Your car is fitted with security features such as an alarm system to protect it against vandalism, and when the sensors get triggered by movement around the vehicle, the alarm system goes off automatically.
But, how long exactly does the alarm go off for? If you’d like to find out, keep reading to see what I learned!
How Long Do Car Alarms Go Off For?
A triggered car alarm will go off for about 5-20 minutes before switching off automatically. However, this varies depending on the type and the settings on the alarm system. On the other hand, if your alarm system, sensors, or the key fob has a problem, the alarm might go off for longer and not stop on its own.
For more information about how long car alarms go off and what causes them to go for longer, keep reading for more useful facts and tips!
How Long Does it Take For the Car Alarm to Stop?
Car alarms are a security feature for your vehicle. However, they can become quite irritating if they keep going off frequently for no reason.
In the past, car alarms were designed to go off longer or all day without stopping until the owner shut it off manually. However, today’s systems have been upgraded and now shut down much quicker.
Ideally, car alarms go off for about 5-20 minutes, and the sound stays on for 15-30 seconds, and then it shuts down for a few minutes.
While this is the average time, it varies depending on the type of alarm and the particular settings on that alarm.
In addition, most cities have regulations requiring car and home alarms to automatically shut off after a certain amount of time. In this situation, the car owner must set the alarm within the specified time, and it will stop on its own.
How Long Can a Car Alarm Go Off Before the Battery Dies?
If your alarm is overly sensitive, it gets triggered frequently and can go off for the same 5-20 minutes before switching off. Your battery will die faster depending on the number of times the alarm goes off.
However, if your alarm system has issues, it won’t stop on its own according to the settings, and the battery will completely drain off.
However, in some cases, some car models have alarm systems that continue functioning even after the battery has drained, which is a feature added to prevent car theft when the alarm is off.
Your car alarm draws power from the battery, whether on standby or if triggered, meaning it will drain the battery eventually.
How Long Does a Car Alarm Go Off in the UK?
According to some city council regulations, a car alarm should have a 5-minute cut-out device that stops it automatically.
In other cities, the authorities take action if the alarm rings continuously for more than 20 minutes, which is a noise nuisance.
Vehicle owners are encouraged to nominate a key holder who lives in the area when they go on holiday to avoid disturbing the neighborhood with an alarm.
If your alarm becomes a nuisance and your neighbors file a complaint, you’ll be issued with a notice to address the problem.
However, if the car alarm continues going off too frequently, the city council will take action to silence the alarm by issuing a warrant to tow your car if it’s parked on the street. Once your vehicle is towed, you have to incur all the costs.
To avoid getting into trouble and having your car towed, ensure that your car alarm settings are set according to the set laws.
How Long Do OEM Alarm Systems Go Off For?
OEM alarm systems are built into the vehicle during manufacturing, and when they get triggered, they can go off for about 5 minutes (they are armed and disarmed using the car’s keyless entry remote).
These alarms are known as the one-way alarm system because they only arm or disarm the vehicle, rather than alerting the owner when the car is being vandalized.
With this alarm system, you can remotely lock and unlock the door, trigger the alarm horn and initialize the starter.
How Long Do Aftermarket Alarm Systems Go Off For?
These aftermarket systems go off for about 5-20 minutes, depending on the alarm settings. Some of them are highly sensitive and can get triggered if they detect that the car is tilted.
Aftermarket alarm systems are also armed and disarmed using a remote key fob. Therefore, you can easily disarm them to keep them from being a nuisance.
Two-way aftermarket alarms come with a remote key fob and alert the car owner when the alarm gets activated. These systems are more common and can be noisy if they go off frequently.
To find out more, you can also see our posts on how to reset the Avital car alarm, how to disconnect a car alarm fuse, and how to reset the Kia car alarm.
Conclusion
Car alarms typically go off for about 5-20 minutes before switching off automatically. However, this period varies depending on the type and the settings on the alarm system.
If your alarm system, sensors, or key fob has a problem, the alarm might go off for longer and not switch off on its own. When this happens, you need to find the cause and fix it to avoid being a nuisance to your neighbors.