Is a Radar Detector Legal in the UK?

Legal

A radar detector is legal to own and use in the UK, unlike in some countries. It only receives radar signals; it does not interfere with anything. The line it must not cross is into an active laser jammer, which is a different, prohibited device.

Why?

A radar detector passively listens for the radar bands police speed guns use and warns the driver. Because it only receives and transmits nothing, it does not interfere with the enforcement equipment, and the UK has no law against buying, owning or using one.

The important distinction is with a laser jammer: a jammer actively transmits to defeat a police laser, and using one has been prosecuted as perverting the course of justice. A detector does none of that, which is why one is legal and the other is not.

The only practical rules are mounting: a windscreen-mounted detector must not obscure the driver's view and should be fixed securely so it is not a distraction. Within that, it is completely road-legal.

What decides if it's legal

Radar detectors are legal to buy, own and use in the UK.
A laser jammer (which actively interferes) is a different, prohibited thing.
Windscreen-mounted, it must not obscure the driver’s view.
It must be securely mounted and not a distraction hazard.

Does it depend on your car?

Legality does not vary by car - a radar detector is legal in any of them. Only the windscreen-mounting and view rules apply the same way across the board.

Related legality guides

Find your car in the garage

Sources

This page is general guidance, not legal advice, on the rules in the UK for radar detector. The detail varies by exact vehicle and changes over time - confirm with your insurer and the latest DVSA and GOV.UK guidance before modifying.