It would help if you wanted to take your vehicle’s security seriously, and to do that, you’ll need to know which is the best steering wheel lock.
Even though modern vehicles have factory-fitted alarms and immobilizers, enterprising thieves will always find a way to defeat electronic protection devices. Almost 3000 vehicles are stolen every single day in the US to prove the point.
A steering wheel lock can only be a deterrent, a last line of defense. The longer it takes a thief to steal a car, the more vulnerable he is to getting caught. So if you do have a steering lock on your vehicle, you’re going to make a thief think twice and hopefully persuade him to move on to an easier target.
If you know a steering wheel lock makes sense, have a look at our extensive buying guide. We’ll acquaint you with this type of lock’s various features and give you our top choices for the best steering wheel locks.
Best Steering Wheel Lock
The Club 1103 LX series is their upmarket model and our overall choice of the best steering wheel lock. As you can see, the design is a single-hook bar type.
As we talked about previously, the premise behind a steering lock is to be a deterrent. The high visibility and striking silver coloring of the LX 1103 make this lock perfect for its intended use.
There are the apparent build-quality and the heavy-duty chrome-plated locking housing, but the most compelling safety feature is the set of three laser encrypted keys. This type of key manufacture is virtually impossible to duplicate.
Producing them with such outstanding detail guarantees that the only way a thief can copy them is by using the same machine that made the originals. Not only do they encrypt the keys, but they make them resistant to picking, hammering, and freon.
Key Features:
- The design features a prominent silver metallic color.
- The Club 1103 has a patented self-locking feature that locks with one pull and does not require the key for locking.
- Chrome-plated locking housing.
- One set of three laser encrypted keys where duplication is not possible.
- Resists sawing, prying, hammering, and freon attacks.
- Universal fit for cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs.
Why we like it:
The Club 1103 LX uses laser encrypted security keys and is fitted with solid steel hooks.
The Winner 00018 is an incredibly visual steering wheel lock, and a thief will simply not have enough time to remove this lock before being seen. Construction is of Cro-moly steel and can resist sawing, prying, hammering, and freon attacks. Solid steel hooks will also provide additional peace of mind.
The lock will extend from 10 inches to 21 inches make it ideal for even 18-wheelers and incorporating a new lock housing and two flat keys. The maximum width between the forks is 21 1/4 inches.
The 00018 has a patented self-locking feature that locks with one pull and does not require the key to secure.
Key Features
- Cro-moly steel construction.
- Solid steel hooks.
- Patented self-locking feature.
- Resists hammering, sawing, prying, and freon.
Why we like it:
The Winner 00018 is ideal for trucks with an extension of 10 inches to 21 inches.
The Tevlaphee is a superior car anti-theft steering wheel lock of top-quality aluminum alloy and steel. This unit can resist almost any attack to remove it from your steering wheel, including cutting, prying, hammering, cracking, and freon attacks. One advantage over other steering locks is the ability to break your vehicle’s glass should a thief attempt to hijack your car.
Very quick and easy to assemble. Compress the three-section hydraulic lock to the steering wheel, brake, or clutch within the range of 58cm-85cm (22.8 inches to 33.5 inches). The upper part locks the steering wheel, and the lower part locks the brake/clutch. The steering lock collapses down to only 14 inches, and that size can fit under most car seats.
Key Features
- Double lock cylinder design.
- The three-row keys and lock.
- It is made from aluminum alloy and steel.
- Collapses down to only 14 inches for easy storage.
- The locking mechanism is pick-proof.
Why we like it:
The Tevlaphee superior build quality of aluminum alloy and steel, plus a three-row lock and keys.
The Levenli heavy-duty wheel lock is an excellent bright yellow and obvious thief deterrent. The design is a simple concept. Once the wheel lock is in position, it becomes impossible to move the steering wheel.
It will fit most vehicles, even steering wheels with an airbag. The inside width of the lock is 4cm.
The lock has a heavy-duty locking mechanism with a unique cylinder, cross-key design, making duplication virtually impossible.
Key Features
- It is a lightweight, compact design.
