Inside the Back Seat of a Police Car: What It Looks Like and Why It’s Built That Way

The back seat of a police car is a hard, wipe-clean plastic bench behind a metal or polycarbonate partition, with no interior door handles or window controls, specialized seatbelts that the officer operates, and cameras and microphones recording the rear cabin; it’s sparse, durable, and designed for security and hygiene rather than comfort. In practice, the space is cramped, surfaces are seamless and easy to sanitize, and virtually every element—from the cage to the belts—is optimized to protect officers, detainees, and evidence.

The Overall Layout

In most modern patrol vehicles—now predominantly SUVs in the United States—the rear passenger area is converted into a dedicated “prisoner transport” compartment. A rigid partition (often called a cage) separates the back seat from the front cabin. The seat itself is a single molded plastic or composite bench with bucket-like contours for two passengers. The floor is rubberized or vinyl and may incorporate channels or drain points to manage spills and biofluids.

Legroom is tighter than in a civilian car because the partition sits just behind the front seats. Some cages include a center divider that allows two detainees to be transported separately. The environment is intentionally minimal: smooth walls, no loose trim, and no access to door or window controls.

Materials and Surfaces

The rear compartment emphasizes cleanability and durability. Agencies typically install aftermarket “prisoner modules” from vendors such as Setina, Pro-gard, Jotto Desk, or Havis. These modules replace factory upholstery with hard, non-porous seating and sealed panels, reducing the risk of concealed contraband and allowing quick decontamination after bodily fluids or other contaminants.

Partitions are usually steel-framed with polycarbonate or metal mesh upper sections. Depending on agency spec, they can be impact-resistant or ballistic-rated, and often include a small sliding window for communication. Anti-kick plates, smooth door skins, and covered seams minimize damage and remove hiding places.

Security and Control Features

The rear cabin integrates multiple features to limit escape risks and protect both officers and occupants. The following list highlights the most common elements found in 2025-era patrol vehicles in North America.

• Disabled interior controls: Rear door handles and window switches are removed or deactivated; doors open only from the outside.
• Partition (“cage”): A steel/polycarbonate barrier behind the front seats; often includes a small sliding hatch and may be ballistic- or stab-resistant by spec.
• Specialized seatbelts: Center-pull or externally accessible systems (e.g., Setina SmartBelt, Pro-gard belts) let officers secure a detainee without leaning across them.
• Window protection: Rear side windows may be covered with polycarbonate panels or metal screens; rear windows may be fixed or controlled solely from the front.
• Recording systems: Rear-facing cameras and microphones (e.g., Axon Fleet, Motorola WatchGuard, Panasonic Arbitrator) commonly record audio and video in the back seat.
• Restraint points: Some SUVs include floor-mounted D-rings or cage tie points for additional restraints, depending on agency policy.
• Controlled environment: Rear HVAC vents are typically present, but temperature and airflow are controlled from the front; dome lights are officer-controlled.

Taken together, these features standardize a controlled, observable space that prioritizes custody and safety over comfort, while preserving evidence via reliable audio-video recording.

Comfort and Safety Considerations

Though the rear compartment isn’t designed for comfort, safety elements are built in. Seatbelts are required by policy in many departments following national best practices and liability cases. The molded seats are firm, shallow, and slippery by design, which discourages movement but can feel cramped; knees often sit close to the partition. HVAC keeps air circulating to the rear, and lighting is controllable from the front so officers can observe the compartment at night without compromising their own visibility.

Variations by Vehicle Type and Role

While the core concept is consistent, details vary by vehicle platform and agency mission. SUVs dominate new purchases because they offer higher ride height, more storage, and easier ingress/egress for restrained individuals. Sedans with traditional bench-like prisoner seats are still in service in many jurisdictions, though fewer are being newly purchased. Specialized units—like K-9 vehicles—often devote the rear seat area to a canine kennel, shifting detainee transport to another car or to a split-compartment configuration.

Common Patrol Platforms Seen in 2025

The following list outlines the models most frequently encountered in North American fleets, which influences how the back seat is configured and fitted with transport modules.

• Ford Police Interceptor Utility (based on the Ford Explorer) — the predominant patrol SUV.
• Chevrolet Tahoe PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle) — widely used for its space and durability.
• Dodge Durango Pursuit — increasingly common, especially in mixed-duty roles.
• Dodge Charger Pursuit — still in many fleets, though new sedans are less common than SUVs.

