Your Field Guide to Radar Detector Rating Sites

When it comes time to choose a radar detector you’ll find the answers to which one is best by looking at the radar detector rating. While the term ‘rating’ may be a bit misleading, there are seven places that can give you a pretty good idea about the radar detector rating of any given model.

SpeedZones.com offers the results of field tests conducted by Speed Management Labs (SMP) and also posts reviews on the models tested. Tests are aimed at today’s interest in detectors, all three frequencies of K-Band and lasers. The well-documented test results back up their radar detector rating of each model tested.

RadarTest.com offers testing information on high-end, mid-range, and low-end radar detectors, sorting out the best in each category. While test summaries and their ratings are available on the website, you will have to pay the website to view the detailed, comprehensive test results.

Motor Trend uses information gleaned from Speed Measurement Laboratories (SpeedZone) to make its recommendations. Where SpeedZone offers its radar detector rating opinion based on mostly raw numbers, Motor Trend uses an editorial format to serve up their ratings.

Get Opinions of Road-Worn Users

Epinions simply posts the reviews of users and then compiles a radar detector rating based on just that — the opinions of those using each model in the real world. Roy Reyer, a retired policeman and police radar instructor operates the website RadarBusters.com. He doesn’t list any radar detector that receives less than three stars on his website. The site also sells radar detectors, along with Laser Veil, which he highly recommends for “hiding” from laser radar. Laser Veil is not a detector; rather, it’s a finish you put on your car to decrease the chance of being accurately targeted by laser radar.

The folks at Consumer Guide don’t actually test any of the equipment themselves, but they still rate the equipment. Their radar detector rating has six models listed as a “best buy” on its website but offers no real reviews. Instead, the entry links to information about the models listed.

As with any consumer purchase, the final decision rests with the person who has the money. Since radar detectors are priced from a low of less than $100 to more than $2,000, consuming as many radar detector rating reviews as possible before making the final decision will pay off in the long-run.

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