Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher for Your Vehicle: A No-Nonsense Guide

When it comes to choosing a fire extinguisher for your vehicle, there are a lot of options on the market. Different sizes, different agents, and different ratings can all become a frustrating tidal wave of information. Whether you're prepping for a track day, overlanding trip, or just want peace of mind on your daily commute, it’s important to choose the right tool for the job.

Types of Fire Extinguishers

Not all fire extinguishers are created equal. The type of extinguishing agent inside determines what kinds of fires it can handle:

 

• Dry Chemical
  These are the most common and affordable extinguishers. All dry chemical extinguishes will have a rating indicating what the chemicals inside are effective against. Here are some of the most common ratings:

A: Ordinary combustibles (wood, paper)

B: Flammable liquids (gasoline, oil)

C: Electrical fires

D & K: These are less common classes that aren't relevant to motorsports (intended for combustible metals, cooking oils, etc.). Due to that, we won't discuss them in this article. 

They work well in a wide variety of situations, but the powder can leave behind a corrosive mess, which isn’t ideal for sensitive electronics or your engine bay. For automotive applications, BC rated extinguishers are most common. While a class ABC rating is a bonus, it isn't necessary in most situations as class BC extinguishers are still fairly effective at putting out class A fires (household materials like wood, paper, etc.). 

 

• Clean Agent (Halon Replacement / Halotron / FE-36)
  These extinguishers use a gas-like agent that won’t leave residue. They’re safe for electronics and ideal for vehicle interiors and engine compartments. They do cost more but offer a clean, effective solution—especially important for performance or collector cars. 

 

• CO2
  These are less common in automotive use due to their large size and pressure requirements, but they’re effective and leave no residue. Better suited to garages and pits than to vehicles themselves.

Choosing the Right Size

When it comes to extinguishers, size matters—but it’s a balancing act between power and portability.

• Compact Extinguishers (1-1.5 lb)
  Ultra-compact, easy to store, and capable of knocking down most small automotive fires, these are our go to choice for daily drivers, project cars, and vehicles where space is a concern.

 

• Mid Size Extinguishers (2-3 lb)
  While they are a little bulkier, these extinguishers have more firefighting power and are ideal for larger fires or situations where backup may not be immediately available. These extinguishers are better suited for SUV and Trucks, and can satisfy DOT commercial hauling requirements.

 

• Large Extinguishers (5+ lb)
  While these are great to have in your garage or race trailer, they aren't practical for most passenger vehicles. 
  

 

Our Picks

The best endorsement we can give for an extinguisher is having it in one of our personal vehicles. Fire extinguishers are lifesaving equipment, and having reliable equipment can be the difference between a minor mishap and a disaster. Here are some of our favorite extinguishers:

• H3R Performance MaxOut MX100 (1 lb, BC Dry Chem - $139)
  Durable, proven, and compact. Great for off-road, daily, or motorsport use. If you're looking for maximum fire suppression in a small package, this is a great choice (and it mounts directly to our brackets). Buy directly from H3R here.

 

• H3R Performance HalGuard HG100 (1.4 lb, Clean Agent - $250)
  Clean agent, no mess, and ideal for high-end builds or collector cars. Protects your car and your electronics. A favorite for enthusiasts who care about what’s under the hood—and on the seats. Buy directly from H3R here.

 

• Kidde FA5G (2.5 lb, BC Dry Chem - $30)
  A great option if budget is a concern. It’s not flashy, but it gets the job done. Perfect for keeping in your trunk or mounting under the seat with one of our brackets. This extinguisher is the largest of our three suggestions and may not fully clear the seat . Buy directly from Kiddie here, and grab our adapter here

 

Accessibility

Most importantly, your fire extinguisher needs to be within reach when disaster strikes. Our fire extinguisher brackets mount to the seat rails of your vehicle and keep the extinguisher out of the way while still being accessible in seconds. Check out our collection here.