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2025 Nissan Sentra ReviewAftermarket Safety Features for Cars
If you want to bring an older vehicle up to speed on the latest advanced safety tech, this rundown of aftermarket safety features for cars is for you.Aftermarket Safety Systems Explained
According to Hedges & Company, the average age of a car on US roads is just over 12 years old. So although advanced safety technologies have been rapidly implemented across the new car market during the last few years, many drivers are behind the wheel of a vehicle with few – if any – of the safety nets currently in use by most automakers. Fortunately, there are a wide array of aftermarket safety features for cars that consumers can access to help close this gap on older vehicles. Let’s take a look at some of the current options on the market.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
An often-overlooked aspect of vehicle safety, tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) alert drivers when the air pressure in a tire has dropped below the manufacturer-recommended level. Along with prolonging the life of the tires, a TPMS can help avoid a potentially dangerous blowout. There is a wide range of aftermarket TPMSs for sale, including setups that can monitor some 20 tires, which is ideal for RV and trailer owners. But for a relatively simple car or SUV option, this system from Tymate is a good option.
The sensors that monitor individual tire pressures simply screw onto the valves – replacing the existing valve caps. A retaining nut keeps the sensor tightly fitted and a dust shield keeps it clean. There is a small battery in each sensor that Tymate notes should last up to six months.
Inside the cabin, a digital readout screen displays all four tire pressures in real time. The display can run on solar power or be plugged into a 12-volt receptacle as needed. The alarm for low pressure can be customized for an owner’s specific needs and can be adjusted to monitor for conditions including pressure and temperature variations and low sensor voltage.
Backup Camera
Backup cameras were mandated on new cars starting in 2018, but if your vehicle is older than that, retrofitting an aftermarket unit is a breeze. Like with TPMS, there are loads of options out there, but this system from Auto Vox represents a strong value. The camera itself can be mounted anywhere but is intended to use the rear license plate mounting screws to hold it in place. A solar panel provides camera power, though an integrated USB port allows for charging if need be.
The best part is that the camera connects wirelessly to the cabin display screen and includes night vision capability. That display screen can be mounted on the dashboard or windshield and plugged into a 12-volt power source. If you’d prefer to simply buy a car that came from the factory with a backup camera, this list of affordable used vehicles is a good place to start.
Head-Up Display
In modern connected cars, a head-up display (HUD) is a boon for reducing distraction. Along with displaying basic vehicle information like speed and fuel level in the driver’s line-of-sight, HUDs can show incoming phone call information and even navigation details. Though aftermarket units are a bit pricier than the aforementioned TPMS and backup cameras, systems like this HUD from Hudway Drive are a straightforward DIY installation that can provide a similar level of information as the most advanced OEM versions.
The system sits atop the instrument binnacle and has an integrated plastic screen that folds up when in use, or down when not needed, to display projected information. Like many aftermarket safety features for cars, this HUD requires a wired 12-volt power source to operate. Installation is smartphone app-based and once complete, this Hudway Drive unit can show current speed, text message details, navigation instructions, and more. To do so, it connects wirelessly with both the vehicle’s OBD-II system and the driver’s smartphone.
Blind Spot Monitors
Aftermarket blind spot monitors (BSM) are widely available and tend to include rear cross-traffic alert capability. Such is the case with this system from Brandmotion. On most new car BSM systems – and these used car examples – the alert consists of an indicator light embedded in the exterior mirrors and possibly an audible cabin alert.
To skirt the expense of fitting a new side mirror to an older car, the Brandmotion BSM comes with small indicators that are installed on the interior A-pillar. They look like a factory piece while integrating both a flashing light and audible tone when activated.
This type of system comes with a higher price tag – around $700 – and a higher degree of installation difficulty. Physically mounting the BSM systems requires removing the rear bumper fascia and mounting a bracket with the sensors so that it is hidden behind the exterior trim. The sensors need to be tied into the vehicle Controller Area Network (CAN) wiring harness to work properly. Fortunately, this is a relatively straightforward process for a professional shop if it falls outside any DIYer’s comfort zone.
Forward Collision and Lane Departure Warning
Towards the top-end of aftermarket safety features for cars – from both a price and installation difficulty perspective – is the Mobileye 8 Connect. Supplier of cutting-edge safety tech to automakers like Ford and Volkswagen, Mobileye is one of the leaders in the advanced safety systems space.
Its 8 Connect system is the latest version of an all-in-one solution that currently features forward collision warning, lane departure warning, a following distance indicator, and traffic sign recognition. To make it all work requires installing a vision sensor on the inside of the windshield, behind the rearview mirror. There is also a GPS unit that is typically mounted on the lower passenger-side corner of the windshield.
Finally, the “EyeWatch” component can be installed wherever it is easy for the driver to see. The EyeWatch is responsible for visual and audible alerts related to the forward collision warning, lane departure warning, follow distance indication, and traffic sign recognition functions. Like the Brandmotion blind spot monitor, this Mobileye system requires tapping into the vehicle CAN but also requires a hard-wired battery connection, so professional installation is a good idea. Expect to pay around $1,000 for an installed setup.
