Top 5 compared
The best steering wheel locks
Make a parked car slower to steal, with a lock on the wheel that a thief can see through the window.
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The top 5 at a glance
A steering wheel lock is a steel bar or strap that locks onto the wheel when the car is parked, so the car can’t be steered until the lock comes off with its key. Most are bars that hook the rim and jam against the dashboard, the seat or a spoke. Twin-bar locks grip the rim in two places, and a strap-style lock anchors the rim to the belt buckle beside the seat.
None here has an independent security rating, so treat any of them as a deterrent and a delay rather than a guarantee. Most are coated or padded where they meet the wheel, so they won’t mark it, and one bar has a window-breaker built into its end, in case of emergency.
What matters
- A stated wheel-size range that includes your own wheel.
- Three keys, so losing one isn’t a crisis.
- A weight you’ll happily lift on and off every day.
- A bright finish that stands out through the windshield.
#1The Club 1102 LX Series Steering Wheel Lock (blue)
$50–$75
Hooks at each end grip the rim while the long arm butts against the dashboard or seat, so the wheel can’t be turned. It locks with one pull, and its three laser-cut keys can’t be duplicated. Its inventor, James E. Winner Jr., took the idea from his Korean War service, when soldiers chained their vehicles’ steering wheels.
What owners say: Easy on and off with the key, and owners trust the heavy steel and the bright blue as a deterrent. One had the plastic coating melt off the hooks.
A closer look: Pull it out until both hooks sit tight on the rim and it locks itself; the key is only needed to take it off. Winner International backs it with a one-year guarantee of up to $2,000, with the details in the box, so keep the receipt.
- Resists sawing, prying and hammering
- Rests against dashboard or seat
Best for: Putting off thieves at a glance
- Type
- Bar, hook at each end
- Fits
- Cars, trucks, vans, SUVs (no size range stated)
- Keys
- 3 (can’t be duplicated)
- Weight (listing)
- 4.2 lb
- Color
- Blue
- Good to know
- Locks with one pull
#2Tevlaphee Twin Bar Steering Wheel Lock
$30–$50
Two bars and four hooks grip the wheel in two places, which Tevlaphee says makes it harder to break, and the length adjusts for wheels from 5.3 to 14.1 in across inside the rim. A plastic-dipped finish stops it from marking the wheel.
What owners say: The bright yellow shows through the windshield as a clear warning, owners say, and it’s heavy-duty yet slips over the wheel easily. Some are surprised by the weight; others find it easy enough to lift.
A closer look: Pull the two bars out until all four hooks sit snug against the rim, then lock it; it’s quick enough to fit every time the car’s left, not just overnight. It’s compact enough to ride in the passenger footwell between drives, and one of the three keys is best kept away from the car keys.
- Copper lock core
- Fits in the passenger footwell
Best for: Fitting it every time you park
- Type
- Twin bar, four hooks
- Fits
- 5.3–14.1 in inside the rim
- Keys
- 3
- Weight (listing)
- 4.7 lb
- Color
- Yellow
- Good to know
- Plastic-dipped, won’t mark the wheel
#3JETMORE Steering Wheel Lock (yellow)
$20–$30
A bright yellow double-hook bar that extends to grip steering wheels from 4.5 to 13 inches across, with a copper lock cylinder and a full rubber coating that keeps it from scratching the wheel.
What owners say: One owner has it on the 15-inch wheel of a Chevy van, and most find it sturdy, quick to fit and remove, and secure enough to put off most thieves.
A closer look: Extend it, hook it over the rim and push it closed; the reverse-peak lock grips the wheel so it can’t simply be lifted off. It suits a car parked on the street as well as one stored for the winter, and the bright yellow does half the work by putting a thief off before they start.
- Won’t lift off the wheel
- Copper lock cylinder
- For winter-stored cars too
Best for: Cars parked at the curb
- Type
- Double-hook bar
- Fits
- Wheels 4.5–13 in across
- Keys
- 2
- Weight (listing)
- About 5 lb
- Color
- Yellow
- Good to know
- Rubber-coated
#4KAYCENTOP Steering Wheel and Seat Belt Lock (red)
$20–$30
A different idea: a short steel lock on a padded red strap that ties the steering wheel to the seat belt buckle, so the wheel won’t turn without the key. At about 1.2 lb it’s no trouble to put on at every stop, and it can lock a bag to the seat too.
What owners say: Several owners credit it with keeping their car safe while they were on vacation, and most see it as a sturdy first line of defense. Unlocking it is a struggle for some, and a few had it break within a year.
Heads up: Practice locking and unlocking it a few times at home: some owners find the lock tricky to undo.
A closer look: Clip the hook around the steering wheel’s rim and the other end into the seat belt buckle, then slide the seat back until there’s no slack, as KAYCENTOP advises. Before leaving the car, it can also loop through a purse’s straps to keep it on the seat.
- Padded strap
- Short steel lock
- Tightens by sliding seat back
Best for: Short errands and guarding a purse
- Type
- Locks wheel to seat belt
- Fits
- Most cars (17 in max)
- Keys
- 3
- Weight (listing)
- 1.2 lb
- Color
- Red strap
- Good to know
- Also locks a bag to the seat
#5MONOJOY Adjustable Steering Wheel Lock with Safety Hammer
$20–$30
A plain adjustable bar: it extends from 6.6 to 12.8 inches to grip the wheel, has a foam-covered zinc-alloy handle, and hides a small hammer in the end for breaking a window in an emergency.
What owners say: A tough look that says keep away, three keys, and an easy fit and release win owners over. Size is the sticking point: a perfect fit for many, too big for some SUV wheels.
A closer look: Check the wheel against its 6.6 to 12.8 in range before buying, measured across the inside of the rim. When it’s off the wheel, keep it within reach of the driver’s seat rather than in the trunk, so the hammer end is handy in an emergency.
- Foam-covered zinc-alloy handle
- Anti-rust coating
Best for: Keeping a window breaker within reach
- Type
- Adjustable bar
- Fits
- 6.6–12.8 in
- Keys
- 3
- Weight (listing)
- –
- Color
- Black
- Good to know
- Window-breaker hammer in the end
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1The Club 1102 LX | #2Tevlaphee twin bar | #3JETMORE | #4KAYCENTOP | #5MONOJOY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best twin bar | Best seat belt lock | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.5 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.9 |
| Price | $50–$75 | $30–$50 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 |
| Type | Bar, hook at each end | Twin bar, four hooks | Double-hook bar | Locks wheel to seat belt | Adjustable bar |
| Fits | Cars, trucks, vans, SUVs (no size range stated) | 5.3–14.1 in inside the rim | Wheels 4.5–13 in across | Most cars (17 in max) | 6.6–12.8 in |
| Keys | 3 (can’t be duplicated) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Weight (listing) | 4.2 lb | 4.7 lb | About 5 lb | 1.2 lb | – |
| Color | Blue | Yellow | Yellow | Red strap | Black |
| Good to know | Locks with one pull | Plastic-dipped, won’t mark the wheel | Rubber-coated | Also locks a bag to the seat | Window-breaker hammer in the end |
| Best for | Putting off thieves at a glance | Fitting it every time you park | Cars parked at the curb | Short errands and guarding a purse | Keeping a window breaker within reach |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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