Various types of police cars exist. Depending on the organization of the
law enforcement agency, the class of vehicle used as a police car, country, and the environmental factors of the agency's jurisdiction, many of the types below may or may not exist in certain fleets, or their capabilities may be merged to create all-rounded units with shared vehicles as opposed to specialized units with separate vehicles.
Patrol car patrol car used by the
Cantonal police A
patrol car is a police car used for standard patrol. Used to replace traditional foot patrols, the patrol car's primary function is to provide transportation for regular police duties, such as responding to calls, enforcing laws, or simply establishing a more visible police presence while on patrol. Driving a patrol car allows officers to reach their destinations more quickly and to cover more ground compared to other methods. Patrol cars are typically designed to be identifiable as police cars to the public and thus almost always have proper markings, roof-mounted emergency lights, and sirens.
Traffic car used for highway patrol duties by the Australia
New South Wales Police A
traffic car, also called a
highway patrol car,
traffic enforcement unit,
speed enforcement unit, or
road policing unit, is a police car tasked with
enforcing traffic laws and conducting
traffic stops, typically on major roadways such as
highways. They are often relatively high-performance vehicles compared to patrol cars, as they must be capable of catching up to fast-moving vehicles. They may have specific markings or special emergency lights to either improve or hinder visibility. Alternatively, some traffic cars may use the same models as patrol cars, and may barely differ from them aside from markings,
radar speed guns, and traffic-oriented equipment.
Unmarked car with its emergency lights on, used by the
Federal Police of Brazil An
unmarked car is a police car that lacks markings and easily visible or roof-mounted emergency lights. They are generally used for varying purposes, ranging from standard patrol and traffic enforcement to
sting operations and
detective work. They have the advantage of not being immediately recognizable, and are considered a valuable tool in catching suspects in the commission of a crime or by surprise. The resemblance an unmarked police car has to a civilian car varies based on their application: they may use the same models as marked patrol cars, and may be virtually identical to them aside from the lack of a livery and roof-mounted emergency lights; alternatively, they may use common civilian vehicle models that blend in with traffic, with emergency lights embedded in the grille or capable of being hidden and revealed, such as Japanese unmarked cars having retractable beacons built into the car's roof. Unmarked cars typically use regular civilian license plates, occasionally even in jurisdictions where emergency vehicles and government vehicles use unique license plates, though some agencies or jurisdictions may be able to use the unique plates anyway; for example,
American federal law enforcement agencies may use either
government plates or regular license plates. The term "
undercover car" is often used to describe unmarked cars. However, this usage is erroneous:
unmarked cars are police cars that lack markings but have police equipment, emergency lights, and sirens, while
undercover cars lack these entirely and are essentially civilian vehicles used by law enforcement in
undercover operations to avoid detection. The close resemblance of unmarked cars to civilian cars has created concerns of
police impersonation. Some police officers advise motorists that they do not have to pull over in a secluded location and instead can wait until they reach somewhere safer.
Ghost car used as a ghost car by the
Florida Highway Patrol. The white markings are only visible because light is being shined on them at an angle; otherwise, they are almost the same color as the vehicle itself, as seen near the rear. A
ghost car, also called a
stealth car or
semi-marked car, is a police car that combines elements of both an unmarked car and a marked patrol car, featuring markings that are either similar colors to the vehicle's body paint, or are reflective graphics that are difficult to see unless illuminated by lights or viewed at certain angles. In these cases, the markings on ghost cars may be sufficient to legally count as marked police cars, despite the markings being difficult to see.
Utility vehicle utility vehicle used by the
Kosovo Police A
utility vehicle is a police car used for utility or support purposes as opposed to regular police duties. Utility vehicles are usually
all-wheel drive vehicles with cargo space such as SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, utes, or off-road vehicles. They are often used to transport or tow assets such as trailers, equipment, or other vehicles such as
police boats; they are alternatively used for or are capable of
off-roading, especially in fleets where most other vehicles cannot do so. They can also be used for
animal control, if that is the responsibility of police within that jurisdiction. Some utility vehicles can be used for transporting teams of officers and occasionally have facilities to securely detain and transport a small number of suspects, provided there is enough seating space.
Police dog vehicle estate police dog unit used by the
Merseyside Police A
police dog vehicle, also called a
K-9 vehicle or
police dog unit, is a police car modified to transport
police dogs. The models used for these vehicles range from the same as patrol cars to dedicated SUVs, pickup trucks, or vans. To provide sufficient space for the police dog, there is usually a cage in the trunk or rear seats with enough space for the dog, though some agencies may put the cage in the front passenger seat, or may lack a dedicated cage entirely and simply have the dog in the rear compartment. There may or may not be space to transport detainees or additional officers. Police dog vehicles almost always have markings noting they have a police dog on board, typically just the agency's standard markings with the added notice.
