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Will has written for several major auto sites including Motor1 since 2020, logging hundreds of hours researching and testing products ranging from child car seats to torque wrenches. Will is also Certified by Safe Kids Worldwide as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (#T836339). Wheel Nut
A lock that hooks around your gas pedal or clutch.
A twin hook steering wheel lock that is easy to secure.
A steering wheel lock equipped with a 135.0-decibel alarm.
With vehicle thefts on the rise in many parts of the United States, many people immediately turn to a steering wheel lock as the first line of defense. But the truth is even the best steering wheel locks cannot prevent a motivated thief from taking an unattended vehicle. However, a good steering wheel lock can deter would-be theft and make taking off with your car more difficult.
We tested and destroyed many steering wheel locks to evaluate their ability to protect your ride. Our findings on the effectiveness of these locks surprised us. Read about our experience as well as tips for further protecting your vehicle against theft.
The best steering wheel locks in 2024 are the Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Brake Lock, Winner International The Club 3000, and the Vechkom Steering Wheel Lock.
Each steering wheel lock in this review was thoroughly tested and evaluated based on several categories, including ease of use, difficulty of destruction, and overall value. You can find more specifics regarding our rating system here.
The scores in each category are compiled into a single overall rating that ranges from 1.0 to 5.0 stars. Each steering wheel lock’s ratings, including their overall ratings and awards from our team, are highlighted below:
*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.
For those interested in learning more, we’ve provided a detailed review of each of the best steering wheel locks in the sections below:
Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Brake Lock $45.99 Amazon Buy Pros and Cons Pros Took the longest to break into Easy to install Cons Can be difficult to uninstall Summary The Tevlaphee steering wheel lock works a little differently than most other locks. Rather than attaching only to the steering wheel, this lock extends to the floorboards and hooks around the brake, clutch, or gas pedal. This design makes the Tevlaphee more difficult to set up, but also slightly more secure than typical steering wheel locks. This is because the weak spot (the key lock) is harder to access once the Tevlaphee is installed.
The Tevlaphee steering wheel lock works a little differently than most other locks. Rather than attaching only to the steering wheel, this lock extends to the floorboards and hooks around the brake, clutch, or gas pedal. This design makes the Tevlaphee more difficult to set up, but also slightly more secure than typical steering wheel locks. This is because the weak spot (the key lock) is harder to access once the Tevlaphee is installed.
The Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Lock works a little differently than most other locks. Rather than attaching only to the steering wheel, this lock extends to the floorboards and hooks around the brake, clutch, or gas pedal. This design makes the Tevlaphee more difficult to set up, but also slightly more secure than typical steering wheel locks. This is because the weak spot (the key lock) is harder to access once the Tevlaphee is installed.
Here’s how the Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Lock performed in each category:
While more of a hassle to install than other wheel locks, this device is still relatively simple to set up. There are enough notches to allow for a precise, snug fit that prevents anyone from using the pedal until the lock is disengaged.
We were able to break this lock in one minute and five seconds using a cordless drill. This wheel lock took the longest to disable among those we recommend, mostly because it is more difficult to access the Tevlaphee’s keyhole with a drill.
Most say this car lock is easy to put on and remove. It can be used as a brake lock, or placed over just the steering wheel . Many feel their vehicle is safer with this lock’s thick steel construction.
Depending on how you orient the Tevlaphee, it can be difficult to remove when the time comes. If the key slot is positioned such that the key can’t be inserted, you may find yourself thoroughly inconvenienced, as happened to one reviewer.
The Club 3000 $33.86 Amazon Buy Pros and Cons Pros Easiest lock to install Great visible deterrent Cons Destroyed with ease Summary The Club is perhaps one of the best-known steering wheel locks and the standard by which many are measured. The bright yellow appearance acts as a visual deterrent. We found it easy to use though also as easily disabled with a cordless drill. The Club can bring you some peace of mind but hardly slows a thief with power tools.
