Whether it's a retro VW van or a new BMW, your car is likely either the first or second most expensive thing you own, so it’s only right that you want to keep it secure. Even the most technologically-advanced forms of security used by car manufacturers nowadays are capable of being outsmarted, but one thing you can generally rely on is a big ol’ lump of metal.
Steering wheel locks offer protection in two ways. Firstly, they act as a deterrent. If there’s a car with a lock and one without, guess which one a thief is going to choose? Secondly, if you can’t steer the car, you can’t steal it. This guide will help you find the best antitheft options available, and show you where to pick them up from on Amazon, eBay and Argos.
Quick List - Top Steering Wheel Locks
Master Lock
A Versatile Car Lock That Can Be Used as a Stabilizer on a Bike Rack
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Choosing the right steering wheel lock for your car depends on a multitude of factors. To narrow your search down, we’ll look at the different types of locks, their fit capabilities, what type of locking mechanism they have, and how bright colours can be of benefit.
While the traditional side to side bar lock is certainly the most common, there are also some other designs available alongside these. Each has their merits, so have a look at the information before you go ahead and choose.
As you're probably aware, this is certainly the most common style. They have a long tubular bar that attaches to the steering wheel with hooks or arms, either around the edges or in between the spokes and other components. Once in place, the steering wheel cannot be moved.
The big drawback is that your car is still vulnerable to airbag theft. No doubt this is much better than your car being stolen, but this could still see you out of pocket in the long run.
Pedal locks are similar in design to bar locks, but at the same time completely different. They still use a long metal tube with hooks to attach to the steering wheel, however, this time the opposite end of the bar hooks onto one of your pedals, usually the brake. The idea is to demobilise two parts of the car, thus making it more difficult to steal.
Pedal locks are a great visual deterrent because at first glance they look like a ton of work, though they can be exposed if the robber chooses to cut up the steering wheel. They’re also slightly more of a hassle to put on due to their lengthy size.
Enclosed locks (sometimes referred to as ‘over the wheel’ locks) completely encase the steering wheel – think of it like a big steel glove. Due to this, they’re extremely difficult to cut around and often slip and slide if a thief attempts to do so, making it infuriating.
Furthermore, this style will also protect against airbag theft as they cover this area too. The payoff is that they are usually more bulky and cumbersome and therefore more of a pain to set up if you're only popping out, as well as being trickier to store in smaller cars or those short on space.
Manufacturers want their product to be available to as many consumers as possible. The average car steering wheel is between 37 to 45 cm, so companies often look to create a product that has a universal fit within these sizes. The lock must fit snugly, otherwise, it will be easier to manipulate by wrongdoers.
This will be different with pedal locks as it isn’t the circumference of the wheel you will be measuring but the distance between the wheel and pedals. Luckily, companies will give a maximum distance measurement in cm so you can check this against your vehicle.
However, we would still recommend checking if the company stipulates whether their product can be used, or not used, with particular car models. This way, you can be 100% certain before you purchase.
There are two choices when it comes to locking mechanisms, either a key lock, or a numerical combination lock much like those found on a safe.
Lock and key styles are simple and easy to remember as they can be attached to your car keys. There is also often a spare provided should you accidentally lose the main key. Nevertheless, they aren't perfect. All it takes is a thief having a particular set of tools and being a competent lock picker.
In response to this, you could opt for a numerical code lock. They're more difficult to break as there is no tool for them, and it is simply a case of knowing the number.
The issue arises if you are to forget your combination. If this happens it’s much more difficult to override, and will likely result in you, or a trained professional, taking power tools to the lock.
While it might seem a funny feature to consider, a brightly-coloured lock can make the device more visible and therefore work better as a deterrent.
For people who steal automobiles, time is of the essence, thus seeing a steering wheel lock could avert their attention to a more susceptible vehicle. Therefore, it is worth thinking about whether the product you are buying will be distinguishable in both daylight and nighttime hours.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Stoplock Pro Steering Wheel Lock|HG 149-00 | ![]() | Strong, Sturdy, Secure and Easy to Fit | |
2 | Disklok Full Cover Steering Wheel Security Lock|RHDSMLSILDSK | ![]() | A Product Recommend by the UK Police | |
3 | Goodyear Heavy Duty Steering Wheel Lock | ![]() | Protect Your Car Both Manually and Digitally With This Lock | |
4 | Master Lock Heavy Duty Pedal to Steering Wheel Lock|256EURDAT | ![]() | A Versatile Car Lock That Can Be Used as a Stabilizer on a Bike Rack | |
5 | Generic Reinforced Rod Car Steering Wheel Lock|ZLAUFH29 | ![]() | Comes With an Alleged Zero Chance Crack Rating | |
6 | Stoplock Pro Elite Steering Wheel Lock|HG 150-00 | ![]() | Big Protection for Big Vehicles | |
7 | Streetwize Accessories XLock Full Face Steering Wheel Lock|SWUXSL2 | ![]() | A Big Bright Lock That'll Have Thieves Giving Up in Seconds | |
8 | Carpoint Elephant Steering Wheel Lock |0510073 | ![]() | A Visible Deterrent That Won't Scratch the Wheel | |
9 | Kleinmetall Carlok Steering Wheel Anti-Theft Lock | ![]() | A Sturdy Yet Lightweight Pedal to Wheel Lock | |
10 | Autly Anti-Theft Car Steering Wheel Lock | ![]() | A Lock That Also Doubles up as an Emergency Weapon |
It was a tough call between the Disklok at number two and this product, in the end, the fact that this is much cheaper, and much easier to use saw it take the top spot. Like the previous Stoplock Pro Elite this also comes with a Sold Secure Automotive Gold rating, and a bright yellow paint job that should discourage robbers.
