The horns that come stock from the factory just aren’t loud enough. If you find yourself in a bustling city or congested highway, the sound of your horn can be drowned out by the commotion. To make sure your vehicle is heard (which keeps you safe by making other drivers alert), you need a loud car horn.
Whether you want a loud car horn to have some good old fashioned fun, or to stay safe, read on. We did the research and compiled a list of the ten best loud car horns you can find along with a handful of shopping tips along the way.
Factors to Consider When Shopping for Loud Car Horns
To make sure you pick the right loud car horn for you, keep these important factors in mind.
Size
First and foremost, you need to take a look at the size of a loud car horn. Car horns come in many different shapes and sizes, and some horns even come with twin horns. This means you need to make sure you have enough room for the horn you’re looking at.
Compact horns are small and can fit in your engine bay, while trumpet horns are too big to mount anywhere near your engine. Therefore, be sure to take a glance at the size of a horn and how much room you have under the hood or on your roof. Small horns will fit where your old horn was, medium horns will require additional mounting space, and large horns need to be installed outside of your engine bay.
Voltage
The next feature you need to consider is the voltage a horn needs to operate. A good rule of thumb to follow is that most cars work with a twelve-volt battery, and plenty of boats, motorcycles, and off-road vehicles do too. So, when you shop for a loud car horn, make sure that the voltage rating is twelve. If it’s not, you’ll be stuck with a useless horn.
Decibels
Decibels measure the noise level of a car horn, among other sounds. If you’re shopping for a loud car horn, you want to make sure that the horn you’re looking at is going to be louder than the horn you’re currently using.
Decibels are a concrete way to measure this, and OEM car horns, excluding large trucks, typically have horns that produce around 106 decibels. So, when shopping for a loud car horn, you want to make sure that the decibels are higher than that number.
Tone
While decibels are a good indication of how loud a car horn will be, other factors play a role too. For example, you’ll notice that many aftermarket car horns are only a few decibels louder than OEM car horns if you only look at the decibel number. This is where the high and low tones come into play. If a horn has 110db, but a high or low tone, the sound can be carried over more considerable distances. In many cases, this is where the real difference is.
High Tone
A high tone horn produces a sound that has a higher pitch. The result is a piercing sound that can be heard over great distances. Even if a high tone horn has a low decibel level, the piercing sound is going to alert more drivers than your stock horn, and it won’t burst your eardrums doing so either.
Low Tone
Low tone horns are different than high tone horns because they use a lower pitch. Low tone horns produce a deep sound with a lower frequency, and appear louder the closer you are. For dense traffic or highway driving, low tone horns are a great choice.
High/Low Tone
If you stumble across a horn that has both high and low tones, it’s worth a look. These horns rely on two twin horns to produce both high and low sounds that offer the best of both worlds.
Trumpet
Trumpet horns are air horns that produce a blaring sound similar to that of trains and eighteen-wheelers. These horns typically boast an impressive 150 decibels and work well for trucks, boats, motorcycles, and other loud vehicles. Trumpet horns generally are a blend of high and low tones, which is why they deserve to be in a league of their own.
For a deeper look into each type of loud car horn, check out our full guide to choosing the right style for you.
Installation
Installing loud car horns is not always easy, but you’ll find that some horns are much more straightforward than others. If you’ll be taking your vehicle to a mechanic, this isn’t as important, but for those of you eager to install a loud car horn yourself, you should know what you’re getting yourself into. We’ve come up with three difficulty levels to rank each product: beginner, advanced, and expert.
Beginner
A beginner horn is the most straightforward horn to install. These horns come with everything you need, excluding the tools, and connect to your vehicle’s OEM wire harness. These horns are also small enough to fit where your old horn was, so you can use OEM parts if you need to.
Advanced
Advanced horns are not too hard, but require more care and attention when you install them. Advanced horns have air compressors that need their own wiring, and they can be too big to fit where your old horn was. Also, we’re labeling twin horns as advanced because you’ll need to mount them to your grill.
