Radar detectors act as an ongoing reminder to stay within a safe speed limit, and can provide useful information about what’s happening on the road. Here's what to look out for when buying one.

Easy To Program

There's no point in buying a radar detector if you can't figure out how to work it! Better models make that easy by offering simple programming and operation.

A Wide-Ranging Radar Detector

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. In the case of a radar detector, paying a little extra will get you increased range, as well as front and rear coverage. The more sensitive your detector is, the more radars it will detect, and the more information it will provide to you.

Lots Of Info

New-age radar detectors can be a goldmine of other information, such as advising you of roadworks, hazardous road conditions, congested traffic areas, or the presence of emergency vehicles.

An Audible Alert

Look for detectors with automatic volume adjustment, so you can always hear alerts even if you're driving in high-noise areas, such as roadworks sites.

Reduce The False Alert Factor

No radar detector is totally infallible, and there will be false alerts from time to time. However, good detectors have a GPS feature which can remember previous false alert locations and reduce fake notifications as a result.

Easy To Install And Remove

Look for detectors that are easy to install. Higher-quality models make this possible, and also have fittings that keep the detector stable and in place, which is important for optimum operation.

Are radar detectors legal in New Zealand?

Absolutely. There have been calls from some politicians to ban radar detectors for many years, but nothing has happened. Hence, it's safe to assume that radar detectors will remain legal for the foreseeable future.