be mistaken for a train. They’re certainly loud enough to wake up the sleepiest of drivers when they’re in your way.
In no particular order, we have:
Stebel 11690019 Compact Mini Air Horn Black
- Rating: 5.0 / 5
- Brand: Stebel
- Color: Black
- Loudness: 139dB
Although Stebel says it’s a ‘unique, one-piece design’. It uses a harmonized twin tone, one at 530Hz, the other at 680Hz, so the tone is quite high pitched. If you want something deep and booming, this isn’t for you.
As for volume, when fitted correctly with the appropriate wiring, it pumps out a massive 139 dB of noise, even with the compact size (4.5″ x 3.5″ x 4.5″). It will work on any 12V system but does draw 18A. So, it’s likely that you’ll need to sort the wiring as part of the installation (it does come with a 12V relay in the kit.)
The water-resistant compressor and smaller size make it an ideal fit for a bike. So, when that car driver does pull out in front of you, you can definitely give him a blast from this. It’s not the loudest horn here, but it’s not far off. The size (and price) give it a good edge. It’s definitely one of the best compact horns available.
These horns are much bigger than you might think, which A) is surprising, and B) makes you really have to think about where you’ll fit them – 4.25″ each horn. There’s two in the kit to give a high and low tone – 500Hz & 300Hz, rated at 118dB. Added to the size complication (for fitting) is that the horns are directional. So, they really need to be facing forward for maximum effect.
They have a fancy bright red protective grill on them, which considering most people won’t be able to see them seems a bit superfluous. But, on the off chance that they’re mounted somewhere noticeable, people really will notice them.
The noise itself is still like a regular high pitched ‘beep’ noise rather than anything else. It’s not a pleasant noise, but I guess that’s half the fun.
The HELLA horn kit comes with 2 x horns, 1 x 12v relay, 2 x mounting brackets and detailed installation instructions.
A 12V horn for use on pretty much any vehicle, including bikes. It’s pretty small but packs a powerful punch. The manufacturers say it has a rating of 150 dB. It’s about the same as a jet take-off at 25 meters.
It uses two harmonized tones for that perfectly annoying pitch. Every horn is tested in the factory before being shipped. So, you’re guaranteed to not have a problem with it on delivery.
It comes with great install details, a 12V relay, and of course, the horn itself.
This is a patented one-piece design that uses no hoses or external parts. It’s all built into the horn which helps to make it an easy install. Wolo says that it’s twice as loud as anything that’s standard fitting on regular cars.
It’s another dual-tone horn, but unfortunately, there are no specifics. I don’t know the decibel level or the frequency of the tones.
The compact size makes it ideal for use on a bike, but truthfully, it would be a great upgrade for any vehicle that uses a 12V power supply. A 12V relay is included in the kit, and the compressor is a maintenance-free heavy-duty affair. It should last for a number of years without any problems at all.
A 330Hz & 400Hz twin tone horn – resembling good old fashioned car horns from the years gone by. It’s rated at 112 dB (about the same as a live rock concert.) PIAA says that it will fit straight to the vehicle without any need for extra wiring or relays. It’s literally plug and play.
It’s a bit more expensive than some of the competition, but PIAA is well known in the automotive industry for offering quality products that last. This should be no different.
If you’re looking for something a bit deeper than a standard horn ‘beep’, this should be on your list of best car horns.
MPC B1 (0419) 4 Trumpet Train Air Horn Kit
- Rating: 4.5 / 5
- Brand: MPC
I’ve saved this till last because it’s more than a plugin horn, more than an air horn. In fact, it’s just more than everything.
Yes, it’s five or six times the price of the competition listed here, but this is the daddy. The ‘I’m going to deafen you’ setup that needs a vehicle with a bit of space and presence to carry it.
Unlike the competition, this kit comes with everything (bar tools) needed for the install: 4 chrome trumpets, all in one air system with a 110 psi compressor, 3-liter air reservoir, 12 ft. of airline, 12 ft. of 10 gauge power wire, 15 ft. of 20 gauge power wire, 20A fuse with holder, assorted crimps & wire connectors and zip ties.
They say it fits any vehicle, and while in theory that may be true, the reality is that you need space to mount the trumpets (there’s four of them) and a separate space (dry) to mount the compressor and tank. The tank itself measures up at 15.75″ x 5.25″ x 6.0″ so it’s not like it can fit in the glovebox.
As for the noise, the description says ‘Train Air Horn’ and that’s pretty much what you’re getting, right down to the tone (perhaps it’s slightly higher in pitch.) This setup is pure noise at the push of a button.
Unfortunately, it won’t fit a bike or I’d be ordering one up as we speak.