Expert
Expert horns are difficult horns to install because none of the parts connect to your OEM horn. These are usually trumpet horns because they use a large air compressor and horn to produce their loud sound. With expert horns, if you haven’t worked on a car before, get ready for a project.
Price
Loud car horns are an affordable product, and even the expensive options won’t cost you that much. That said, there is a lot of variation in loud horn pricing. So, after careful consideration, we’ve grouped each loud car horn into one of three categories:
$: Around $15
$$: Around $30
$$$ Around $50
Now that we’ve covered the most important elements to consider, let’s take a look at the best loud car horns on the market in 2020.
Top 10 Best Loud Car Horns 2020
1. The Best Loud Horn Overall: Hella 003399803 Supertone
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
Price: $$$
Decibels: 118
Volts: 12
Size: Medium
Tone: High and Low
Installation: Advanced
The Hella 003399803 Supertone 12V is a premium horn kit that comes with everything you need for installation and use right out of the box. The horns provide a sound that’s unique to Hella, which means that other drivers are bound to notice your horn, even during highway driving. Plus, sound aside, these horns boast a loud 118 decibels.
Not only do these horns perform well, producing high and low tones around 500 Hz, but they’re durable. The horns come with a protective casing in a variety of colors, and a Teflon pill to prevent damage from humidity. The Hella 003399803 Supertone can also be installed both vertically and horizontally, and they look great under the hood.
The Hella 003399803 Supertone is well-made in the USA, and it’s one of the best horns you can find. The horns look good and offer enough durability to be used off-road, during heavy rain, and even on motorbikes. Thanks to all of the uses these horns have, there is no better horn kit available. Plus, Hella has been producing horns for over one hundred years, so they know what they’re doing.
Things to Consider
While the Hella 003399803 Supertone is a high-end kit, the best installation location is on the grill of your car. Otherwise, these horns can be too bulky to fit in congested engine bays. Therefore, if your vehicle lacks the necessary grill space, you might find yourself out of luck with this horn kit. If you like the style and purpose of these horns, but need a smaller product, the PIAA 85115 Superior Bass Horn is a great alternative.
Who It’s For
The Hella 003399803 Supertone is a good fit for anyone looking to make their horn louder. That said, off-road drivers tend to find the most value in these horns because of their reinforced design. So, while they’re a good fit for everyday drivers, just make sure you have the grill space before considering this horn kit.
Pros
- Protective casing that protects against debris and humidity
- High and low tones around 500 Hz
- Made in the USA
- Reputable company
- Great for off-road driving
Cons
- Grill mounting is required, which can be difficult
2. Best Compact Trumpet Horn: Hella 007424801 Twin Trumpet
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
Price: $$
Decibels: 110
Volts: 12
Size: Medium
Tone: High and Low
Installation: Advanced
The Hella 007424801 Twin Trumpet is a simple horn kit that comes with two high-quality trumpet horns. The horns produce a loud sound, and since they’re twins, the low and high hertz sounds blend well. The trumpet sound is like no other you’ll find on the road, and while they’re not as loud as full-size trumpet horns, these horns are a great way to get that sound in a passenger car.
The horns come in a few different colors, and they can be mounted vertically or horizontally. While grill mounting is the easiest way to set these horns up, their compact size allows you to set them up within the engine bay if you need to. For the price, these are high-quality horns that produce plenty of sound to keep you safe on the road.
What Sets It Apart
The Hella 007424801 Twin Trumpet, made of corrosion-resistant steel, is unique because it acts like a trumpet horn without being cumbersome. For example, more trumpet horns are only suitable for trucks and boats, whereas this horn can be fitted to a wide range of vehicles.
Things to Consider
While these horns act like trumpet horns, they don’t produce as much sound as full-size trumpet horns. Whole 110 decibels of noise is respectable, and twice as loud as a stock car horn, a loud engine can still drown this horn out.
If you drive a truck and need a louder trumpet horn, the Zone Tech 12V Single Trumpet Air Horn is a great full-size trumpet horn that produces 150 decibels of sound.
