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| Former Staff EditorA driveway alarm system is a budget-friendly, easy-to-install, basic security system for your home. Although they may lack the sophistication of high-end complete security systems, driveway alarms can alert you to the presence of activity in your driveway, on your sidewalk or anywhere on your property if you have the right system.
How do you know which is the right system? Well, that depends on your needs and your property. Considering the number of systems on the market, it may also depend on your ability to sort through a lot of information. To help, we’ve reviewed more than 20 of the top products and listed the best driveway alarm systems here.
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Htzsafe 1/4 Mile Solar Driveway Alarm System Model #806A+T704
Next up is the Htzsafe 1/4-Mile Solar Driveway Alarm System. With an Amazon rating of 4.3 stars and plenty of capability, this driveway alarm has all the best features that our first place winner but is ideal for smaller properties that may not need such long ranges.
The passive infrared sensor and solar panel unit are weather-resistant, but be cautious in locations with heavy rainfall as it’s not necessarily waterproof. A built-in rechargeable sensor battery can be solar charged, or you can bring the unit inside for AC charging. Inside the house is the AC-powered receiver which is expandable to four sensors and can be located as much as 1/4 mile away.
The 1/4-mile system includes sensitivity, alarm tone and volume controls and false alarm protection and has a detection range of up to 50 feet. A 24-month warranty comes with the product.
Guardline Long Range Driveway Alarm Model #FBA_GL5000
The Guardline Long Range Driveway Alarm places third on our list. Over 2,500 Amazon consumers rate it at an average of 4.4 stars despite having a slightly higher price than some competitors.
The highly expandable system can host up to 16 sensors per receiver for complete property coverage and there’s no limit to the number of AC-powered receivers you can place in the home up to 1,320 feet away.
Batteries operate the passive infrared sensor and must be changed from time to time But, its long-range detection of up to 40 feet, sensitivity and volume control, numerous alarm tones and false alarm protection make up for the lack of passive charging ability, especially in locations that don’t get sunshine. A two-year warranty backs the product.
Hosmart 1/2 Mile 4-Zone Rechargeable Driveway Alarm Model #HY001
Another 4.4-star winner on Amazon, the Hosmart 1/2-mile 4-Zone Rechargeable Driveway Alarm takes our fourth spot. Well-priced for a long-range detection model, though it lacks solar charging convenience and can only expand to accept four sensors per receiver.
The mount-anywhere, passive infrared sensor comes in several colors to blend in and detects motion up to 30 feet away and can transmit to an AC-powered receiver 1/2-mile away. Rechargeable batteries in the sensor unit can last up to six months before needing to be charged with the included adapter. More receivers can be added for other rooms in the house as well. Hosmart backs it up with a 24-month warranty.
Fosmon WaveLink Wireless Motion Doorbell Alert Sensor Model #51005HOM
A slight departure from long-range driveway sensors, Fosmon’s WaveLink Wireless Motion Doorbell Alert Sensor makes our list for its ability to protect the perimeter of homes with small surroundings such as condominiums or high-density areas. It carries a 4.2 rating with Amazon reviewers.
Technically a doorbell alarm, the WaveLink’s tiny, 16-foot-range, 110-degree field of view sensor can transmit a motion detection signal up to 500 feet to its AC-powered receiver that can expand to accept 10 sensors in total. No less than 52 ringtones are available in four-volume levels and the system is protected by a limited lifetime warranty.
Guardline Wireless Driveway Alarm Model #4331030700
The Guardline Wireless Driveway Alarm is next on our list with an average of 4.3 Amazon review stars from nearly 6,000 customers. This model differs from Guardline’s long-range model only slightly.
With a detection range of up to 40 feet and a relatively short transmission range of 500 feet, the Wireless Driveway Alarm works best for properties with a centrally located house. You can add up to 16 sensors to a single AC-powered receiver, and you can have as many receivers as you need to ensure you hear the alerts anywhere in your home. There’s no solar charging available with this model, so changing or charging the sensor batteries is required.
