Add Security to Your Car With These Steering Wheel Locks

You already know that there's a formula we have to stick to. Doing the research is how we're able to avoid recommending total junk. That said, it's only fair to give you a little bit of insight on what exactly I look for in steering wheel locks. 

Perhaps the most important aspect is to ensure that anything I'm recommending is made well. It's important to make sure whatever I'm recommending is going to do its job well enough to give car thieves a real headache to deal with. I also made sure to consider what different people are willing to use, which is why you'll find a mix of different types on the list below. 

The Club 1000 Steering Wheel Lock is a favorite for many reasons. It's simple, relatively affordable, and does the job well. However, something like the FLK Tech Universal Anti-Theft Steering Wheel Lock does offer budget-friendly protection. The call is yours. Reach out and tell us what the best steering wheel lock is.

Here's everything you need to know before buying a steering wheel lock. 

An enclosed steering wheel lock looks just like it sounds. It completely covers the steering wheel, locking it from use. These locks provide a high level of security for obvious reasons, and they'll require a lot of effort to crack, which is bad news for any would-be thief. Their downside is they are bulky, heavy, and more difficult to stow away.

This is the most common design among steering wheel locks. They are basically bar-shaped and have hook ends that attach to opposite spokes of the steering wheel to prevent it from turning. The advantage of this design is that it gets the job done while having a manageable footprint.

These are designed to hook onto both the steering wheel and the brake or clutch pedal, preventing both from use. This makes them effective as a security measure since they offer double protection. The tradeoff is that they are less visible from the outside and might serve as a deterrent only after the thief has already broken into your car.

What is any kind of security measure worth if it isn't built well? Car thieves will find the weakest part of a steering wheel lock and exploit it. Some models even feature plastic in crucial areas that make it easy enough to break the lock, rendering the entire thing useless. Something is better than nothing, but if you can afford models with better materials, that’s what you should go with. 

On that note, you don't want cheap parts anywhere. There are plenty of instances where lock cylinders freeze up or jam, leaving the owners with no choice but to cut it away.

It's no coincidence that many locks are highly visible. In fact, many use brightly colored paint to make themselves better to see from outside of the vehicle. That's because being seen is half the battle. 

Car thieves want things to go as smoothly so they can spend the least amount of time doing the deed as possible. If they can see that there's a lock standing in their way, they're more likely to move on to an easier target. Keep in mind that this doesn't mean that just anything should be used as there are determined enough to take on this obstacle. So, it's still important to ensure you're using a decent device. 

Double-check the fitment of anything you're considering to ensure it will fit your application. There aren't many intended for a single steering-wheel size. Most work with a set range of sizes, and you'll want to make sure your steering wheel is within spec. Because most fit a number of applications, you aren't likely to find the perfect fit, which can be something of a security issue. That's why a lot of people opt to modify their steering wheel lock with padding and otherwise to achieve a snug fit. 

Hide the goods. Thieves aren't just interested in your car; they'll make due with what's in it. If you have to keep anything of value inside, make sure to keep it out of sight.

More than a single measure. Steering wheel locks can only do so much. Park in highly visible areas, lock your doors, install other devices. The more difficult a target your car is, the better off you are.

Your car is valuable enough. The most commonly stolen cars aren't high-end luxury cars. Anything goes in the den of thieves. It's worth protecting your car, no matter what it is.

The less who know, the better. This is one of those situations where obscure options are great. The less popular a steering wheel lock is, the less likely a thief will know how to break through it. 

You've got questions. The Drive has answers. 

A lock that's improperly sized for your vehicle can leave scuff marks or scratches, but one with the right size shouldn't be a problem with proper care and use. In any case, you can always put a soft layer of padding between the points of contact for additional protection.

This will largely depend on the steering wheel lock's design. For the conventional bar type, just extend the lock until both hook ends fix themselves on opposite spokes of the steering wheel, then lock it in place with the key.

If you can locate your spare key, try that first. If you've managed to lose that too, then call a locksmith before attempting anything drastic like using a hacksaw or drilling the lock cylinder. 

Any steering wheel lock that's built strong enough to resist all kinds of tampering will work well, but we feel that a well-constructed wheel-to-pedal lock is particularly effective since it prevents both your steering wheel and pedal from being used.