Who It’s For
The Hella 007424801 Twin Trumpet with Bracket is for passenger car drivers looking for a trumpet style horn. While the horns produce a potent amount of sound, they’re not as reliable for trucks and boats. The good news is that these horns provide more than enough sound for passage vehicles, and their compact helps too.
Pros
- Compact design
- Twin horns instead of one
- Trumpet sound at half the size
- Corrosion-resistant steel
Cons
- Not as loud as traditional trumpet horns
3. Best Low Tone Horn: FIAMM 72112 Freeway Blaster Low Note Horn
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
Price: $
Decibels: 133
Volts: 12
Size: Small
Tone: Low
Installation: Beginner
The FIAMM 72112 Freeway Blaster Low Note Horn is a simple horn that does what it’s designed to do: make a ton of noise. The horn doesn’t look like much, but for its size and price, it projects a generous amount of sound. This horn is also versatile enough to fit on most vehicle types, including ATVs and motorcycles.
The FIAMM 72112 Freeway Blaster Low Note Horn is simple to install and comes with everything you need. The product comes with a universal bracket, jumper wire, nuts, and female connectors. These parts make it a breeze to connect the horn to your vehicle’s stock horn harness and wires. For peace of mind, every FIAMM horn is quality tested for their sound against OEM horns, and the horn has a corrosion-resistant steel housing.
What Sets it Apart
The FIAMM 72112 Freeway Blaster Low Note Horn is unique because of its size and value. Many budget horns fail to include everything you need for an easy install, which can lead to the need for purchasing additional parts. With this horn, you get everything you need right out of the box, and it’s small enough to fit anywhere. For the price, it’s tough to find a better compact horn.
Things to Consider
Unfortunately, there is one drawback to this horn. The primary issue is that it doesn’t fit every vehicle. No horn is going to fit every car, but this horn can be a nightmare if you have a car that was made before the year 2000. If you have an older car, but like the compact design, the Stebel Nautilus Compact Mini Air Horn is a great alternative.
Who It’s For
The FIAMM Freeway Blaster Low Note Horn is for people looking to make their horn louder without any hassle. The installation is smooth, and it’s small enough to fit in most engine bays. While it won’t make the most sound, you’ll be impressed by what it can do for its size.
Pros
- Compact design
- Quick and easy installation
- Comes with everything you need out of the box
- Low price
Cons
- Doesn’t fit most vehicles before the year 2000
4. Best Premium Horn: PIAA 85115 Superior Bass Horn
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
Price: $$
Decibels: 115
Volts: 12
Size: Medium
Tone: High and low
Installation: Advanced
The PIAA 85115 Superior Bass Horn is a great mid-tier horn that fits most vehicles. While it’s not the loudest horn you can find, the tone is deep enough to alert other drivers and wake up your neighbors. The horns are small, making them easy to install underneath the hood of your car. Even with these horns, you’ll still have room for additional modifications if you have future plans.
What Sets It Apart
The PIAA 85115 Superior Bass Horn is an excellent product because you don’t need any additional parts or wires to install them. In most cases, you can simply remove your current horn and replace it with these two horns. The harness that it comes with provides a location for you to put them, and you can directly wire them in the same place your old horn was. You don’t need any fancy tools, harnesses, or wiring kits. Keep in mind that if your vehicle is older, it might not be as simple to install.
Things to Consider
While the PIAA 85115 Superior Bass Horn is roughly twice as loud as a stock horn, it’s not that loud compared to other loud car horns. We would have liked to see more decibels from this horn, but we do like the low pitch that it creates. If you’re looking for a louder car horn, but you want the twin horn design, the Hella 003399803 Supertone is an excellent alternative in the same price range
Who It’s For
The PIAA 85115 Superior Bass Horn is for drivers looking to double the noise level of their stock car horn. The horn is a good fit for most vehicles, and it’s simple to install using leftover wires from your old horn. If you’re someone who is merely looking for a horn with a little more oomph, but nothing crazy, this horn is a great choice. Keep in mind; you’ll need a decent amount of space under the hood for this horn.