Thirty-two alert tones can be programmed to distinguish which sensor has been tripped. The company boasts over 20 years of testing its products in harsh conditions and says so with its 2-year warranty on its products.
Wuloo Solar Wireless Driveway Alarm
Next up is the Solar Wireless Driveway Alarm from Wuloo. Amazon consumers rate it at an average of 4.4 stars despite its higher price than some competitors’ similar models. This driveway alarm has a detection range of up to 30 feet and a transmission range of 1/3-mile.
Among its features are a built-in solar panel with battery backup in the sensor and a plug-in receiver that can also be powered by AA batteries during power outages. Up to eight sensors per receiver, can also be manually charged. The receiver comes equipped with a convenient clock built-in as well. A two-year warranty is included.
1 By One Wireless Driveway Alert Model #O00QH-0499
For budget-minded individuals with a small property to keep an eye on, there’s the 1 By One Wireless Driveway Alert Model #O00QH-0499. It’s next on our list, and Amazon customers award it an average of 4.2 stars.
A pair of battery-operated, passive infrared sensors are included with this system, each one capable of detecting motion up to 26 feet away and transmitting the signal a little over 325 feet to an AC-powered receiver that has multiple tones, three modes and a volume selector to deliver up to 80dB alerts.
The receiver can serve up to five sensors, and each sensor can pair with any number of receivers. A 24-month warranty is included.
Chamberlain CWA2000 Wireless Motion Alert
The Chamberlain CWA2000 Wireless Motion Alert is next on our list with an average of 4.3 Amazon stars from over 6,000 reviewers. The device has a detection radius of 30 feet and a transmission range of up to 1/2 mile.
Its passive infrared sensor is battery operated by four AA batteries that aren’t included and transmit to an AC-powered receiver which can run on battery power if needed. Batteries can last up to two years without replacement in optimal conditions.
The receiver can support up to seven sensors, and the entire unit is covered by a 12-month warranty.
eMACROS 1/2 Mile Solar Driveway Alarm Wireless Outdoor Motion Sensor
Our next pick is a little high on price but comes equipped with some nice features. The eMACROS 1/2 Mile Solar Driveway Alarm Wireless Outdoor Motion Sensor rounds out our list with an average of 4.5 Amazon stars from reviewers.
The solar-charged passive infrared sensor is housed in industrial-grade PVC for protection and can detect motion up to 30 feet away and transmit as far as 1/2 mile under normal conditions and up to 1,500 feet in wooded areas. The plug-in receiver can handle signals from up to four sensors placed anywhere on your property.
The eMACROS receiver is somewhat limited in its choices for alert tones but does have volume control, while the sensors can be set to high or low sensitivity.
| COMPANY | FORBES HOME RATING | PRICE | CUSTOMER REVIEWS | DETECTION RANGE | LEARN MORE |
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| 4.4 | Great | Excellent | Excellent | On Amazon
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| 4.3 | Great | Excellent | Great | On Amazon
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| 4.1  | Great | Excellent | Great | On Amazon
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| 4.1 | Great | Excellent | Good | On Amazon
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| 4.0 | Excellent | Great | Okay | On Amazon
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| 4.0 | Great | Excellent | Great | On Amazon
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| 4.0 | Good | Excellent | Good | On Amazon
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| 3.9 | Excellent | Great | Good | On Amazon
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| 3.5 | Good | Great | Good | On Amazon
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| 3.5 | Good | Great | Good | On Amazon
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Ensure you’re always aware of what’s happening in front of your home with a driveway alarm. Designed to detect movement from vehicles, people and animals in your driveway, this home security device is often included with a more comprehensive home security system. Not to mention, it alerts homeowners of unexpected intruders or visitors.
Whether you’re choosing a driveway alarm system, security camera system or a security company, finding the one that works best for your property is of utmost importance. A driveway alarm is only as good as how much it can detect and how you receive that information. Here’s how to choose the right one for you.
