Biometric Car Security: Fingerprint and Face Recognition in Vehicles

What is Biometric Car Security?

Biometric car security is an advanced technology that relies on an individual’s unique biological traits. Think fingerprints and facial features. They are used to verify identity before granting car access.

Modern vehicles have fingerprint sensors and high-quality cameras that scan your fingerprints and face and match them against the data stored in their system. Car access is only granted when the fingerprints and facial features match the records.

Unlike physical car keys or smart fobs, which can be lost or duplicated, biometrics ensure only authorised individuals can unlock, start, or even personalise the car’s settings. It makes the entire experience more personalised, keyless, and highly secure.

 

Fingerprint Recognition in Cars

Automakers typically place fingerprint sensors into door handles, ignition buttons, or dashboard interfaces. So, the moment you place your finger on the sensor, it instantly scans your print and compares it with pre-registered data.

The car unlocks immediately if the print matches. The fingerprint car ignition system also helps you start the car automatically once the print matches. While this biometric vehicle access system has several benefits, the following are worth noting:

• Enhanced Security

Every individual has a unique fingerprint, which is nearly impossible to duplicate. Hence, fingerprint-based biometric systems significantly reduce the risk of theft or unauthorised access.

• Keyless Access

You no longer need to carry physical car keys or smart fobs, as your finger and face become the ultimate keys to gain biometric vehicle access.

• User Personalisation

Vehicles that integrate biometric car security with infotainment, comfort, and other features provide an unmatched personalisation experience to users.

For example, once the biometric system verifies your identity, the car will automatically adjust features, such as seat positions, mirrors, and lighting, to match your user profile.

• Theft Deterrence

Even if you lose your car keys or smart fobs, no one can gain unauthorised access to your car. Your fingerprints will decide who gets access to your vehicle and who doesn’t, preventing theft instances.  

 

Face Recognition Technology in Vehicles

Face recognition in vehicles takes your car security to another level. Automakers install high-quality, advanced cameras on the car’s B-pillar or dashboard. These cameras scan your face for verification as you approach or sit inside the vehicle.

If your face matches a registered profile, then the vehicle unlocks and powers up automatically. What makes biometric vehicle access more secure is its liveness detection feature.

This advanced feature ensures that your vehicle can differentiate between a real human face and photos, videos, or masked individuals. It provides foolproof protection. It also triggers alerts if someone tries to enter by force. 

 

Advantages of Biometric Car Security

• Stronger Security with Multi-Factor Authentication

A biometric car lock can work alongside digital keys or smartphone apps, creating multi-layered protection. If you secure your car’s access with your fingerprints and digital keys, then theft becomes impossible even if one factor is compromised.

• Personalisation through Saving Driver Profiles and Preferences

Once verified, your car will recognise who you are and adapt everything from the car’s seating position to climate settings to match your user profile.

It’s really beneficial in cases where two family members use the same car. Each member can have their own biometric profile that activates their preferred settings upon successful verification.

• Integration Potential with Modern Connected Car Features

Biometric car security features fit perfectly into the broader connected car ecosystem to provide better experiences. For instance, a modern car can authenticate your face to unlock or start the vehicle and even authorise digital payments at fuel stations. 

 

Industry Adoption and Recent Innovations

The automobile industry worldwide is embracing biometric car security to strengthen the security of its vehicles. Hyundai, for example, integrated smart fingerprint technology in its cars to allow keyless unlocking and engine starting.

According to Hyundai, the chance of misrecognising another individual’s fingerprint as the driver’s is only 1 in 50,000. It makes biometric vehicle access five times more effective and secure than conventional vehicle keys. Continental’s biometric vehicle concept also deserves attention.

It was launched in early 2024 and involved placing cameras on the B-pillar and invisibly behind the driver’s display. Once your biometrics match the stored data, the car unlocks and starts automatically. It also includes liveness detection to prevent spoofing.

Major automakers, such as Hyundai, have also introduced an NFC-powered digital key feature, which can unlock and start a vehicle without any physical key. You can use it via the Hyundai Bluelink mobile app. Hyundai reported a 33% enrollment rate for this feature, highlighting the growing popularity of biometric vehicle security systems.  

 

Conclusion

Biometric car security is designed to provide keyless access to your vehicles while lowering instances of theft or unauthorised access. Since it’s highly secure and effective, you can expect most modern vehicles to feature biometric vehicle access for enhanced car security.

Besides protecting your car from unauthorised access or theft, you can also protect it against financial damages by insuring it under a reliable Car Insurance policy. You may explore the Shriram Car Insurance policy if you want enhanced coverage and a wide range of add-on covers at affordable premiums.  

 

FAQs

What is biometric car security?

It’s a security system that uses fingerprints and facial features/textures to verify individuals. It unlocks or starts the car only if your biometric details match the stored data.

 

How does fingerprint recognition work in vehicles?

Fingerprint sensors are installed on car doors or start buttons. Once you place your finger on these sensors, they match it against pre-stored profile data. The car instantly unlocks or starts once the fingerprints match the pre-recorded details. 

 

Is face recognition technology reliable for cars?

Yes, face recognition technology is reliable for cars. It uses advanced cameras, 3D mapping, and liveness detection to prevent unauthorised access and theft.

 

Which cars currently provide biometric security features?

Select models from Tesla, Hyundai, and BMW provide biometric security features. 

 

What are the challenges in adopting biometric car security?

The biggest challenges include sensor cost and durability. Privacy challenges are also concerning issues.