Pros
- Connects to OEM harness
- Three different tones
- Deep pitch
- Small design that’s compatible with most vehicles
Cons
- Not as loud as some of the louder car horns around
5. Best Compact Horn: Stebel Nautilus Compact Mini Air Horn
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
Price: $
Decibels: 139
Volts: 12
Size: Small
Tone: High
Installation: Advanced
The Stebel Nautilus Compact Mini Air Horn is an impressive little horn that produces a lot of sound for its size. While the horn is smaller than most other horns you can find, you’ll find that the noise is almost as loud as large trumpet horns. This level of sound is achieved thanks to the horn’s harmonized tones that blend for up to 139 decibels of combined sound.
The compact design of the horn also makes it simple to install. While the installation can be complicated, the compact design makes it easy to fit the horn into tight spaces. Plus, the compressor is attached to the horn, which makes it even easier to get everything running and working.
What Sets it Apart
The Stebel Nautilus Compact Mini Air Horn is one of the smallest horns you can find, but it produces a loud sound. While it may be compact, you’ll find that this horn is almost three times as loud than stock car horns. For the price, it’s challenging to find horns that loud in general, let alone one that’s this compact.
Things to Consider
While the Stebel Nautilus Compact Mini Air Horn is compact, the installation gets tricky once you figure out where to put it. The horn comes with most of the parts you need right out of the box, but it’s not as simple as connecting the horn to your vehicle’s stock wires. To install this horn, you’re going to need some mechanical know-how. If you’re looking for a simple horn to install that has a similar design, try the Wolo Bad Boy Air Horn.
Who It’s For
The Stebel Nautilus Compact Mini Air Horn is an excellent fit for a lot of people, but people who have tight engine bays will get the most value out of this product. If you thought that there was no room for an aftermarket horn in your car, this horn will change your mind thanks to its compact design. The pictures don’t do it justice; when you see it, you’ll be shocked by how small it is.
Pros
- Compact design fits most vehicles
- Blended loud tone
- The horn and compressor are attached
Cons
- Difficult to install
6. Best Budget Horn: Wolo Loud One Horn
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
Price: $
Decibels: 115
Volts: 12
Size: Small
Tone: Low and high
Installation: Beginner
The Wolo Loud One Horn is a replacement horn that offers an impressive sound. The horn is compact, helping it fit most vehicles from motorcycles to trucks. While the horn is small, the horn is twice as loud as stock car horns. While the horn is inexpensive, the materials are not cheap. For example, Wolo uses high-quality steel and plastic for their horns, and it’s resistant to humidity and hot engine bays.
What Sets it Apart
The Wolo Loud One Horn is one of the cheapest horns you can find. For the price, you’ll be surprised by how well it performs. For example, the sound it produces is on-par with trumpet and twin horn kits. If you’re horn is on its way out, this horn is a great replacement horn that can give you a taste of what it’s like to have a loud car horn.
Things to Consider
While the horn is cheap and easy to use, you get what you pay for. The material is not as durable as more expensive horns, and there is a good chance that you’ll need additional parts and wires. The product is marketed as a replacement, which means it will rely on your vehicle’s stock parts.
If there is any damage to that system, unfortunately, you’ll be out of luck. If you like the compact design, but need a more reliable horn, the Stebel Nautilus Compact Mini Air Horn is an excellent alternative with a similar design.
Who It’s For
The Wolo Loud One Horn is for drivers looking for a quick replacement horn that performs better than most stock horns. The small size makes it easy to work with, and it can sit in the same housing as a stock horn, as long as the car was built after 1955. If you’re looking for a cheap replacement horn, and like the idea of a loud car horn, this product is perfect.