The Club is perhaps one of the best-known steering wheel locks and the standard by which many are measured. The bright yellow appearance acts as a visual deterrent. We found it easy to use though also as easily disabled with a cordless drill. The Club can bring you some peace of mind but hardly slows a thief with power tools.
The Club is perhaps one of the best-known steering wheel locks and the standard by which many are measured. The bright yellow appearance acts as a visual deterrent. We found it easy to use though also as easily disabled with a cordless drill. The Club can bring you some peace of mind but hardly slows a thief with power tools.
Here’s how The Club 3000 Steering Wheel Lock performed in each category:
The Club is the easiest to install of any of the steering wheel locks we used. The self-locking feature makes it a simple matter to firmly attach this steering wheel lock.
Using a cordless drill, we were able to disable The Club in 40 seconds. Like most all steering wheel locks, The Club is better as a theft deterrent than a guarantee of protection.
What seems most appreciated about The Club is that it is easy to use and is highly visible. Most satisfied reviewers admit that this alone will not prevent all carjackings. However, it can make your car more difficult to steal, and deter some thieves.
Several customers posted pictures of bent Clubs, complaining that this device did not work to protect their cars. Keep in mind that no steering wheel lock is a perfect solution.
Vechkom Steering Wheel Lock $69.99 Amazon Buy Pros and Cons Pros Alarm feature is a great deterrent Easy to install Cons Touchy, quiet alarm Summary The Vechkom steering wheel lock features a slightly different design than other steering wheel locks. It can clamp to the top of your wheel and extend over the dash. This lock also has a built-in alarm (which requires three AAA batteries) that sounds if anyone should tamper with this device.
The Vechkom steering wheel lock features a slightly different design than other steering wheel locks. It can clamp to the top of your wheel and extend over the dash. This lock also has a built-in alarm (which requires three AAA batteries) that sounds if anyone should tamper with this device.
The Vechkom Steering Wheel Lock features a slightly different design than other steering wheel locks. Its T-lock design means it can clamp to the top of your wheel and extend over the dash. This lock also has a built-in alarm (which requires three AAA batteries) that alerts if anyone should tamper with this device.
Here’s how the Vechkom Steering Wheel Lock performed in each category:
The Vechkom is as easy to install as any other car steering wheel lock, though there is the extra step of removing the battery cover and installing the three AAA batteries required for the alarm feature. The alarm is touchy and just installing the lock caused it to go off.
Though it is advertised as sounding at 135.0 decibels (dB), the alarm is not especially loud and does not sound for very long. When we attempted to disable the device, we were able to remove it in 18 seconds, making it the least effective of the steering wheel locks we tested.
That said, no lock is perfect, and the added alarm component may serve as an additional deterrent to thieves, especially since the appearance of the device and a blinking red light indicate that it is equipped with an alarm feature.
Those who like the Vechkom say its appearance makes for a good deterrent. It is secure, simple to install, and it makes some feel their car is more secure.
A few report difficulty installing the Vechkom and several have noted (like us) that the alarm isn’t particularly loud. It may startle and discourage a thief but is unlikely to alert anyone in the surrounding area, especially if the car door is closed when the alarm activates.
When it comes to protecting your car, there is no silver bullet that totally eliminates the possibility of theft. However, tools like steering wheel locks make it more difficult for would-be thieves to make off with your vehicle. The more barriers to stealing your car, the more likely it is that a thief will look past your vehicle and choose an easier target.
If you plan to use a steering wheel lock every day, you’ll want an option that is easy to use. Ideally, you should be able to attach your steering wheel lock in less than a minute, and remove it just as quickly.
A steering wheel lock is a bar that attaches to the steering wheel. The sides of this bar either extend beyond the wheel to the doorframe, or to the floor. This prevents the wheel from turning. When properly attached, a steering wheel lock renders your vehicle effectively inoperable until it is removed.
A steering wheel lock is not a guarantee of deterring car theft. Even the strongest lock we tested is not unbreakable. When selecting a steering wheel lock, consider the conditions where you typically park your car. A steering wheel lock may prevent a theft of opportunity, but it can be disabled with a power drill or bolt cutters.