Depending on the protection you’re asking of your driveway alarm, the distance each sensor can “see” and transmit information is crucial. You may want to know each time someone enters your driveway or walkway and may only need a few feet of detection and enough transmission range to reach your home. Or you may want full perimeter coverage of your property in which both long-range detection and transmission are necessary.
Often, one sensor isn’t enough to provide the coverage you desire. Even a unit capable of long-range detection can’t alert you to motion that occurs around a corner and out of view. If you’re looking for complete coverage, choosing a driveway alarm system with a receiver capable of handling multiple sensors is what you’ll need.
A driveway alarm system is only beneficial if it’s used. Models that are difficult to mount, operate, or keep working aren’t only not enjoyable but won’t be very effective when they get too cumbersome to use.
Solar-powered models offer convenience but have limitations on where they can be mounted for the solar panel to be effective. Even then, they may need manual charging every once in a while. Battery-operated models are simpler to find installation places for, but changing or recharging the batteries can become tedious.
A driveway alarm system is a budget-friendly way to provide security to your property without being overly intrusive. Here are a few reasons to consider installing a system.
There are numerous ways to prevent garage theft and increase the security of your home. With their small price tags and ease of use, driveway alarm systems can provide first-line protection by alerting you to the presence of anyone or anything that may require further investigation.
Most driveway alarm systems are easy to install and simple to use. They are simple devices that just about anyone can operate effectively for the most part. Detecting motion at the perimeter of your property means you have the convenience of knowing what’s happening around your home without having direct-line sight of the entire area.
Home security cameras, lights, detectors and subscriptions cost real money. Driveway alarm systems can provide a portion of that protection at a fraction of the cost. Although you won’t have video and audio recordings of what takes place around your property, you can still have detection and hold onto some of your cash.
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Driveway alarms are composed of a sensor, transmitter and receiver and are the most effective when the sensor is placed at the start of the driveway. Depending on the range, when someone or something passes in front of the passive infrared (PIR) sensor, it will transmit a signal to the receiver placed within the house. Plus, with ranges up to half a mile to only 30 to 50 feet, you can easily find the driveway alarm that suits your surveillance needs.
To determine the best driveway alarm system ranking, the Forbes Home Improvement editorial team analyzed third-party data on 18 major companies, with each product’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:
| Compare Best Driveway Alarm Systems |
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| Compare Driveway Alarm Systems |
The important distances regarding driveway alarms are detection range and transmission range. Detection range is how far each sensor can “see” to detect motion or heat. Transmission range is the distance in which the sensor can send a reliable signal to the receiver to alert you of activity near the sensor.
Both types of range depend entirely on what system you choose to install. Standard detection ranges are between 15 and 40 feet, while typical transmission ranges can be 50 feet to 1/2 mile.
In the simplest terms, a wireless driveway alarm senses motion near a detector that’s been strategically installed. The sensor sends a radio frequency signal to a receiver in your home, which sounds an audible, visual or both alarm to tell you that motion has been detected.
Installing a driveway alarm can be done in numerous ways, depending on which system you purchase. Most sensors can be mounted on a post, tree, fence or any flat surface with or without a mounting kit. Most receivers are simply plugged in and set up by following the instructions included with your system.
Most people install their driveway alarm at the start of their driveway, typically on a fence, mailbox, or tree. If you want to utilize your driveway alarm to detect heat and motion, it is recommended to mount it closer to the ground.
A driveway alarm’s sensor detects any motion, including people, animals and vehicles.
Having spent 30+ years in residential construction, contracting, remodeling, maintenance and home repair, Deane now contributes DIY, informational and financial content as a freelance writer and consultant for several publications such as Angi, Trusted Company Reviews, USNews and World Report and Small Spaces Great Life.
Lowe Larretta is former lead editor for Forbes Home, covering all things related to home improvement and good design. She previously worked in the decor and lifestyle spaces for digital publishers such as Hunker, First Media and Ranker and has multiple years of experience creating design and DIY content.