Regardless of badge or body style, agencies nearly always retrofit the rear area with purpose-built prisoner transport equipment, making the rear cabin more uniform across models than civilian versions suggest.

What You Won’t Find Back There

The back seat of a patrol car strips out amenities common in civilian vehicles. The absence of these features is intentional and rooted in safety, sanitation, and evidence integrity.

• Fabric upholstery, carpet, or floor mats.
• Storage pockets, cupholders, or loose trim panels.
• Accessible door locks, window switches, or power ports.
• Sharp edges, exposed hardware, or unsecured components.
• Personal-comfort items such as armrests or adjustable headrests.

By eliminating these items, agencies reduce maintenance, prevent concealment opportunities, and simplify cleaning after incidents involving fluids or hazardous substances.

Why It Looks This Way

Design choices prioritize three goals: officer safety, detainee welfare, and operational integrity. Solid partitions, controlled doors and windows, and robust seating reduce risks of assault or escape. Smooth, sealed surfaces allow for fast decontamination and reduce disease transmission. Integrated cameras and microphones create an evidentiary record of custody and interactions. Modern seatbelt systems help ensure detainees are restrained properly without unduly exposing officers to risk while securing them.

Summary

The back seat of a cop car is a sparse, hard-surfaced, camera-monitored compartment behind a rigid partition, built for control, cleanability, and safety—not comfort. Expect a molded plastic bench, no interior handles or switches, specialized seatbelts managed by officers, reinforced windows and doors, and constant audio-video coverage. While details vary by vehicle and agency, the core experience is consistent across today’s patrol fleets.

How do you tell if a car is a cop car?

To tell if a car is a police vehicle, look for equipment like spotlights on the driver’s side, multiple antennas on the roof or trunk, and lights integrated into the grille or bumpers. Also, examine the interior for gear, such as laptops, switches, or gun racks. Police-specific vehicles are common, including makes like the Ford Explorer or Dodge Charger, which may have steel wheels or “Interceptor” badging. If you are being pulled over by an unmarked car, call 911 to verify the stop before pulling over. 
Visual Cues on the Exterior

• Lights: Look for hidden, flashing blue lights behind the grille, under the license plate, or on the side of the bumper. Some unmarked cars may have smoked lens LEDs or lights in the sun strip. 
• Antennas: A suspicious number of antennas on the roof or trunk is a strong indicator, as they are needed for police communication. 
• Spotlights: A spotlight assembly, particularly on the driver’s side near the mirror, is a common feature on unmarked police cars. 
• License Plates: While some unmarked cars have normal plates, others may have special municipal plates with a short series of numbers or “MU” at the end. 
• Wheels: Police vehicles often have cheap black rims or micro hubcaps and steel wheels, according to a Reddit thread, Reddit users. 
• Common Vehicle Models: Many police departments use models like the Ford Explorer, Dodge Charger Pursuit, or Ford F-150 Responder. 

Interior Indicators 

• Equipment: Look for a laptop or laptop stand, extra switches, cameras, or other strange items mounted on the windshield or dashboard.
• Non-Standard Consoles: Unusual center consoles or equipment such as gun racks and dividers between the front and back seats are signs of a police vehicle.

What to Do if Pulled Over

1. Stay Calm: Don’t speed up. 
2. Put on Hazard Lights: Turn on your four-way flashers. 
3. Call 911: While driving, call 911 and report your location, stating you are being pulled over by an unmarked vehicle. 
4. Follow Instructions: The 911 operator can confirm the stop with the officer. 
5. When You Stop: Pull over slowly and calmly. Keep your hands on the steering wheel. 
6. Verify the Officer: If the officer is not in full uniform, you can tell them you are scared and are verifying their identity with the 911 operator. 

What is the back of a cop car like?

But we do have a few features we have lights. And we have vents. There’s also a area to hang something not sure if that makes it into the final production. But it definitely is a Spartan interior.

Do police cars have back seats?

And trust me guys it’s not comfortable. And so the cop doesn’t have to reach over the rest once they’re back here they can just unbuckle it from here and buckle it in here just like that.

Why do cop cars have plastic back seats?

Did you know this? 🤔 Today I Learned the backseat of a police car has no cushion! 🚓 Apparently, this is to prevent messes and hiding things. It’s all plastic back there!