First, let me suggest something. Go to your local LEO HQ and ASK them what they expect when you've got a gun in your car loaded and ready to go with the flip of the safety and you get pulled over.
I live in a small town of about 30,000. I've become friends with the county Sheriff and with some of the local PD guys. So here in my home town, if I get pulled over for something, and I have twice due to my heavy foot, I tell the officer right away. Of course, I always turn off the car, open my tinted windows, keep my hands on the wheel and I DO NOT reach around for anything until the officer tells me to. This thing of getting your license ready and all of that just conveys a sense of worry to the officer and may influence his reaction to finding out you have a weapon in the car. Especially since he/she will already see by your record that you have a CCW.
"Sir, are you aware of why I pulled you over?"
"No officer, I'm not. But I would like to mention to you that I have a CCW license and I do have a loaded weapon in my center console in a black holster."
"That's fine. Do you need to open that console to obtain your license, insurance and registration?"
"Yes sir, I do need to open it. If you would prefer, I can unload the weapon and place it on the passenger seat."
"No, that's fine. Just place it on the passenger seat in the holster and then let me get your documents please."
And that's how it went. In my local area and the other towns and cities around here, I inform right up front. I don't have too, but I know it will place the officer at ease and it immediately establishes some trust with him/her.
Now that's not to say all officers are created equally. The next time I was pulled over, a relatively young officer came to my window.
"Sir, are you aware that you were just doing 74 in a 50 zone?"
"No, I sure wasn't. I apologize for not paying better attention to my speedometer. Stupid radio controls are messing up on me. By the way sir, I do have a CCW and I also have a loaded weapon there, nodding my head in its direction, in my center console."
OH.MY.GOD!
This dude jumps back from the window, pulls his weapon and tells dispatch with his shoulder mic that he needs back up for a Hispanic male who is stating he has a loaded weapon in his car!
I said, "Officer, I DO have a valid CCW permit signed by Sheriff Sutton and I am NOT Hispanic, but of American Indian descent."
It made no difference. This kid has his weapon out, pointed at the ground in a ready type stance to bring it up if needed. He tells me to exit the vehicle. I do so. He asks me if I have any guns, knives, grenades or nuclear weapons on me. I chuckle and tell him only the gun in the car and the pocket knife attached to my right hand pocket.
About this time, another officer arrives and walks up.
"Sir, where is the weapon located?"
"In my center console."
He gets it, clears it....letting the damned round hit the street!!!! He tehn remarks on how clean and nice my weapon is. I thank him. He then asks me if I'm expecting any trouble. I say, "No sir, I'm not." He then asks me why in the world I'm riding around with a loaded weapon and one in the chamber. I ask him if his weapon is locked and loaded like mine. He replies it is. I ask him if he's expecting any trouble today. Not catching on, he says no, but that as a LEO, he has to be prepared at all times and of course, as a policeman, he can't take the time to rack a round in if things go badly. I reply that even though I'm not a LEO, I am retired military with years and years of experience with weapons and that I also do not wish to take the time to rack a round.
After that, it all went very quickly and smoothly. I got a warning and was on my way.
If I leave my State, I will not say anything unless required by that States law. I know enough people in Law Enforcement here to keep things civil. But outside my bubble of friends, I don't say anything unless asked or unless I have to go in my center console. But now, I keep those documents in my sun visor.