Pennsylvania Vehicle Carry Laws

Pennsylvania law treats firearms in vehicles strictly. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(a)(1), carrying a firearm in any vehicle, concealed or visible, loaded or unloaded, is a felony of the third degree without a valid License to Carry Firearms (LTCF). The exceptions are narrow.

This rule catches lawful Pennsylvania gun owners off guard. Pennsylvania is a licensed-carry state, not a constitutional-carry state. There is no general "vehicle exception," no glove-box rule, no console rule, no "loaded but in plain view" rule. The moment a firearm enters a vehicle, § 6106 controls, and § 6106 demands a license unless one of the enumerated § 6106(b) exceptions applies.

The statute reads, in operative part:

"Except as provided in paragraph (2), any person who carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license under this chapter commits a felony of the third degree." 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(a)(1).

The misdemeanor downgrade in 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(a)(2) is available only to a person who is otherwise eligible to possess a valid license (not a § 6105 prohibited person) and who has not committed any other criminal violation at the time of the offense. In that case the grade drops to a misdemeanor of the first degree. The home and fixed-place-of-business exception does not extend to your driveway, your employer's parking lot, or your commute.

Vehicle Carry With an LTCF

A Pennsylvania LTCF authorizes carry concealed on your person or in a vehicle anywhere in the Commonwealth where carry is otherwise lawful. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6109, the license is issued by the sheriff of the county where the applicant resides, or, for a resident of a city of the first class (Philadelphia), by the chief of police of that city. An applicant must be 21 years of age or older (18 Pa.C.S. § 6109(b)), the license is valid for five years (18 Pa.C.S. § 6109(f)(1)), and the sheriff must issue or refuse the license within 45 days (18 Pa.C.S. § 6109(e)(1), (g)).

With an LTCF, vehicle carry is straightforward:

• The handgun may be loaded.
• It may be on your person, in the center console, in the glove box, in a door pocket, or anywhere else in the cabin.
• You do not need a separate transport container.
• You do not need to declare a "lawful purpose."
• You may carry whether the vehicle is moving, parked, or stopped.

The same LTCF also covers concealed carry on your person when you exit the vehicle.

Proof of License (§ 6122)

Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6122(a), an LTCF holder carrying concealed or in a vehicle must produce the license for inspection upon lawful demand of a law enforcement officer. Failure to produce the license either at the time of arrest or at the preliminary hearing creates a "rebuttable presumption of nonlicensure." Carry the physical license card whenever the firearm is in the vehicle.

Duty to Inform

Pennsylvania has no statutory duty to inform. Section 6122 obligates production on demand; it does not require initial disclosure. The PennDOT Driver's Manual instructs drivers to alert the officer if they are transporting a firearm during a traffic stop, but that is guidance, not a criminal statute. The cleanest practice used by Pennsylvania CCW instructors is a brief, calm disclosure when the officer requests license and registration.

Vehicle Carry Without an LTCF: § 6106(b)(8) Secure-Wrapper Transport

The most important rule for an unlicensed Pennsylvania gun owner is 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(b)(8). This subsection lets you transport an unloaded firearm in a vehicle, in a secure wrapper, between specifically enumerated points. The conditions are conjunctive. The statute lifts the § 6106(a) offense only when all of the following are met:

1. The firearm is unloaded.
2. The firearm is in a secure wrapper.
3. You are traveling between two points expressly listed in the statute.

The permitted endpoints in § 6106(b)(8), as written, are:

• From the place of purchase to your home or place of business.
• To a place of repair, sale, or appraisal, or back to your home or place of business.
• In moving from one place of abode or business to another.
• From your home to a vacation or recreational home or dwelling, or back.
• To recover stolen property under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6111.1(b)(4).
• To a place of instruction intended to teach the safe handling, use, or maintenance of firearms, or back.
• To a location for PFA-ordered relinquishment under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108, or back upon return.
• To a licensed dealer's place of business for relinquishment under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108.2, or back upon return.
• To a location for safekeeping under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108.3, or back upon return.

The list is exhaustive on its face. A trip to a gun show qualifies as a "place of instruction" because 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(e)(2) expressly defines that phrase to include "a lawful gun show or meet." A trip to a friend's house to show off a new pistol does not. A drive to a state forest for plinking does not, though § 6106(b)(9) (hunting) and § 6106(b)(4) (target practice), discussed below, may apply.

What Is a "Secure Wrapper"?