Pros
- Bargain price
- Compact design
- Twice as loud as stock horns
- Sturdy steel and plastic
- High and low tones
Cons
- Relies on parts from stock horns
7. Simplest Horn to Install: Wolo Bad Boy Air Horn
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
Price: $$
Decibels: 115
Volts: 12
Size: Small
Tone: High
Installation: Beginner
The Wolo Bad Boy Air Horn is a well-rounded horn that’s twice as loud as stock horns. The horn is made with stainless steel covers for both the horn and compressor, keeping it safe from warm engine bays and humid weather.
Installing the Wolo Bad Boy Air Horn is also very simple. Everything you need is in one place, with the compressor and horn being mounted on one piece together. This makes the horn compact, helping it fit into tight engine bays and on the sides of motorcycles. In fact, there is no hose required, and all of the wires connect to the stock horn wires in most modern vehicles.
What Sets it Apart
The Wolo Bad Boy Air Horn is unique because it uses a patented one-piece design. While a lot of horns use a vehicle’s stock equipment, you’ll still find yourself scrambling for a spot to put everything. This horn has everything conveniently in one place, making installation hassle-free. For example, this horn can be installed twice as fast as traditional loud car horns.
Things to Consider
The only downsides to the Wolo Bad Boy Air Horn are the one-piece design and low level of noise. While twice the noise output of your stock horn is loud, it’s not as flashy as some of the top loud car horns like the Hella 003399803 Supertone. Also, the one-piece design can cause problems if it becomes damaged because it doesn’t come with separate mounts for each piece.
Who It’s For
The Wolo Bad Boy Air Horn is for drivers looking for a hassle-free and straightforward loud horn. The horn won’t provide over-the-top sound, but it will get the job done without causing any frustration. Even if you’ve never taken a look under your hood before, the instructions can help you install this horn by yourself within an hour. Need a simple horn? It doesn’t get simpler than that.
Pros
- Patented one-piece design
- Stainless steel covers for both the horn and compressor
- Affordable
- Compact
- Twice as loud as stock horns
Cons
- Not as loud as other loud car horns
- If damage happens to the horn’s housing, you might as well get a new one
8. Best High Tone Horn: FIAMM 72102 Freeway Blaster HIGH Note Horn
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
Price: $
Decibels: 130
Volts: 12
Size: Small
Tone: High
Installation: Beginner
The FIAMM Freeway Blaster HIGH Note Horn is a great horn that’s a joy to work with. It comes with all of the tools you need, including the female connectors, bracket, nuts, wires, and mounting devices. The high note is loud enough to wake your neighbors up, but it’s also great for alerting other vehicles in congested cities or out on the highway.
The horn is also made with high-quality materials. Stainless steel is used to ward off corrosion, and it holds up well in hot and humid climates. While plastic doesn’t always seem like a durable material, FIAMM’s ABS plastic is strong enough to perform well under pressure. These horns are also extensively tested before they reach your vehicle to make sure they’re louder than OEM horns.
What Sets is Apart
The FIAMM Freeway Blaster HIGH Note Horn is unique because it accomplishes a high tone with a compact design. Many compact horns can achieve low tones but seeing a small horn produce a high tone is rare. Compared to other compact horns, if you need a high tone, this is the best one available.
Things to Consider
While the FIAMM Freeway Blaster HIGH Note Horn serves its purpose, the high tone sound is a little corny. Yes, it’s louder than your stock horn, but it doesn’t sound that great. For the price, it’s worth it, but if you want your horn to sound natural, you should consider the Hella 007424801 Twin Trumpet instead. The deep trumpet sound is loud and respectable, and it shares many features with this FIAMM horn.
Who It’s For
The FIAMM Freeway Blaster HIGH Note Horn is for light truck and passenger car drivers that need a loud and straightforward aftermarket horn. If you don’t care about the sound, and just want a loud high pitch, this horn is the perfect choice thanks to its affordable price tag. Unfortunately, if you do care for the quality of sound, you might want to look elsewhere. Still, it’s a great horn that gives you everything you need for a fair price.