- Strong vinyl outer layer to protect the interior of the vehicle.
- Heavy-duty locking mechanism.
- Versatile and flexible will fit the majority of vehicles
- Speedy deployment.
Why we like it:
The lightweight steering wheel lock is swift to deploy and has a virtually unpickable locking mechanism.
Using a steering wheel lock is an excellent deterrent to thieves; it slows them down. A little frustrating for the car owner is most steering locks require a key to open and secure them. If somehow the key is lost or misplaced, then matters get very annoying.
So, what about a steering lock that is keyless and password protected with 13 million possible combinations? That would be a pretty useful innovation.
Let’s introduce you to the LC Prime steering wheel lock, which offers exactly that. Set your 5-digit password, and that’s it. Thieves cannot pry open the lock to reset the password code because the original password needs inputting before any change to the code. All you need to do is set the code and remember it.
Key Features
- This versatile lock will fit most steering wheels.
- Password protected combination keyless lock.
- U-type forks for a tighter and more secure fit.
- Thieves cannot reset the password on the combination lock.
- Hydraulic shear with anti-cutting and anti-drilling benefits.
Why we like it:
The LC Prime offers a great innovation to the traditional key style lock with its 5-digit password protected combination lock.
The Club 1000 anti-theft steering wheel lock comes with Club’s patented self-locking mechanism, which the user triggers with one pull. For excellent security for your vehicle, there are solid steel fixing hooks. The single hooks are thicker, more rigid, and are more in-depth, which eliminates prying.
And the overall Cro-moly steel construction will resist any attempt at hammering, prying, sawing, and freon attacks.
Key Features
- Cro-moly solid steel construction.
- Versatile will fit cars, SUVs, Vans, and trucks.
- Obvious theft deterrent.
- Solid steel deep hooks for optimum security.
Why we like it:
The Cro-moly solid steel construction resists sawing, hammering, and freon attacks.
The Club CL303 is an excellent choice for smaller vehicles. The design is different than most Club designs in that the lock secures the steering wheel and the brake or clutch pedal. It’s thereby rendering the car virtually immobile. If a thief attempts to turn the steering wheel or depress one of the pedals, the lock tightens.
Key Features
- Tempered steel construction.
- Obvious deterrent.
- Two anchor points for additional security.
- Budget price.
- Patented self-locking feature.
Why we like it:
The Club CL303 is made of sturdy tempered steel construction and comes at a budget price.
The Tevlaphee incorporates a self-locking feature by pulling the bar out; the keys are only necessary to open the lock. If you’re concerned that fixing a steering lock on the front of the wheel will harm the airbag system, then fear not; the Tevlaphee allows for fitment at the back of the wheel.
Carrying the lock in your vehicle also allows its use as a safe escape tool if there’s an accident and passengers cannot exit the car.
Key Features
- Double spring crescent lock.
- Three keys are included.
- Robust and sturdy construction.
- Doubles as a safety tool.
- Deep U shaped hooks.
Why we like it:
The Tevlaphee features high-grade steel and premium aluminum alloy for strength.
The Blueshyhall is a somewhat different design but is still a solid construction of PU leather and steel. The PU leather forms a protective layer over the steel to ensure there’s no damage to your steering wheel.
And one unique feature of the Blushyhall is if a thief somehow manages to cut the steering lock is cut through, somehow, the airbag apron will automatically depress the horn to send out a warning alert. The locking fork rotates a full 360 degrees making it ideal for nearly all steering wheels.
Key Features
- It is made using superior-quality PU leather and steel.
- Lock fork can rotate 360 degrees, usable for most thick steering wheels.
- Universal fit for light trucks, vans, and SUVs, and cars.
- Heavy-duty steering wheel lock.
- If cut by a thief will automatically sound the car’s horn.
Why we like it:
Blueshyhall Car Steering Wheel is made from high-quality PU leather for interior protection and solid steel.
The Cartman is another design that locks both the steering wheel and either brake or clutch pedal, with robust tempered steel construction—painted bright red for an obvious theft deterrent.