Section 6106(b)(8) does not statutorily define the term. Pennsylvania State Police guidance and prevailing prosecutor practice treat it as a closed container designed to enclose the firearm:

• A locked hard case (Pelican-style, with key or combination).
• A factory carrying box, closed and latched.
• A zippered soft pistol case, closed.
• A cardboard box or similar container, closed and sealed.

What does not qualify: a holster, the glove compartment, the console, an open shopping bag, loose carriage in the trunk. Keep ammunition separate from the firearm during transport.

The § 6106(b)(8) Procedure

For an unlicensed Pennsylvania resident transporting under § 6106(b)(8):

1. Confirm a qualifying destination from the statutory list.
2. Unload the firearm completely. Remove the magazine. Cycle the action. Visually inspect the chamber.
3. Place the unloaded firearm in a closed, secure container.
4. Place the container in the trunk if the vehicle has one. If not, use the area furthest from occupants, ideally locked.
5. Keep ammunition in a separate location.
6. Keep documentation of the qualifying purpose.
7. Travel directly to the destination.
8. On a lawful stop, produce satisfactory evidence under § 6122(b).

§ 6122(b) Production Duty

Anyone relying on a § 6106(b) exception must produce satisfactory evidence of qualification on lawful demand. Section 6122(b) reads:

"An individual carrying a firearm on or about his person or in a vehicle and claiming an exception under section 6106(b) (relating to firearms not to be carried without a license) shall, upon lawful demand of a law enforcement officer, produce satisfactory evidence of qualification for exception." 18 Pa.C.S. § 6122(b).

A receipt from a gunsmith, a class-registration confirmation, a moving contract, or a dealer's bill of sale supports the claim. A bare assertion may not.

Target Practice (§ 6106(b)(4))

Section 6106(b)(4) is a separate exception for persons "engaged in target shooting with a firearm, if such persons are at or are going to or from their places of assembly or target practice and if, while going to or from their places of assembly or target practice, the firearm is not loaded."

This exception requires the firearm to be unloaded in transit but does not require a "secure wrapper." It covers only target practice, not repair, purchase, or moving. "Places of assembly or target practice" is best read as a formal range. Plinking on land you do not own may not qualify. Subsections (b)(4) and (b)(8) overlap on a trip to and from the range; carrying unloaded in a closed case satisfies both.

Hunting and Fishing (§ 6106(b)(9), (b)(10))

Section 6106(b)(9) exempts persons licensed to hunt, take furbearers, or fish in Pennsylvania while actually engaged or in transit to or from those places. Section 6106(b)(10) extends the same treatment to persons training dogs during the regular training season. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(c), a person 18 years of age or older relying on (b)(9) or (b)(10) must first obtain a sportsman's firearm permit from the county treasurer. The permit fee is no more than $6, it is valid statewide for five years, and it works only in conjunction with a current hunting, furtaking, or fishing license or a permit relating to hunting dogs. It is not a concealed carry license and does not authorize general vehicle carry.

Out-of-State License Holders

Pennsylvania recognizes out-of-state carry licenses for vehicle carry through three distinct mechanisms.

§ 6106(b)(11): Vehicle-Only Carve-Out

Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(b)(11), a person carrying a firearm in any vehicle is exempt from § 6106(a) if that person "possesses a valid and lawfully issued license for that firearm which has been issued under the laws of the United States or any other state." This carve-out is broader than § 6109(k) reciprocity: any valid out-of-state license satisfies it for vehicle carry, even if the issuing state is not on Pennsylvania's reciprocity list. The exception is vehicle only and does not authorize concealed carry on your person off the vehicle.

A person who holds an out-of-state license may carry through Pennsylvania in a vehicle under § 6106(b)(11), but may not exit and walk into a Pennsylvania convenience store armed unless a foot-carry recognition under § 6109(k) or § 6106(b)(15) also applies.

§ 6109(k) Full Reciprocity

Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6109(k), the Attorney General has the power and duty to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states for mutual recognition of carry licenses. Where an agreement is in force, a holder of a recognized out-of-state license carries in Pennsylvania with full LTCF rights, on the person and in a vehicle. The Attorney General must maintain a current list of states with reciprocity agreements and post it publicly under § 6109(k)(2). Confirm the current list with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General before relying on it.

