Number represents a high of 11.5% compared to the first 6 months of 2024; 19 thousand vehicles that received armor in the period are in SP
Brazil registered 22,425 new cars armored in the 1st semester of 2025, according to a survey by the Brazilian Army data. The number represents a high of 11.5% compared to the same period as 2024, when 20,090 vehicles were shielded.
The number of new shields in 2025 already corresponds to 65% of the total recorded last year, when the country accounted for 34,402 vehicle adaptations.
According to the Abrablin survey, 84.2% of the cars that were armored in the country in the 1st semester are in São Paulo. The state recorded 18,898 new shields in the period.
Then appear Rio de Janeiro (1,767), Ceará (641), Pernambuco (519), Rio Grande do Sul (259) and Bahia (215).
Rio de Janeiro and Ceará were the states that recorded the highest growth in search of armor compared to the 1st semester of 2024. The number of cars adapted in the river rose 20.7%. In Ceará, the rise was 13.2%.
The biggest drop in demand was in Mato Grosso (91.7%). In the first half of last year, 12 cars were shielded in the state. This year, only one. In Paraná, the demand for shields fell 14%: 101 in the first six months of 2024 and 87 in the same period of 2025.
14 Federation units did not register new shields in the first half of this year. It is the same amount recorded in the first 6 months of last year.
Abrablin President Marcelo Silva says most of the shields recorded in the first 6 months of the year are level III-A, a type of protection that resists shots of the most powerful short weapons, such as 9mm pistols, Magnum .44 and submachiners. These equipment is considered by the industry as “Hand weapons”.
Silva also states that the demand for higher level shields grew particularly in Rio de Janeiro.
It highlights level III, a type of ballistic protection that resists rifles such as Fal, AR-15 and AK-47. According to the Abrablin survey, 25 vehicles were equipped with this level of shielding in the 1st semester, most of the Rio de Janeiro state.
9,000% growth
Car armor in Brazil has grown by almost 9,000% since 1995, the beginning of the historical series of the Abrablin survey.
Since 2013, at least 10,000 new armored vehicles have been registered per year in the country. Since 2021, there are at least 20,000 per year.
ABRABLIN estimates that the country’s armored car fleet is now close to 425,000 vehicles.
Security forces
The survey also points out that 2,618 vehicles from security agencies and public order were shielded in the 1st semester.
The number is already 33% higher than that recorded throughout 2024, when 1,960 cars used by security forces received shields.
How the shield is done
All shields must be previously authorized by the Brazilian Army. The owner of the vehicle needs to request authorization by (armored motor vehicle control system and ballistic shields). It must present ID, CPF, proof of residence, CRLV, Criminal Certificates, and certificate of criminal record.
After the authorization of the Army, it is necessary to register the armored vehicle with the Detran (State Traffic Department) of the respective Federation Unit.
The armory company must also have a registration with the Army and specific authorization for each vehicle.
PROCESS
The average price of a shield is $ 80,000. The adaptation lasts about 45 days. During the process, the car is dismantled so that the bodywork and tires receive the protections and the glasses are changed.