The rubberized coating will protect the steering wheel from any damage.
Even if a thief stole the vehicle, it’s not driveable because the tempered steel rod holds the brake pedal securely. The steering lock extends to fit most cars, SUVs, and vans. The span between the two hooks is a Maximum of 27.5 inches.
Key Features
- An obvious theft deterrent.
- Versatile fitting most cars, vans, and SUVs.
- A steering wheel to brake/clutch pedal locking device.
- Robust tempered steel construction.
- Budget price.
Why we like it:
The Cartman is a steering wheel to brake/clutch pedal locking device, making it more difficult for opportunist thieves to operate.
What to Look for With Steering Wheel Locks?
There is a massive choice of steering wheel locks, and finding precisely the right one for your car or vehicle can be a daunting task. You certainly don’t want to waste your money by buying one that’s just not suitable or won’t even fit your vehicle.
We have put forward an excellent selection of the best steering wheel locks for most vehicles, but we want to make it as easy as possible for you, so please take the time to read our short buyer’s guide.
What Makes A Great Steering Wheel Lock?
If it’s a top-quality steering wheel anti-theft device, it’s not going to buckle under what may be numerous attempts to break into and steal your vehicle. These attempts can be quite violent, including hammering, prying, sawing, and freon attacks. The only materials that are capable of repelling those attacks are metal alloys or solid steel.
It’s also a good idea to buy a steering lock featuring protective plastic and or foam coatings. Coatings like these are essential where the lock comes into contact with the steering wheel to prevent scratches or scuff marks.
If you happen to own more than one vehicle, then you want your lock for your steering wheel to be versatile. It needs to fit different vehicles; you might own a car and a truck, in which case there’s a big difference in size.
You want the steering wheel lock bar to be an obvious thief deterrent. What we mean is it needs to be a very bright, in your face color. By colorful, we suggest either bright red or yellow. In itself, it won’t protect the car, but it says to the thief this car is protected; find another one to steal. You don’t need the damage of broken side windows before the thief happens to notice you have a steering lock on the vehicle.
While touting some heavier steering locks as self-defense weapons, that’s not the lock’s primary use. So do you want to be manipulating a locking bar that weighs a ton every time you want to attach it to your steering wheel? It might soon start to be a pain, and then you are not using the lock.
Generally, you wouldn’t consider a steering lock to be technically challenging to use. But there is a learning curve, as with all new things. Position the lock in the way the manufacturers suggest. There’s a reason why they say this; it’s to facilitate locking and unlocking as quickly and thoroughly as possible. After a few attempts, it’s going to be second nature.
Lock Types
The two locking mechanisms are either keys or combination locks. The keys to these steering locks are tamper and duplication proof. If not, buy a different steering lock. Combination locks should have at least four digits, preferably five. Once again, if they don’t come up to standard, move on, and buy a different lock.
Price
Budget-price steering wheel locks start from $20 up to $35, have a basic two-hook design, and are bright. These are more visually deterrent. If you spend a little more, you should have more features such as tamper-resistant locks. For a more versatile steering lock that will fit different size vehicles, with top of the range features, you’ll likely have to spend between $60 to $100.
Conclusion
These days whenever we park a vehicle, there’s always that trepidation of will it still be here when we return. More and more people have their cars broken into and stolen every day.
There’s no worse sinking feeling than seeing the empty space where you parked your car or the smashed window as you get up close.
It’s not even about where you live or park anymore. It happens in even the safest areas of our towns and cities. Having your car stolen has become a repeatable reality for many vehicle owners.
If you take our advice and fit a steering wheel lock, you are making it more difficult for thieves to operate.
There is a lot to think about with all the options, features, and not forgetting the cost. But you have to weigh that against the inconvenience, enormous costs, and emotional upset that having your vehicle stolen will bring.
Think about the different steering locks we suggest in our steering wheel locks review and which will perform the best for your needs. As we said earlier, you don’t want to buy the wrong lock when a little more time spent researching will save you money.
Hopefully, this article about the best steering wheel locks helps you make the right decision about the different locks available.