It has the strong sturdy materials of the Elite, whilst also clamping around the spokes of the steering wheel, unlike the lesser models. Experts believe it would take around 5 minutes for a thief to get through this, which is a long time when you're trying to be fast. Plus, they'd make a bunch of noise trying to break through it.
Yes, it's big, bulky and a fair bit more expensive than other models. But if you're looking for the ultimate in security, you'll be hard-pressed to find many models better than this. This premium model is designed to hold off a wide array of thieving techniques and is uniquely recommended by the UK police.
It's crafted from reinforced steel and has an anti-pick locking barrel, should the chunk of steel not put them off in the first place. Plus, it comes in three different sizes, small, medium and large which range from 35 to 44 cm. It might be a pain, but if your wheels are your prized possession it might just be worth it.
Goodyear is a company even those who aren't familiar with cars know of. They cut their teeth making tyres but also dabble in car accessories and have come up with a solid, secure and sturdy steering wheel lock here. The rod is made from hardened brass-steel alloy and comes with two keys from the offset.
Furthermore, it comes with two pouches for automatic car keys. This pouch is lined with gold and therefore stops thieves from being able to access the signal from your keys, which will, in turn, trick your car to opening up to them. We think this is a brilliant touch considering the way the world has fully embraced this technology.
Designed to secure all types of cars, SUV's, trucks and minivans, this is a brilliant piece of kit if you frequently travel in more than one vehicle. It's formed from hardened steel that has maximum resistance to cutting or hammering, but due to its highly visible bright red finish, it's unlikely that this scenario would ever occur.
Plus, it even works equally as well as a stabiliser when securing bikes onto your car's bike rack, which could come in handy for those that are prone to the odd adventure holiday.
Another one for the big machines, this reinforced rod from Generic is capable of fitting on vehicles that have a steering wheel between 46 - 68 cm. Like our other numerical combination lock, this also has a five-digit password, which the company claim has a zero chance crack rate.
The device is rubber-coated with unique non-slip properties, so it shouldn't mark the inside of your car. Users also found the accessory to be very easy to use, thanks to it being uncomplicated to reset the password on arrival.
Stoplock is one of the biggest names in the game, and with the Pro Elite, they're catering to some of the biggest vehicles. If you have a van or 4X4, this device is ideal for you thanks to its whopping 52 cm size. Stoplock products have a Sold Secure Automotive Gold rating, which means they're the top of the line when it comes to safety.
Moreover, it's estimated that this device only takes around ten seconds to fit or remove, so you don't have to worry about much faffing around. The lock on the device is known to rattle when not in use, so you may want to think about leaving it in the boot for long drives.
This enclosed lock is perfect if you're looking for an affordable alternative to the far more expensive Disklock (which we'll see later). It fits steering wheels up to 39 cm and is made from heavy-duty metal. Plus, the bold yellow visual will surely offer discouragement to anyone thinking they'll have an easy ride.
Additionally, it comes with a storage bag so you don't have to have the bright yellow glaring at you from the passenger footwell while you're driving. Although it clearly states the sizes, we'd urge you to check with the company before purchasing as some shoppers have found that it has not fit their vehicle.
As with most side to side bar locks, this is easy and straightforward to attach, simply expand until it is snug between the spokes of your steering wheel. It has a soft plastic coating that protects from damaging or scratching your car and the bright colour makes it highly visible in the night time.
Some users have found that it loses its stability up the top end of its size range, which is probably worth remembering if you're buying for a larger steering wheel. Plus, users have said the keys feel delicate, so be careful of accidentally snapping them in the lock.
This hardened steel pedal to wheel lock extends up to 80 cm, which should be ample for the average car. Reviewers talk up the quality of the build, particularly the key and lock system which works smoothly.
Furthermore, the company supply you with a set of spare keys straight off the bat, and it's also one of the lightest products on the list. As we mentioned, even though it's lightweight, these types of steering wheel locks can be rather finicky to set up due to their length.
This anti-theft device from Autly bears a striking resemblance to a baseball bat, which could be useful if you were to get into a locked-in emergency and need to break a window. It uses a five-digit password to protect against wrongdoers, and a rubber material to provide better grip against your car steering wheel.
The downside is that it was constructed with left-hand drive cars in mind. Therefore, if you have a small car it is unlikely to fit without poking out of the window in the UK.
Finding the time to keep your car clean and fresh isn't always easy, but having the right products on hand is a start! Discover three more of our guides below, all of which include shopping tips and product recommendations to get you properly kitted out.
Whether you're trying to look after your beloved new whip or you're just looking for some peace of mind, we hope you've managed to find the ideal steering wheel lock from our list. As long as you thoughtfully take into account the main considerations, you'll be well on your way to a prudent purchase.
Author: Lewis Clark
No. 1: Stoplock|Pro Steering Wheel Lock|HG 149-00
No. 2: Disklok|Full Cover Steering Wheel Security Lock|RHDSMLSILDSK
No. 3: Goodyear|Heavy Duty Steering Wheel Lock
No. 4: Master Lock|Heavy Duty Pedal to Steering Wheel Lock|256EURDAT
No. 5: Generic|Reinforced Rod Car Steering Wheel Lock|ZLAUFH29
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