Because sales figures have declined in recent years, only a small number of experienced and reliable protected-vehicle manufacturers remain and are listed in this article. Potential buyers are encouraged to look carefully at vehicle companies since some have greater financial stability than others and the degree of workmanship and engineering varies from one to another. Furthermore, some companies which claim to manufacture protected vehicles do not: they may serve only as marketing agencies. Stringent purchasing procedures are suggested. These call for a written, comprehensive bill of technical specifications for the particular vehicle; a manufacturing time frame; warranties; and a clear presentation of financial aspects. Buyers should determine a prospective vehicle's mission before making a decision. Most vehicles must transport people; so comfort, efficiency, and performance should be planned for. Since a protected vehicle may have to maneuver rapidly in the event of an attack, it should not be encumbered with needlessly heavy armor. In addition, a vehicle should not be cluttered with unnecessary security gadgetry, since such equipment could lead to a failure of the electrical system at a critical moment. Suggestions for selecting opaque and transparent armor focus on the need for a weapons threat assessment which should be conducted in the buyer's area before a vehicle is purchased. Problems that usually arise with various types of armor are reviewed, and the contents of transparency warranties are discussed. Footnotes and a sample vehicle diagram are included.