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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.
Summary List of Best Car Anti-Theift Devices
- The Club 1000 Original Club Steering Wheel Lock
- The Club CL606 Brake Lock Anti-Theft Device
- Oanon Wheel Lock Clamp Boot Tire Claw
- The Club CL303 Pedal to Steering Wheel Lock
- Zone Tech Wheel Lock Security Tire Clamp
- Disklok Security Device
- Monojoy Car Steering Wheel Lock Universal
Our Methodology
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!”
Best Car Anti-Theft Device Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall
The Club 1000 Original Club Steering Wheel Lock
Pros
- The OG that’s easy to use
- Lightweight
- Sturdy steel construction
Cons
- Automatic locking mechanism could be a pain to wield inside the vehicle
Best Value
The Club CL606 Brake Lock Anti-Theft Device
Pros
- Intuitive design that locks between the wheel and back of the pedals
- Lightweight
- Sturdy steel construction like its sibling above
Cons
- Can be difficult to position and lock into place
- Depending on the vehicle, it may not properly fit across your brake pedal
Honorable Mention
Oanon Wheel Lock Clamp Boot Tire Claw
Pros
- Heavy-duty steel covered in a rust-preventing coating
- Includes rubber clamp covers to protect your wheels
- Can be locked into place without keys
Cons
- Will not lock around a tire wider than 14 inches
- Very heavy
- Sharper bits can puncture the tire if accidentally driven with it on there
Honorable Mention
The Club CL303 Pedal to Steering Wheel Lock
Pros
- Great for manual-transmission cars
- Lightweight-yet-sturdy
- Easy to adjust
Cons
- Can be challenging to figure out
- Crafty thieves could defeat it by ever-so-slightly cutting into the steering wheel
Honorable Mention
Zone Tech Wheel Lock Security Tire Clamp
Pros
- Waterproof key cylinder to protect against corrosion
- Adjustable and fits a wide variety of wheel widths
- PVC coating prevents scratchs on wheels
- Sturdy/heavy construction
Cons
- Can be tricky to align and install on the wheel
- Any seasoned thief can defeat it, but that takes time and creates quite a racket
Honorable Mention
Disklok Security Device
Pros
- Intuitively simple design just spins around on the wheel
- Very sturdy/hard to defeat
Cons
- Can be awkward to install/uninstall
- Hefty weight, though that’s also a pro for sure
- Awkward size and dimensions mean storage could be problematic in smaller vehicles
Honorable Mention
Monojoy Car Steering Wheel Lock Universal
Pros
- Inexpensive price
- One of the quickest and easiest devices in this review
- Lightweight yet sturdy that’s easy to wield and store
Cons
- Longterm reviews have pointed out that the lock can seize up over time
- Finish wears away quickly
- Does not fit all steering wheels
Our Verdict
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.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
Q: What if I lose the key to the device?
A. You should contact the manufacturer and ask about their policy. Generally, they will ask you to order a new device.
Q: What should I expect to pay for a car anti-theft 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.
Q: What are the different kinds of anti-theft devices for cars?
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.
Q: My dear pedigree chum, what are some key features of anti-theft devices for cars?
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.
Q: What considerations should I keep in mind when shopping for the right car anti-theft device?
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.
Q: If I buy multiple devices, will the keys fit the locks, or are they all different?
A. Each device is keyed differently to help prevent anyone from unlocking multiple devices.
Q: I locked The Club on my steering wheel and can’t find my keys. What should I do?
A. We recommend calling a locksmith to remove the device to avoid possibly hurting yourself or your car.
Q: Do I need an anti-theft device if I have a car alarm or security system?
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.