Decoy car A
decoy car is a police car used to establish a police presence, typically to deter traffic violations or speeding, without a police officer actually being present. They may be older models retired from use, civilian cars modified to resemble police cars, or demonstration vehicles. In some instances, a "decoy car" may not be a vehicle at all, but rather a life-sized cutout or sign depicting a police car. The use of decoy cars is intended to provide a visible deterrent against crime without having to commit manpower, allowing the officer that would otherwise be there to be freed up for other assignments. In the United Kingdom, decoy liveried police cars and vans may be parked on
filling station forecourts to deter motorists dispensing fuel then
making off without payment, also known as "bilking". The use of decoy cars is entirely up to the agency, though in 2005, the
Virginia General Assembly considered a bill that would make decoy cars a legal requirement for police. The bill stated in part: "Whenever any law-enforcement vehicle is permanently taken out of service... such vehicle shall be placed at a conspicuous location within a highway median in order to deter violations of motor vehicle laws at that location. Such vehicles shall... be rotated from one location to another as needed to maintain their deterrent effect."
Surveillance car A
surveillance car is a police vehicle used for
surveillance purposes. Usually SUVs, vans, or trucks, surveillance cars can be marked, unmarked, undercover, or disguised, and may be crewed or remotely monitored. They are used to gather evidence of criminal offenses or provide better vantage points at events or high-traffic areas. The surveillance method used varies, and may include
CCTV,
hidden cameras,
wiretapping devices, or even
aerial platforms. Some surveillance cars may also be used as
bait cars, deployed to catch car thieves.
Armored vehicle and used by the U.S.
Los Angeles Police Department A
police armored vehicle, also called a
SWAT vehicle,
tactical vehicle, or
rescue vehicle, is an armored vehicle used in a police capacity. They are typically four-wheeled armored vehicles with similar configurations to
military light utility vehicles,
infantry mobility vehicles,
internal security vehicles,
MRAPs, or similar
armored personnel carriers, that lack mounted and installed weaponry. As their name suggests, they are typically used to transport
police tactical units such as
SWAT teams, though they may also be used in riot control or to establish police presence at events.
Mobile command center A
mobile command center, also called an
emergency operations center,
mobile command post, or
mobile police station, is a truck used to provide a central command center at the scene of an incident, or to establish a visible police presence or temporary
police station at an event.
Bomb disposal vehicle A
bomb disposal vehicle is a vehicle used by
bomb disposal squads to transport equipment such as
bomb disposal robots, or to store bombs for later disposal. They are often vans or trucks, typically with at least one
bomb containment chamber installed in the rear of the vehicle, and ramps to allow bomb disposal robots to access the vehicle. Bomb disposal vehicles are generally not explosive-resistant and are only used for transporting explosives for disposal, not actively disposing of them.
Armed vehicle technical used by the
Central African Republic Police An
armed police vehicle is a police vehicle that has
lethal weaponry installed on it. These are often
technicals or
light utility vehicles with
machine gun turrets, and may or may not lack emergency lights and sirens. Armed police vehicles are very rare and are usually only used in wartime, in regions with very high violent crime rates, or where combat with
organized crime or
insurgencies is common to the point that armed police vehicles are necessary; for example, the
Iraqi Police received technicals during the
Iraq War, and the
National Police of Ukraine used armed vehicles during the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, including the
STREIT Group Spartan and a modified
BMW 6 Series with a mounted machine gun. These should not be confused with police vehicles that have turrets but do not have guns, which are often just police armored vehicles or, if less-lethal munitions are used, riot control vehicles.
Riot control vehicle water cannon used by the
Berlin Police Bereitschaftspolizei A
riot control vehicle, also called a
riot suppression vehicle or simply a
riot vehicle, is an armored or reinforced police vehicle used for
riot control. A wide array of vehicles, from armored SUVs and vans to dedicated trucks and armored personnel carriers, are used by law enforcement to suppress or intimidate
riots,
protests, and
public order crimes; hold and reinforce a police barricade to keep the scene contained; or simply transport officers and equipment at the scene in a manner safer than what could be achieved with a standard police car. Common modifications include
tear gas launchers, shields, and caged windows. Some riot control vehicles also include less-lethal weaponry and devices, such as
water cannons and
long-range acoustic devices.
Community engagement, liaison, and demonstration vehicles A
community engagement vehicle, also known as a
liaison vehicle,
demonstration vehicle, or
parade car depending on its use, is a police car used for display and
community policing purposes, but not for patrol duties. These are often performance cars, modified cars,
classic police cars, or vehicles
seized from convicted criminals and converted to police cars, that are used to represent the agency in parades, promote a specific program (such as the
D.A.R.E. program), or help build connections between law enforcement and those that the vehicle appeals to. Some cars can be visibly marked but not fitted with audio or visual warning devices. These are often used by community liaison officers, administrative staff, or high-ranking officers for transport to meetings, engagements, and community events. Some vehicles are produced by automotive manufacturers with police markings to showcase them to police departments; these are usually concepts, prototypes, or reveals of their police fleet offerings. Emergency vehicle equipment manufacturers such as
Federal Signal,
Whelen, and Code 3 also use unofficial police cars to demonstrate their emergency vehicle equipment. ==Equipment==