You might think aftermarket parking sensors could be a bit of an unusual car upgrade at first, a bit like aftermarket reversing cameras, and you’d be right. Across the internet, there are dozens of cheap setups available, but most of these should be avoided.
Firstly, they are made cheaply by brands without any rapport with the market. Secondly, they probably won’t work properly in one form or another.
Happily however, hidden beneath the largely rubbish majority, there are some decent aftermarket parking sensors out there. Quite a few of them are designed for large vehicles, and/or loads, that didn’t come with parking sensors from the factory. They can also work comfortably on motorhomes, campers, or if you’re towing a trailer. They’re a nice little add-on to the rest of your automotive organisation.
The best aftermarket parking sensors 2024 at a glance
But if visibility of your vehicle is compromised, and you don’t have factory parking sensors, then an aftermarket option could be a very viable option. We’ve scoured the internet and found a selection that are both from good, reputable brands, and are useful to a number of different vehicles. Installing them (on some at least) isn’t too much harder than setting up a dual dashcam.
The best aftermarket parking sensors 2024
The best aftermarket parking sensors
You can choose between a plethora of colours to suit your tastes and/or paintwork. You get a one-metre power cable for connecting the reverse light with the sensors along with four sensors on 2.5-metre cables along with a six-metre lead attached to the display unit. You can also adjust the detecting distance via the Brainbox, if for example, your vehicle's bumpers are slightly angled.
Pros
- Good quality little items available in a range of colours (32 different types)
- Adjustable distance/sensitivity can be done via the Brainbox
Cons
- The front parking sensors have to be bought separately
Editor's pick
The buzzer starts beeping 1.5 metres from an object, increasing in frequency until you are 30cm away, at which point the beep becomes a continuous tone – just like in factory-fitted parking sensors. We also like that the sensors have a socket plug into the main cable just 150mm from the sensor. This means that fitting and potential replacement is so much easier.
Pros
- Wide spec selection with 32 different colours available
- The buzzer is subtle and compact, meaning it could be well-hidden if you wanted it to
Cons
- You don't get a light and measurement display unit
| Display | No |
| Sensors | 4 |
| Available colours | 32 |
The best aftermarket front parking sensors
It's also available in 32 different colours and comes with the adjustable Brainbox if your front bumper is an odd angle and/or shape. If you're concerned about it going off while on the move, there is an on/off switch included in the kit, which you can simply flick when you're about to head back out onto the road.
Pros
- On/off switch included, so the system won't sound on the road
- 32 different colours available, which adds to personality of the item
Cons
- Rear parking sensors have to be bought separately if you want the full set
Best mid-range aftermarket parking sensors
What you do get which rivals the Dolphin setups is an LED display to pop on your dashboard that indicates the distance of impending collision, in addition to a beep. They can detect distance up to 1.5-metres, but it's not stated at what point the chime tells you you're too close.
Pros
- LED display head unit included, which helps with precision parking
- Great value for money at just under £30 for the set
Cons
- Distance sensitivity isn't clear, unlike the Dolphin sensors
| Display | Yes |
| Sensors | 4 |
| Available colours | 1 |
The best budget aftermarket parking sensors
Each sensor is connected via a 2.5m lead for compatibility in even very large cars, allowing the sensor display to be set up on the dashboard for safety and convenience. For four sensors at just under £15, this is a great kit for a great price.
Pros
- LED display with green, amber, and red indications makes it easy to follow
- 2.5-metre cable caters well for some larger cars
Cons
- Limited colour choice unlike the Dolphin sensors
| Display | Yes |
| Sensors | 4 |
| Available colours | 1 |
The best parking sensors for vans and commercial vehicles
You get a multitude of leads including the 2.5-metre sensor cables as well as a few four-metre extension cables. The brainbox is also adjustable, which makes things handy and versatile.
Pros
- Includes extension leads as well as the sensor leads
- Adjustable brainbox, to which you can set the parking detection distance
Cons
- Only the rear sensors are included with no fronts
The best sensor and camera kit
In terms of installation, it can be a bit fiddly as the wires will need to be fed into the boot and connected to the control box and via the reverse light. But once installed, you have a very subtle and not-too-intrusive (to your vehicle) parking sensor kit.
Pros
- Sensors in a very subtle location, consisting of the frame of a rear number plate
- Good quality sensors with a sensible 1.5m to 30cm beeping distance
Cons
- Slightly tricky to install, given the feeding of the wires into the boot
FAQs and things to consider with aftermarket parking sensors
Are aftermarket parking sensors worth it?
Of course, it largely depends on your personal preference and whether you wished your car had sensors, but if you feel they would make parking a bit easier for you, then they’re absolutely worth it. If you’re carrying a set of bike racks, an aftermarket sensor kit might be a nice idea to assist with reversing with one of those on the back.
However, if you’re more confident and can deal with parking without them and you have a lot of visibility from within your vehicle, then aftermarket sensors probably aren’t for you.
How do parking sensors work?
Simply put, the sensors emit radar waves that bounce off objects, and the sensors pick up the rebounded waves. The electronic brainbox then computes the distance of the detected obstacle and sends the appropriate warning signal to you.
How easy is it to install aftermarket parking sensors?
So long as you plan how to tackle the task, and read the instructions several times, and set aside a few hours to get it done, installing parking sensors yourself is very doable. The same can apply when installing a set of roof racks, but if in doubt, seek help.
The most concerning stage is drilling holes in your car’s bumpers. All these kits are meant for use in plastic bumpers, which is what modern cars use these days due to safety regulations. Practice using the hole saw a couple of times before doing it for real – the main event is always rehearsed and the same applies to installing your parking sensors.
The key thing to remember is to let the hole saw do the cutting, don’t push it hard against the surface. Use masking tape around the drill points because this will not only help keep the surrounding paint intact, but also help the hole saw grip.
Also before you drill, ensure that there is enough space behind the bumper to house the sensors and pay attention to how the instructions suggest wiring the kit. If you don’t feel confident or comfortable installing the parking sensors yourself, you can always pay a professional to install them for you.
Are aftermarket parking sensors better than reversing cameras?
The main benefit of aftermarket parking sensors is that they don’t necessarily have to be too intrusive to your vehicle’s cabin cluster. A whole camera setup requires a monitor of sorts, and this won’t suit everybody with the way that some vehicles are laid out.
Sensors, on the other hand, will have a brainbox built-in somewhere, as well as a display of lights in the case of Dolphin Automotive. But the majority of the equipment is relatively hidden, meaning when it comes to parking, you can get a helping hand without cluttering up your interior too much. On the flipside, however, sensors can be trickier to install and may require drilling into the vehicle itself. For a lot of people, this won’t work for them and other solutions – such as cameras – are out there.
There’s a reasonable list of pros and cons to both aftermarket sensors and reversing cameras, and choosing between the two depends entirely on your personal preferences.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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