An armored (or armoured) car is one of several types of wheeled armored vehicles: a military wheeled armored vehicle, a civilian bullet-proof passenger car, or a special-purpose armored cargo vehicle for transporting valuable contents.
A military armored car is a type of armored fighting vehicle having wheels (from four to eight large off-road wheels) instead of tracks, and usually light armor. Armored cars are typically less expensive and have superior speed and range compared to tracked military vehicles. Most are not intended for heavy fighting; their normal use is for reconnaissance, command, control, and communications, or for use against lightly armed insurgents or rioters. Only some are intended to enter close combat, often accompanying convoys to protect soft-skinned vehicles. They usually mount a machine gun, autocannon, or small tank gun. Other uses include as a way to move (or tow) various long-range rocket, missile, or mortar batteries through dangerous areas while giving some protection to the crew.