Pros
- Loud high tone
- Compact design
- Corrosion-resistant steel
- Affordable price
- Horns are quality tested
Cons
- The horn sounds corny compared to OEM horns
9. Best Trumpet Horn: GAMPRO 12V 150db Air Horn
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
Price: $$
Decibels: 150
Volts: 12
Size: Large
Tone: Trumpet
Installation: Expert
The GAMPRO 12V 150db Air Horn is a simple horn that does exactly what it’s supposed to do. This horn packs a punch and produces up to 150 decibels. With sound levels that high, everyone within a hundred meters is going to know you’re there. The horn is also simple to install and securely mounts onto the exterior of most vehicles. Keep in mind; this horn is best suited for larger vehicles like boats, vans, and trucks.
While the horn has a basic design, the materials are high-quality. The horn is made with durable chrome zinc that’s resistant to acid rain, humidity, and other potential weather hazards. The compressor also comes with a coating that keeps it safe from the elements. Overall, it’s an easy to install horn that produces plenty of sound.
What Sets it Apart
The GAMPRO 12V 150db Air Horn is one of the best trumpet horns you can find because it’s made well. There are plenty of trumpet style horns available, but they fail to include chrome zinc coatings that keep them safe from the elements. This horn is also unique because of the color black, which can enhance the appearance of your vehicle. Black is also a good color choice because chrome accents on cars have become a thing of the past, whereas black matches everything.
Things to Consider
While the GAMPRO 12V 150db Air Horn gets the job done, it’s only useful on trucks, boats, vans, and other large vehicles. This is fine, but if you own a passenger car, you’ll need to look elsewhere for a horn. While it can work on any vehicle, it won’t look right on a smaller coupe or sedan. Instead, consider a horn-like the Wolo Bad Boy Air Horn.
Who It’s For
The GAMPRO 12V 150db Air Horn is for drivers of heavy vehicles like trucks, vans, boats, and other large machines. The horn is louder than diesel engines that can drown out the sound, which makes driving large vehicles safer for everyone. If you have a large truck and notice that it has a loud engine, you should consider getting this loud horn.
Pros
- Loud 150 decibel sound
- Sleek black color
- Durable chrome zinc material
- Compressor and bracket included
Cons
- Not suitable for passenger cars
10. Loudest Horn: Zone Tech 12V Single Trumpet Air Horn
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts
Price: $$
Decibels: 150
Volts: 12
Size: Large
Tone: Trumpet
Installation: Expert
The Zone Tech 12V Single Trumpet Air Horn is a versatile horn that works on trucks, select passenger cars, boats, motorcycles, RVs, trailers, and other vehicles. The horn is made with high-quality stainless steel that gives off a chrome shine, and it looks beautiful on most cars. The horn is simple to use and install, and produces a potent sound that people are bound to notice on the road.
The Zone Tech 12V Single Trumpet Air Horn is also polished to increase weather resistance and durability. The polish keeps the steel from wearing down and rusting, helping the horn produce a consistent sound. While this horn kit is inexpensive, the compressor is on par with compressors offered in more expensive horn kits.
What Sets it Apart
The Zone Tech 12V Single Trumpet Air Horn is one of the most affordable loud horns you can find, and it comes with plenty of high-end features for the price. The material is resistant to the elements, and while it can be challenging to install, the parts that Zone Tech provides are more than sufficient to get the project done in your driveway.
The Zone Tech 12V Single Trumpet Air Horn is also louder than most horns around. While it’s not louder than a train horn, for the price, you won’t find a louder horn for your everyday vehicle.
Things to Consider
The Zone Tech 12V Single Trumpet Air Horn is a great product, but it does have a few weaknesses. The horn is large, making it tough to mount on vehicles that don’t have a lot of roof space. For example, on most passenger cars with smooth body lines, the horn will look out of place or need to be mounted on a door panel.
Not only is this an eyesore, but it can be complicated to work with and looks ridiculous. If you have a passenger car, you should consider a horn-like the PIAA 85115 Superior Bass Horn instead.