What a steering wheel lock can do is deter theft by making your car more difficult to steal, increasing the time it takes to break into your vehicle. If you’re buying a steering wheel lock, look for something that is easy to use. You don’t want to spend an hour securing your car every time you park. Find locks that take more time to disable and that are highly visible.
How you attach a steering wheel lock can vary depending on the particular design. Most use a key system. When unlocked, the steering wheel lock can extend and retract. To attach a steering wheel lock, unlock it and affix it to your wheel. Make sure the steering wheel lock is fully extended and then lock it using the key.
When properly attached, you should not be able to remove the steering wheel lock and it should prevent the wheel from turning more than a few degrees.
To remove a steering wheel lock, unlock it with the key and then collapse it so that it can be removed from your wheel.
Should you lose your steering wheel lock key, a steering wheel lock can be disabled with a power drill. Using a suitable drill bit, make a hole in the part of the steering wheel lock where the key is inserted. Using this method, you should be able to remove the steering wheel lock in a matter of seconds, though this will obviously destroy the steering wheel lock.
The best way to use a steering wheel lock is in addition to other security devices both inside and outside the vehicle. Think security cameras, kill switches, and dash cams . Even the most heavy-duty steering wheel lock isn’t foolproof, but hardened steel across the entire wheel can deter potential thieves.
Car steering wheel locks can be an effective deterrent, especially when they are highly-visible. Having tested several, we think Tevlaphee, Winner International, and Vechkom make some good options. The Tevlaphee lock was the most difficult to destroy, while The Club 3000 is the easiest to use. The Vechkom is a good choice if you want something that is loud, as it has a built-in alarm system.
Here are our picks for the best steering wheel locks in 2024:
Below are some common frequently asked questions about steering wheel locks:
Based on our testing, the Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Brake Lock is one of the most effective steering wheel locks. However, most steering wheel locks can be quickly disabled with a power drill so it is a good idea to add other levels of security to your vehicle if you’re worried about theft.
Steering wheel locks are effective at deterring thieves who don’t have a power drill. Given that any determined thief is likely to carry such a tool, a steering wheel lock is not a perfect anti-theft device . While sawing through the steel bar would take a long time, drilling a hole into the keyhole can disable most steering wheel locks in less than a minute.
You can protect your steering wheel from theft by locking your car and parking it in a safe location such as a parking garage. Of course, there is no way to prevent all theft, and a dedicated car thief can almost always find a way into a vehicle.
You can steal a car with a steering wheel lock by removing the lock. Most steering wheel locks can be disabled in under a minute by drilling a hole through the keyhole. The best way to secure your vehicle is to park it in a safe place like a parking garage. A steering wheel lock can act as a deterrent, and installing a kill switch or two will also make your car harder to steal.
Apart from covering your vehicle with a titanium dome, it is nearly impossible to protect your car from every thief. However, car owners can make their vehicles harder to break into by parking in heavily trafficked areas, where a would-be thief is more likely to attract attention when smashing a window.
A parking garage equipped with security cameras is another good place to park your car if you don’t want anyone to break into it.
To test steering wheel locks, we installed each lock according to the included directions and then attempted to remove or disable it without using the key. We attempted to remove these steering wheel locks with the assistance of a power drill fitted with a basic carbon steel drill bit.
Our ease of installation score is based on how quickly these steering wheel locks can be set up. Steering wheel locks that can be fully deployed in under a minute scored best in this category.
Our difficulty of destruction score is based on the amount of time it takes to remove the steering wheel lock. In all cases, we were able to remove these locks in under a minute using a power drill. However, without a power drill, removal would be much more difficult if not impossible.
Our value score is based on each steering wheel lock’s cost relative to its performance in our other review categories. Steering wheel locks that are the most difficult to destroy but that cost less than similar products score best in this category.
Every steering wheel lock we test is given a score between 1.0 and 5.0 stars in each category. Here’s what those star ratings mean in concrete terms:
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here .
*Data accurate at time of publication. Products subject to availability.
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