§ 6106(b)(15) "Similar Laws" Recognition

Even without a § 6109(k) agreement, Pennsylvania recognizes a valid out-of-state license under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(b)(15) if both conditions are met: the issuing state provides a reciprocal privilege for Pennsylvania § 6109 licensees, and the Attorney General has determined that the firearm laws of that state are similar to Pennsylvania's.

Pennsylvania Residents and the LTCF

A Pennsylvania resident should obtain a Pennsylvania LTCF rather than rely on an out-of-state non-resident permit. The § 6109(k) reciprocity and § 6106(b)(15) recognition mechanisms are built around licenses issued by other states, and a Pennsylvania resident who carries on foot with only a non-resident permit and no Pennsylvania LTCF takes on legal risk under § 6106. The § 6106(b)(11) vehicle carve-out, by its text, applies to any holder of a valid out-of-state license, but it covers vehicle carry only and is not a substitute for a Pennsylvania LTCF.

Spouse-or-Parent Vehicle Exception (§ 6106(b)(13))

Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(b)(13), a person who is otherwise eligible to possess a firearm under Chapter 61 may carry a firearm in a vehicle if both:

1. The person is operating a motor vehicle registered in the person's name or the name of a spouse or parent.
2. The vehicle contains a firearm for which a valid LTCF has been issued under § 6109 to the spouse or parent owning the firearm.

This is a narrow family-vehicle exception. It lets an unlicensed spouse or child drive a family-owned vehicle in which the LTCF-holding spouse or parent has stowed a firearm. It does not cover unrelated household members, roommates, or partners short of marriage, and it does not cover an LTCF held by a sibling or other relative. The unlicensed driver must not be a § 6105 prohibited person.

Federal Interstate Transport (FOPA / 18 U.S.C. § 926A)

Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(b)(14), a person lawfully engaged in the interstate transportation of a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 926A, as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3), is exempt from § 6106(a). FOPA authorizes transport through any state between two places where the carrier may lawfully possess and carry the firearm. Under the text of 18 U.S.C. § 926A:

• The firearm must be unloaded.
• Neither the firearm nor any ammunition may be readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment.
• In a vehicle without a separate compartment, the firearm or ammunition must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or the console.
• The person must lawfully possess and carry the firearm at the origin and at the destination.

FOPA is an affirmative defense litigated downstream; vehicle stops can lead to arrest even where its conditions are met. Plan the route, container, and ammunition placement before crossing the state line.

Long Guns in Vehicles

Pennsylvania regulates long guns less strictly than handguns. The § 6106(a)(1) prohibition applies to "a firearm" as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 6102, which reaches handguns and certain short-barreled rifles and shotguns, not ordinary rifles and shotguns. An adult who is not a § 6105 prohibited person may transport an ordinary rifle or shotgun in a vehicle without an LTCF, subject to the loaded-weapon rule below.

The operative long-gun rule is 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106.1:

"Except as provided in Title 34 (relating to game), no person shall carry a loaded pistol, revolver, shotgun or rifle, other than a firearm as defined in section 6102 (relating to definitions), in any vehicle." 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106.1(a).

Translated:

• A loaded rifle or shotgun in any vehicle is a summary offense under § 6106.1(b), regardless of whether the carrier holds an LTCF. The LTCF does not authorize a loaded long gun in a vehicle.
• The Title 34 carve-out covers specific game-law situations under Pennsylvania Game Commission regulations.
• Persons excepted from the license requirement under § 6106(b)(1), (2), (5), or (6) (law enforcement, on-duty military, certain federal officers, and certain protective employees) are exempt from § 6106.1.

If the long gun falls within the § 6102 definition of "firearm" (a sawed-off shotgun, for example), the § 6106 felony rules apply on top of § 6106.1.

Vehicle Storage on Restricted Property

Pennsylvania has no general statute governing storage of a firearm inside a parked vehicle on employer, school, or other restricted property. Two practical points:

1. Employer parking lots. Pennsylvania has no parking-lot storage statute that overrides a private employer's policy. A private employer may post the parking lot against firearms, and an LTCF holder who keeps a firearm in a car on a posted lot may face dismissal and possible defiant trespass exposure under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3503. Confirm the employer's policy before storing a firearm at work.
2. K-12 school property. 18 Pa.C.S. § 912(b) makes it a misdemeanor of the first degree to possess a weapon in the buildings of, on the grounds of, or in any conveyance providing transportation to or from a K-12 school. The statute provides a defense under § 912(c) where the weapon is possessed "for other lawful purpose," but that defense is litigated after the fact and is not a clear safe harbor for storing a firearm in a car on school grounds. The federal Gun-Free School Zones Act, 18 U.S.C. § 922(q), adds a 1,000-foot zone around each K-12 school. A Pennsylvania LTCF holder qualifies for the licensed-individual exception in 18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(2)(B)(ii); an unlicensed person relying on a § 6106(b) transport exception does not.