Who It’s For
The Zone Tech 12V Single Trumpet Air Horn is for owners of trucks, boats, RVs, and motorcycles. While the horn can be used on passenger cars, it’s challenging to find a place to install it because it needs to be on the exterior of your vehicle. Trucks, boats, and motorcycles are ideal because they offer more installation options, and the horn won’t stand out like a sore thumb.
Pros
- Powerful and loud sound
- Sleek stainless steel design
- Compressor and bracket included
Cons
- Not a good fit for passenger cars
- Parts feel flimsy
Everything You Need to Know About Aftermarket Loud Car Horns
Getting a loud car horn seems like a hassle, but most products make the process a breeze. With the ten best loud car horns in front of you, the shopping experience should be much more comfortable. We’re going to take you through everything you need to know about loud car horns to help you narrow down your options.
Choosing the Right Style of Loud Car Horn
When you’re shopping for a loud car horn, we know how confusing it can seem at times. There are trumpet horns, twin horns, high tone, and low tone horns. Each horn is excellent, but you need to be aware of which type you need.
Trumpet
Trumpet horns are the loudest car horns you can find. These horns generally mirror the sound of a train or give off a raspy low tone sound. While trumpet horns are the loudest, they’re also the largest horns. Most trumpet horns are a few feet in length, making them hard to install within an engine bay. Therefore, trumpet horns are for those of you that drive light trucks, heavy trucks, boats, and in some cases, motorcycles.
If you like the sound of a trumpet horn, there are a lot of options. Most trumpet horns are close in price, sound the same, and have the same level of decibels. If you want the best trumpet horn, though, the GAMPRO 12V 150db Air Horn is your ideal choice.
In most cases, trumpet horns only work on trucks, but if you have a passenger car, you don’t need to feel left out. If you want to experience the blaring noise of a trumpet horn from your sedan, the Hella 007424801 Twin Trumpet has you covered. This twin horn set can fit right in your grill and projects plenty of sound.
High Tone
High tone horns are for drivers that want their horn to project over a great distance. If you’re driving on a highway, the further your sound can reach, the more drivers you can alert to danger. High tone horns come in a few different styles, but they fit most vehicles.
If you’re looking for a high tone horn, the FIAMM 72102 Freeway Blaster HIGH Note Horn is a great choice. The horn kit comes with everything you need, and it has plenty of decibels to carry sound a great distance.
Low Tone
Low tone horns are better suited for congested city driving. In cities, you don’t need sound to travel as far, especially if you’re in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Low tone horns work well for city driving because the low rumble they produce is excellent for alerting drivers within your vicinity.
If you need a low tone horn, the FIAMM 72112 Freeway Blaster Low Note is a great choice. The horn kit is small enough to fit any vehicle, and over 130 decibels of low tone sound is enough to grab everyone’s attention in a bustling city.
Twin Horns
Twin horns offer the best of both worlds. With two horns, the tone can project as high and low, creating the perfect horn sound blend. Twin horns are typically higher in price, but they’re worth the money if you need a reliable set of horns.
The best twin horn set is the Hella 003399803 Supertone. The horns are loud, but they come with a lot of features that make them appealing for most shoppers. For example, they offer off-road protection and humidity resistance superior to other horns.
Finding a Compact Horn With the Sound You Want
Once you know what type of sound and style of horn you want, the next step is making sure it fits into your vehicle. If you have a truck, the process is more straightforward because you have more room to work with. For example, even a large horn like the The Zone Tech Single Trumpet Air Horn can fit on most large trucks.
Passenger cars are challenging to work with because you have less room under the hood. This is where compact horns come into play, and they can make all of the difference. While there are a handful of small horns available, the best compact horn is the Nautilus Compact Mini Air Horn. It’s a mini horn, but the sound that produces is on par with full-size trumpet horns.
Finding an Easy Horn to Install
While finding the right size and sound are essential, you should also keep an eye on easy horns to install. If you know how to work on cars and trucks, it’s a bit different, but for those of you who don’t, you’ll want to find a horn that you can install without a headache.
