Vehicle Access
Control
Make vehicle access seamless and secure with mobile apps, hands-free license plate recognition, and long-range vehicle readers. Speed up entry and reduce congestion.
Vehicle Access Control
Make vehicle access seamless and secure with mobile apps, hands-free license plate recognition, and long-range vehicle readers. Speed up entry and reduce congestion.
Loved by the most trusted brands
Our products are relied upon by more than 20,000 multifamily, commercial, student housing, and gated communities around the world, including those developed, owned, and managed by the most trusted names in real estate.
Loved by the most trusted brands
Our products are already installed in more than 20,000 multifamily, commercial, student housing, and gated communities worldwide, including those developed, owned, and managed by the most trusted names in real estate.
Two hands-free options, one unified platform
Choose the vehicle access solution that fits your property’s entrance geography and sightlines, or mix and match across multiple gates and garages.
License Plate Recognition (LPR)
Give authorized vehicles hands-free access using the credential they already have: their license plate.
Nothing to issue — the plate is the credential- Residents can manage plates and Visitor Passes themselves in the app
- Best for gated drives, and staff & visitor lanes
- Every entry logged with associated plate video clips
Vehicle Reader and Windshield Tag
A weatherproof, long-range reader and a passive Windshield Tag open gates from up to 20 feet away.
- One tag per vehicle, no batteries to replace
- Revoke or assign tags anytime in your dashboard
- Best for garages, resident gates, and property entrances with tight turn-ins
- Opens the gate from up to 20 feet away
Not sure which solution is best for your property? View the decision chart
How License Plate Recognition works
How the Vehicle Reader works
Which solution fits your property?
Two complementary solutions for two kinds of entrances. Choose the option that matches your property’s vehicle access needs.
License Plate Recognition (LPR)
Vehicle Reader & Windshield Tags
Open the gate from your car
ButterflyMX works with Apple CarPlay, so residents can open a gate or garage right from the car’s built-in display — or just ask Siri. It’s a handy backup on the days a plate is obscured or the tag is in another car.
- Open a gate from the car’s built-in display
- Ask Siri to open a specific gate or garage
- Works alongside plates and tags — no extra hardware needed
Video Intercoms handle visitor access
Not every arrival has a plate or tag on file. With a ButterflyMX Video Intercom, residents see and speak to guests and couriers, then open the door from their phone — so your staff stops buzzing people in and every visit is logged.
License Plate Recognitionfrequently asked questions
For more detail, setup guides, and troubleshooting, visit the Help Center.
How does LPR open a gate or garage?
A camera at the entrance reads the plate as the vehicle approaches, compares it to the permissions in your ButterflyMX account, and opens the gate when it matches.
How do residents register their vehicles?
Property managers can enable resident self-service in the ButterflyMX app, allowing residents to add, update, or remove their own license plate details. Residents can also attach visitor license plates to digital Visitor Passes for guest entry.
What do residents have to do?
Nothing, once their plate is on file. There is no tag to apply, no fob to carry, and no app to open — though the app still works as a backup credential.
What is the difference between short-range and long-range LPR cameras?
Short-range cameras suit garage doors and tight approach lanes. Long-range cameras suit gated drives where vehicles need to be read further out so the gate is open by the time they arrive.
Does LPR work at night or in bad weather?
Cameras use infrared illumination to capture clear plate reads at night. If heavy snow, ice, or mud covers a plate, residents can use the ButterflyMX app as a fallback method.
Where are plate reads stored?
Each read is stored in the ButterflyMX dashboard as a time- and date-stamped entry with the captured image, alongside your door and gate events.
Vehicle Readerfrequently asked questions
For more detail, setup guides, and troubleshooting, visit the Help Center.
How does the Vehicle Reader open gates and garages?
The reader scans a passive Windshield Tag attached to the vehicle. If the tag holds valid permissions, the controller opens the gate automatically. Alternatively, residents can swipe to open in the ButterflyMX app.
How do Windshield Tags work?
Each resident gets a tag associated with them in ButterflyMX. When they drive up, the reader scans the tag and checks their permissions for that gate or garage — and logs the scan whether access is granted or not.
Can I immediately revoke access for a lost or moving tag?
Yes. Updating permissions in your administrator dashboard takes effect instantly, rendering a revoked tag inactive immediately.
How is the Vehicle Reader powered?
The Vehicle Reader is powered by the ButterflyMX Access Controller, which requires a 12 VDC power source.
Can the reader and tags be used outside?
Yes, the reader is IP66 outdoor-rated to withstand rain, extreme temperatures, and harsh outdoor environments when installed to guidelines. Windshield Tags sit inside the vehicle, visible from the dashboard.
License Plate Recognition Specifications
Learn all the technical details of our LPR cameras.
General
Short-range LPR camera:
- Range: 0–50 ft (0–15 m)
- Focal length: 2.8–12 mm
- Aperture: F1.3
- Field of view: 100°–49° H, 57°–29° V, 117.5°–56° D
Long-range LPR camera:
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- Range: 50–100 ft (15–30 m)
- Focal length: 8–32 mm
- Aperture: F1.6
- Field of view: 41°–15.5° H, 23°–9.5° V, 46.5°–18° D
Operating temperature
- -22°F to +140°F (-30°C to +60°C)
Pan & tilt
- 90° tilt
- 360° pan/rotation; manual
Power
- Standard 802.3af/at Type 2 PoE+
- Power consumption: max 12 watts
Video
- 4MP Resolution; HQ HD 1080p streaming, 2000 kbps
- 1 / 1.8″ CMOS image sensor
- Video recordings: HQ HD 1080p (event) / 720p (idle), up to 2000 kbps
- IR LEDs with 230–328 ft night vision range
Dimensions
- 3.9″ W × 11.0″ L × 3.5″ H
Network
- Ethernet, 10/100 Mbps
Certifications
- IP67
- CE
- FCC
- NDAA
Vehicle Reader Specifications
Learn all the technical details of our Vehicle Reader and Windshield Tag.
General
- IP66 outdoor-rated to withstand water, dust, and chemicals
- IK10 impact-rated
- Ethernet and WiFi connectivity options
- Up to 20 feet read range with vehicle sticker; or remotely with the ButterflyMX mobile app
- Enclosed in ABS plastic
Min / Max temperature
- Vehicle reader: -22°F to 140°F (-30°C to 60°C)
- Windshield tag: -40°F to 185°F (-40°C to 85°C)
- Humidity resistant: up to 95%
Power
- Vehicle reader: 12 VDC (9 – 36 VDC) (900 mA)
- Windshield tag: n/a
Outputs
- Power relay of 24 VDC 2A
- Control traffic lights
Powerful online management dashboard
Remotely manage, update, and monitor vehicle access
Audit trails
Review and monitor entry events anytime with date- and time-stamped records and camera clips stored in the cloud for 365 days.
Manage permissions
Improve building operations by adding or revoking property access in real time from the property manager dashboard.
PMS integrations
Automate resident onboarding and offboarding by syncing ButterflyMX with your property management software.