Updated on May 25, 2023 6:05 PM EDT
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Cars are easier to steal than many folks might think, and it happens a lot. Even in newer cars with the latest software and anti-theft features—ne’er-do-wells still find a way to break in. Seriously, it’s a thing.
But nothing beats a good ol’ fashion piece of locked metal to impede someone from jacking your ride. If you want to deter a massive percentage of the criminal underbelly from getting away with your car, there are a few options to help lock it down. Here are some of the best car anti-theft devices we found to help defend against car thieves.
We can’t put our own hands on every item available. In these instances, we put our collective experience in journalism, research, and prior product testing to use to make our product picks. Items that are used by our own staff may get earnest endorsements as well, but we’ll never accept fees or bonuses to sell you stuff we’re not actually excited about. Affiliate revenue is always disclosed.
The Drive aggregates reviews and research from all over the internet to figure out which products are worth buying. We also put out shopping guides to help you understand how to assess the value of these things on your own. As our editor Jonathon Klein says, “Knowledge is horsepower!”
If you’re looking for a car anti-theft device to better protect your ride when you leave it anywhere, we recommend The Club 1000 Original Club Steering Wheel Lock, Red. It features a simple design that allows for a quick and easy set up to deter anyone looking to get away with your car.
However, if you want to save on cash and get a bit of a deal on an anti-theft device, we’d go with The Club CL606 Brake Lock Vehicle Anti-Theft Device. It’s a value-priced device that locks down your brake pedal to keep your car in one place.
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
A. You should contact the manufacturer and ask about their policy. Generally, they will ask you to order a new device.
A. $20-$30: These anti-theft devices are lighter and are typically simple wheel locks to hold your steering wheel in place.
$30-$40: This price range often adds another layer of protection by adding locks that are more difficult to pick and break. Pedal anti-theft devices that hold the clutch or brake in place are also common.
$50–$60: The higher price range introduces tire locks. The higher price is partially due to the heavier construction and high-quality construction materials.
A. Wheel Lock: Wheel lock anti-theft devices are the most common. They easily attach to the steering wheel of the car to keep it from turning. These anti-theft tools can be extended to fit most steering wheels. They come with keys that allow them to be unlocked with ease.
Brake Lock: Brake locks attach to the brake or clutch pedal. This prevents either pedal from being depressed. These car anti-theft devices also lock in place and come with keys so you can unlock them quickly.
Tire Lock: Tire locks clamp onto the tires, preventing them from spinning. They are typically made of heavy-duty steel and are easy to fit overtires, depending on what size device you get. Tire locks are more durable and are often used for vehicles that will be in one place for long periods of time.
A. Exterior Materials: Anti-theft devices are reinforced with extra-tough steel design. This material makes sure anyone looking to steal your car has a much more difficult time doing so. The steel resists sawing, prying, hammering and freezing.
Wheel Mount: The device extends to latch onto the steering wheel. Depending on the device, either one or both ends are able to grab hold of the steering wheel to prevent it from turning. This allows both the device and the wheel to lock in place and is a great visual deterrent to anyone who may be looking to steal your car.
Lock: Anti-theft deterrent devices all lock in place to make sure no one easily takes your car. These locks all come with their own set of keys; each key only fits and unlocks the specific device. This prevents anyone with a similar device from unlocking another in a different vehicle.
A. Tire Size: If you’re looking at getting tire locks, you will need to know the size of your tires before making a purchase. Tire locks fit most standard tires, but if you’ve got large mud tires on your truck or Jeep, the locks may not fit properly or may not fit at all.
Brake Size: Brake locks may not extend to fit over every car’s pedals. You will want to measure the width of your car’s brake and clutch pedal to make sure the device you’re looking at will fit properly.
Extra Pair of Keys: The locks all come with their own set of keys, so you’ll have an extra pair to add to your car key collection. While it may not seem like much, owning more keys means they take up more space on your key ring and add a little more time to your journey by unlocking the devices. If they get lost or misplaced, getting a new set may be difficult.
A. Each device is keyed differently to help prevent anyone from unlocking multiple devices.
A. We recommend calling a locksmith to remove the device to avoid possibly hurting yourself or your car.
A. While a car alarm or security system may be good at alerting you of a break-in, the added security of an anti-theft device may help make sure a thief looks somewhere else before breaking in.
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