The 2025 Buyer’s Guide to ALPR: What Every Police Department Should Know

ALPR isn’t optional anymore. But overpaying for it still is.

With stolen vehicles on the rise, traffic stops under scrutiny, and departments under pressure to do more with less, mobile ALPR has gone from luxury to necessity. But the market is cluttered with legacy vendors, inflated pricing, and outdated tech pretending to be AI.

This 2025 guide cuts through the noise—so your department gets exactly what it needs: results, not regrets.

What You Should Look for in an ALPR System

Too many departments make decisions based on brand name or what the vendor pitched at a conference.

Here’s what actually matters:

1. Real-Time Performance

• Can the system scan multiple lanes while driving at speed?

• Are alerts instant or delayed by cloud processing?

• Does it detect make, model, color, and state?
  

2. Edge AI Processing

• Does it run AI on-device—or does it rely on internet connectivity?

• Can it operate fully offline if needed?

• Does it learn and adapt over time?
  

3. Officer-First Design

• Is the interface clean, voice-ready, and non-distracting?

• Are alerts audio-based or screen-bound?

• Can it be used hands-free while driving?
  

4. Cost Per Read

• What’s the actual cost per plate read?

• Does it provide fleetwide scalability or only elite-unit installs?

• Are there surprise costs for licenses, updates, or support?
  

5. Warranty & Support

• Do you get a lifetime warranty?

• Is support responsive and based in the U.S.?

• Can your own IT or upfitter install it?
  

The Hidden Costs of Legacy Systems

Traditional providers like Vigilant, Leonardo (ELSAG), and Axon often:

• Charge $20,000+ per system

• Require proprietary storage and software

• Lock you into long-term subscriptions

• Provide limited integrations or expansion paths

For most departments, that means only a handful of vehicles get equipped—leaving the rest of your patrol force blind.

Where Aeye Systems Fits In

Category	Traditional ALPR	ai4 w/ AiLPR
Price per Unit	$20K–$30K	~$6K
Lanes Covered	1–2	3–4
AI Processing	Central server/cloud	On the edge
Alerts	Delayed	Real-time
Officer Interface	Screen-based	Hands-free (coming)
Warranty	1–3 years	Lifetime
Expandability	Limited	Modular, futureproof

Don’t Buy ALPR—Buy Results

In 2025, you shouldn’t have to:

• Wait for a federal grant to outfit just a few vehicles

• Deal with clunky, decade-old software

• Be locked into a closed ecosystem

You should expect better. Faster alerts. Higher reads. Safer streets. Smarter tech.

That’s what Aeye4 delivers.

Download the full 2025 ALPR Comparison Report or book a trial to see Aeye in action.