Carrying While Impaired

Pennsylvania has no per se "DUI for firearms" statute that fixes a specific blood alcohol concentration the way 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802 does for driving. Other rules still apply:

• 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) makes it a federal offense for an unlawful user of a controlled substance to possess a firearm. A vehicle stop in which unlawful drug use is established can support a § 922(g)(3) charge regardless of state law.
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 6109(e)(1)(vi) and (vii) make a person who is addicted to or an unlawful user of marijuana or a stimulant, depressant, or narcotic drug, and a person who is a habitual drunkard, ineligible for an LTCF.
• Pennsylvania's general assault, terroristic threat, and disorderly conduct statutes apply to impaired conduct involving firearms in vehicles.

Treat carrying after drinking as a do-not-do.

Practical Traffic-Stop Procedure

Pennsylvania CCW instructors converge on the same procedure for traffic stops while armed:

1. Pull over promptly. Stop clear of traffic. Turn off the engine and radio. Lower the driver's window.
2. Turn on the interior light at night, before the officer reaches the vehicle.
3. Place both hands on top of the steering wheel. Ask passengers to keep their hands visible.
4. Wait for the officer to ask for license, registration, and insurance. Do not retrieve documents until asked.
5. When asked, calmly inform the officer where the firearm is and where your LTCF is, before reaching for either. A typical statement: "Officer, I have a Pennsylvania License to Carry. My handgun is on my right hip. My license and wallet are in my back pocket. How would you like me to proceed?"
6. Follow the officer's instructions. Do not reach toward the firearm. If the officer asks to secure the firearm during the stop, comply.
7. Hand the officer only the documents requested. Produce the LTCF with the driver's license under § 6122(a).
8. If relying on a § 6106(b) exception instead of an LTCF, produce satisfactory evidence under § 6122(b).

If the officer asks whether there is a weapon and you have not yet volunteered, answer truthfully. Lying creates exposure separate from § 6106 under Pennsylvania's unsworn falsification statutes.

Penalty Grid

A felony of the third degree carries up to 7 years and a $15,000 fine. A misdemeanor of the first degree carries up to 5 years and a $10,000 fine. A summary offense carries up to 90 days and a $300 fine.

Key Statutes Reference

Ambiguities and Notes

• "Secure wrapper" in § 6106(b)(8) is not statutorily defined. Pennsylvania State Police guidance and prevailing prosecutor practice treat it as a closed, container-style enclosure (locked hard case, factory box, zippered soft case). A snapped holster does not qualify.
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(e)(2) defines "place of instruction" to include "any hunting club, rifle club, rifle range, pistol range, shooting range, the premises of a licensed firearms dealer or a lawful gun show or meet." A friend's farm is not on that list.
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(b)(11) covers vehicle carry only for valid out-of-state license holders. Foot carry off the vehicle requires § 6109(k) reciprocity or § 6106(b)(15) "similar laws" recognition. A Pennsylvania resident should obtain a Pennsylvania LTCF rather than rely on a non-resident permit.
• The PennDOT Driver's Manual instruction to alert an officer about a firearm is guidance, not a statute. Section 6122 governs production on demand, not initial disclosure.
• 18 U.S.C. § 926A is an affirmative defense litigated downstream. Vehicle stops can lead to arrest even where § 926A applies; plan the route, container, and ammunition placement to avoid the dispute.
• The § 912(c) "other lawful purpose" defense exists but is decided after the fact and is not a reliable safe harbor for storing a firearm in a vehicle on K-12 school grounds.

Source Information

• Pennsylvania General Assembly: 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 61 (Uniform Firearms Act), including §§ 6105, 6106, 6106.1, 6109, 6111.1, 6122.
• Pennsylvania General Assembly: 18 Pa.C.S. § 912 (possession of weapon on school property) and § 3503 (criminal trespass).
• Pennsylvania General Assembly: 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6108, 6108.2, 6108.3; 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802.
• United States Code: 18 U.S.C. §§ 921(a)(3), 922(g)(3), 922(q), 926A.
• Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General: reciprocity list maintained under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6109(k).