Do steering locks really stop car theft, and what actually works instead

Steering wheel locks are one of the oldest and most recognised vehicle security products in the UK. They are visible, relatively inexpensive, and provide a degree of deterrence against opportunistic theft. But against the organised relay attack gangs responsible for most high-value vehicle theft in 2025, a steering lock provides minimal protection. LockCar explains what steering locks can and cannot do, and what the evidence says about effective alternatives.

What steering locks actually do

A steering wheel lock, sometimes called a crook lock or club, is a metal bar that attaches to the steering wheel and extends to contact either the dashboard, the brake pedal, or a fixed point in the vehicle. It prevents the steering wheel from being turned freely, making the vehicle difficult or impossible to steer if the engine is running.

Steering locks are most effective against unsophisticated theft methods including joyriding and theft by inexperienced criminals who lack the tools to defeat them quickly. The visible presence of a steering lock may cause an opportunistic thief to move on to an easier target. This displacement effect has some value in locations where multiple unprotected vehicles are available nearby.

What steering locks cannot stop

Against organised relay attack gangs, a steering lock provides essentially no protection. These gangs operate with power tools capable of cutting through a steering lock in under two minutes, and they routinely carry such equipment when targeting high-value vehicles. A Range Rover or BMW owner who relies on a steering lock as their primary security measure against relay attack is significantly under-protected.

Steering locks also do not address the relay attack at its actual point of vulnerability: the keyless entry authentication. A relay attack unlocks and starts the vehicle before the thief even enters it. The steering lock is encountered only after the engine has started. A determined gang will cut the lock or, if the vehicle steers sufficiently to navigate out of a tight parking space, simply drive away with the lock in place.

What the evidence says about effective alternatives

Insurance industry and police data consistently show that hardwired relay immobilisers independent of the factory keyless entry system are the most effective single countermeasure against relay attack theft. They operate at the engine start circuit level, below the steering wheel. A relay attack that successfully unlocks the car and satisfies the factory immobiliser is stopped by the LockCar relay break, regardless of whether a steering lock is also present.

Steering locks can play a role in a layered security strategy as a visible deterrent that may redirect opportunistic criminals. But for any vehicle in a high-theft risk category or postcode, a steering lock alone is not an adequate primary defence.

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