Most horns come with instructions, but sometimes that’s not enough. You want to make sure that the horn kit wires fit in the OEM wire harness so that you can connect everything hassle-free. There are a few horns that offer this, but the easiest horn to install is the Wolo Bad Boy Air Horn. The patented one-piece design makes it compact enough to fit anywhere, and everything connects directly to your OEM horn parts.
How to Install a Loud Car Horn: The Basics
We’ve gone over a lot of horns, and how easy or difficult they can be to install. Before you choose a horn, we want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Horn installations, especially twin horns, can take a few hours to install.
Generally, you can expect to spend at least an hour or two getting everything set up. Luckily, horn installations are beginner-friendly, and it can give you confidence to do other work on your car yourself. Who needs a mechanic, right?
Removing Your OEM Horn
The first step is to remove your old horn. To begin, consult your owner’s manual to find the location. If you don’t have access to one, check behind the driver’s side dashboard; this is where car horns commonly are. If you’re more of a visual learner, videos can be helpful too.
Once you find the old assembly, you’re going to need a few tools, and you’ll be using these same tools to install the new horn too. These tools include a wrench or ratchet, safety goggles, a flathead screwdriver, and protective gloves. You’ll be using the ratchet to undo any bolts, and the flathead screwdriver will make it easy to remove the wire harness.
To remove your OEM horn, once you find it, disconnect the horn from your car’s battery (black negative cable). Once the power is disconnected, use a flathead screwdriver to remove the wire harness from the horn. Then use the ratchet to remove the bracket and any other nuts holding it in place. From there, simply pull the horn out of your vehicle’s engine bay.
Installing a Basic Loud Car Horn
Installing a loud car horn is going to take more work than removing your old horn. People who are adept at mechanics likely know how to install a horn already, so for this guide, we’re going to use an easy horn to install as an example for you.
The horn we’re going through is the FIAMM 72112 Freeway Blaster Low Note Horn. This horn comes with the bracket you need to secure it in place, female connectors, jumper wires, and every other component you need to replace your OEM horn.
To begin, find a place where you can fit the horn, this FIAMM horn is small, so it can fit where your old one was. Then, fasten the bracket in place using your ratchet, attach the horn to the bracket, and connect your car’s battery to the horn. Not only is installation simple, but with a horn like this, it can take you less than an hour.
Keep in mind, more complicated horns are more difficult to install. For example, trumpet horns like the Zone Tech 12V Single Trumpet Air Horn are going to require more skill because of the compressor and additional wires. These horns can still be installed at home, but you should consider using a video to help you get started.
FAQ
What Laws Are There for Loud Car Horns?
While loud car horns can keep you safe, they can create noise pollution and harm the ears of other motorists. That said, some US states have laws in place to keep loud car horns under 110 decibels. There are exceptions, and the laws are generally not strictly followed. Always check your state’s laws for a better idea of what you’re allowed to have.
What Is a Safe Decibel Level?
If you’ve ever heard a blaring horn, you know that it can make your ears ring for a little while. The safe decibel level, for prolonged exposure, is around 80 decibels, but car horns are different because you only use them for a few seconds at a time. Be prepared, if you lay on an air horn, there are some consequences.
How Loud Are Air Horns?
Air horns, or horns that use compressors, can be louder than you expect. The compressed air and large size allows air horns to reach 150 decibels, which is plenty of noise.
Is a Loud Car Horn Necessary?
A loud car horn can save your life, and the life of others around you. Horns are designed to alert drivers of hazards, and while some people use them as toys, loud car horns can keep you and others out of harm’s way. If you need to replace your horn, consider starting with a small loud horn to see how you like it.
Stay Safe and Express Yourself With the Best Loud Car Horns
Loud car horns are a great way to stay safe on the road and make your vehicle unique. Many people believe that loud car horns are only for big trucks, but having a loud car horn can alert drivers around you and save you from an accident.
Shopping for a loud car horn can be difficult because you need to make sure it will work with and fit your vehicle. If you follow our installation steps and choose the best loud car horn for your car, getting the sound you need is going to be a breeze.
Source: Tools - autoquarterly.com
