AT AJT Installs, we specialise in electronic vehicle security, including vehicle trackers, parking posts, dash cams, as well as front and rear cameras and immobilisers but there are still some ‘old school’ methods that can act as an effective deterrent to would be car thieves. The point is to make stealing your car as difficult as possible so it will take longer and therefore be riskier for thieves. So, alongside the high-tech electronic security devices that give you peace of mind, you can use additional physical security devices as a visual deterrent, such as steering wheel locks.
There is a wide range of options available, costing from just over £10 up to around £150, so in this blog we will outline the different types of steering wheel lock and their effectiveness in protecting you from vehicle theft. For more information and our tips on how to make things difficult for car thieves, you can download the AJT Installs free guide – Top 10 Stolen Cars in the UK And the steps you can take to keep yours safe!
How do they work?
In the 1980s, before cars had central locking and could easily be stolen without a key (hotwiring), steering wheel locks were the only effective method of vehicle protection available. The thinking behind them is fairly basic – lock a piece of metal onto your steering wheel and/or clutch/brake pedal so it’s impossible to drive your car away without removing it. More often than not, it is an effective visual deterrent because it makes potential thieves think twice. Without the key or some method of undoing the lock, the only option left is to use an angle grinder to remove it which is noisy and takes time, increasing the chance of being caught.
In the last AJT Installs blog, we talked about OBD car theft and how hackers target modern cars with keyless entry, and how quickly they can access a vehicle and drive it away. Adding another layer of security via a visual physical deterrent is an effective way of making sure thieves move on to an easier target.
Steering wheel locks – types
This type of physical security device is often quite brightly coloured, so it can clearly been seen from some distance away, providing a visual deterrent.
However, if you choose to fit a steering wheel lock, you should still ensure that it fits properly and is well-made and robust.
Go for something made with quality materials and avoid cheaper locks with lots of plastic, especially in key areas of the device (around the lock for example), because they are easier to break and offer little protection against a determined thief.
It is important that it fits your steering wheel, some models come with extra padding, or you can add padding yourself to ensure a snug fit. An ill-fitting steering wheel lock offers less protection and could also damage your steering wheel.
Traditional bar locks
These have been around for a long time and are bar-shaped but with hooked ends. You attach the bar to opposite struts of the steering wheel so it cannot be turned without removal. It can be seen from outside your car so works as a visual as well as physical deterrent. Most bar locks work on a range of cars, so if you buy this type of lock you need to make sure you check the dimensions of your steering wheel. A lock that doesn’t fit properly offers little or no protection.
Enclosed locks
This type of lock completely covers the steering wheel and locks in place around it. It acts as both a visual and physical deterrent as it requires a lot of time and effort from any would-be thief without the key to break it. However, enclosed locks are large and heavy, so vehicle owners have to make more of an effort to use and store them.
Pedal locks
This type of lock is longer than the traditional one. It still has a hook at each end, but at right angles. They fit around the clutch or brake pedal and the bottom of the steering wheel, so the wheel cannot be turned, and the clutch or brake pedal cannot be used. Although they offer double protection, they cannot always be seen from outside the vehicle, so will not work as a visual deterrent. Most pedal locks fit steering wheels of any size.
Steering wheel locks – testing
Carbuyer tested a number of steering wheel locks in June 2021, rating them on:
- How easy they were to fit
- How effective they were as a deterrent
- Ease of use/storage
- Price
Their tests found the Stoplock Pro Elite was virtually impossible to remove, even with noisy power tools. The Milenco came a close second, taking more than five minutes to remove – that five minutes is time car thieves cannot afford to waste. Both these bar locks come in at around £60, so provide an affordable extra level of protection from vehicle theft.
When testing enclosed locks, the Disklok (£120) also took more than 5 minutes to remove whereas the Streetwize Xlock (under £40) took a little less time and buckled when power tools were used. Both were marked down because they were fiddly to use, bulky to store, and with the Disklok, buyers have to make sure they buy the correct size for their steering wheel.
Pedal locks fared less well in testing, with some models taking only five second to remove. Although this type of lock is a deterrent, if a thief knows he can break it in under five seconds, it is not providing a good level of security.
In Summary…
Good quality steering wheel locks can be difficult, noisy, and time-consuming to remove, attracting attention and increasing the likelihood of arrest. In addition, there are other measures you can take to protect your vehicle that cost absolutely nothing, such as hiding valuables and parking in a well-let area, for example. For more useful tips on how you can make life difficult for car thieves, download the AJT Installs free guide – Top 10 Stolen Cars in the UK And the steps you can take to keep yours safe!
Steering wheel locks provide an extra level of physical security for your vehicle when used in conjunction with other security measures. At AJT Installs, we provide expert advice and fitting of all types of vehicle security from dash cams, immobilisers and vehicle trackers to front and rear cameras. Call us today to discuss your concerns and requirements.