Transporting Guns in California: Cars, Open Carry and Visitors (2026)

Cal Gun Roster Editorial Team on October 30, 2026

In California, a handgun in a vehicle must be unloaded and locked in the trunk or in a locked container, and the glove box does not count. Rifles and shotguns must be unloaded but do not need to be locked up. Open carry is still illegal in most of the state, and visitors passing through follow the same rules. Here is everything you need to know about moving a gun legally in California.

Quick rules

Situation	The rule
Handgun in a car	Unloaded and in a locked container or the locked trunk.
Glove box or utility compartment	Not a legal locked container, even if it locks.
Walking to and from your car	Handgun stays unloaded in a locked container.
Rifle or shotgun in a car	Unloaded. A locked case is not required but is recommended.
Ammunition and magazines	Can travel with the gun as long as nothing is loaded into it.
Concealed carry license holders	May carry a loaded handgun as the license allows, outside prohibited places.
Open carry	Illegal in most of California while the Baird v. Bonta case is reheard.
Near schools	Unloaded and in a locked container or locked trunk.
Public transit	Since 2026, you may carry an unloaded firearm on a bus, train or other public transit if it is locked in a lock box.

Transporting a handgun in a vehicle

Under Penal Code 25610, anyone 18 or older who is not prohibited from owning firearms, whether a resident or just visiting, can carry a handgun in a vehicle if it is unloaded and locked in the trunk or in a locked container. You do not need a permit to do this.

A locked container is a fully enclosed container locked with a padlock, key lock, combination lock or similar device. Lockable pistol cases and small vehicle safes work. The DOJ specifically says the glove compartment or utility compartment does not qualify. When you carry the handgun between your car and your home, the range or a store, it must stay in the locked container.

Unloaded means there is no round in the chamber and no loaded magazine inserted in the gun. Loaded magazines and boxes of ammunition can ride in the same locked case, as long as they are not attached to the gun.

Rifles and shotguns

Long guns must be unloaded while you transport them. Unlike handguns, they do not have to be in a locked container, though a case keeps them out of sight and protects them. Registered assault weapons are stricter: they must be unloaded, kept in a locked container and taken only between places the law allows, such as your home, a range or a dealer.

Open carry in California

Openly carrying a handgun, loaded or unloaded, is illegal in public in most of California. In January 2026, a Ninth Circuit panel ruled in Baird v. Bonta that the ban on open carry in counties with more than 200,000 people was unconstitutional. On April 15, 2026, the full Ninth Circuit agreed to rehear the case and vacated that ruling, and the DOJ has told law enforcement the open carry restrictions remain in effect. The full court heard arguments in June 2026, and a decision is pending. Until it rules, treat open carry as illegal.

Concealed carry licenses

With a California concealed carry (CCW) license from your county sheriff or city police, you can carry a loaded handgun under the terms of the license, except in sensitive places where carry is banned. California does not honor permits from other states. Since January 1, 2026 (AB 1078), non-residents who are 21 or older can apply to a California sheriff or police chief for a California license. They must pass a background check and complete training that includes live fire.

School zones

California’s Gun-Free School Zone law makes it a crime to possess a firearm on or within 1,000 feet of a K-12 school without an exemption. Driving past a school is allowed if the firearm is unloaded and in a locked container or the locked trunk, which is how you should already be carrying it.

Driving through California from another state

The federal Firearm Owners Protection Act (18 U.S.C. 926A) protects people traveling through a state when the gun is legal where the trip starts and ends, and is unloaded and not readily accessible during the trip, such as in the trunk. In California, play it safe and also follow state rules:

Keep handguns unloaded and locked in the trunk or a locked case.
Leave magazines over 10 rounds at home. Bringing them into California counts as importing them, which is illegal. See California magazine laws.
Do not bring assault weapons or other firearms banned in California.
Your handgun does not have to be on the California roster. The roster limits what dealers can sell, not what visitors can possess.

Moving to California

New residents can bring guns they already own, including off-roster handguns, but must report each one to the DOJ (form BOF 4010A). The deadline has been 60 days; SB 948, signed in September 2026, extends it to 180 days. Magazines over 10 rounds and assault weapons cannot come with you. Starting January 1, 2028, people moving to California with any firearm must also get a Firearm Safety Certificate within 180 days of arrival, unless an exemption applies. More on off-roster handguns.

Flying with a gun

Firearms can only fly in checked baggage. They must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided case, and you must declare them at the airline counter. Never bring a firearm or ammunition through the security checkpoint. Check your airline’s rules for ammunition before you go.

Frequently asked questions

How do you legally transport a handgun in a car in California?

Unloaded and in a locked container or the locked trunk. A locked container is a fully enclosed box locked with a padlock, key lock or combination lock. The glove compartment does not count, even if it locks.

Can I keep ammunition in the same case as my handgun?

Yes. The handgun must be unloaded, meaning no round in the chamber and no loaded magazine inserted. Loaded magazines and ammunition can be in the same locked container as long as they are not attached to the gun.

How do you transport a rifle or shotgun in California?

Rifles and shotguns must be unloaded in a vehicle. Unlike handguns, they do not have to be in a locked container, though a case is recommended. Registered assault weapons have stricter rules: they must be unloaded, in a locked container, and taken only between places the law allows, such as home, a range or a dealer.

Is open carry legal in California?

Generally no. Openly carrying a handgun in public is illegal in most of California. A Ninth Circuit panel ruled the urban open carry ban unconstitutional in January 2026, but the full court vacated that ruling for rehearing in April 2026 and heard arguments in June 2026. Until it rules, the ban remains in effect.

Can I drive through California with my gun?

Yes. Federal law protects travelers passing through when the gun is legal at both ends of the trip and is unloaded and not readily accessible. In practice, follow California rules too: unloaded and locked in the trunk or a locked container, and leave magazines over 10 rounds at home.

Does California honor other states concealed carry permits?

No. California does not recognize out-of-state carry permits, but since 2026 qualifying non-residents can apply for a California license.

Getting a concealed carry license? See California CCW by county for your sheriff or police department’s process, fees and local gun ordinances.

Sources

This article is general information, not legal advice. Local rules and court rulings change; check before you travel. Last reviewed October 30, 2026.

Category: California Firearms Law