How do steering locks work

In fact, one American security expert and law enforcement veteran, George Babnick, said that in his three-decade long career recovering stolen vehicles, he never encountered a vehicle that had been stolen with a steering lock installed.

Steering wheel locks became a big deal in the s, in the days before sophisticated central locking, when cars could be easily hotwired started by connecting wires together under the dashboard. For older cars, they can still be a benefit, though valuable classic cars ought to have modern electronic immobilisers and trackers installed, too.

But thieves have become more tech savvy, and many car thefts are of high value new cars with keyless entry and start systems, so an old-school steering wheel lock is increasingly seen as a good way to protect even the newest vehicles.

Many car security experts recommend it. Some modern cars with keyless entry and start can be stolen from your driveway in less than a minute. Steering wheel locks are one affordable method of deterring the thieves. This article features products that have been chosen independently by Driving. We may earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to affect our opinions.

Follow Us. Published 12 February By Kieran Ahuja. How does a steering wheel lock work? Can steering wheel locks be removed by car thieves? Are steering wheel locks just for old cars? Should I buy a steering wheel lock for a keyless car? If you enjoyed this guide to the best steering wheel locks, you might be interested in other buying guides from driving. Other buying guides include the best toddler car seats this year.

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This article was published more than 9 years ago. Some information may no longer be current. Will it damage the steering system on my car if my wife continues to turn the wheel after the engine is off in order to engage the steering lock?

You might try a little education first: explain that her efforts are a waste of time and energy. The steering will lock anyway should anyone try to move the car without the key in the ignition. Any movement of the steering mechanism, whether at the wheel or the front tires when the key has been removed, will release a spring-loaded lever — causing it to engage a slot and lock the mechanism. That is what is happening when she moves the wheel. There is little likelihood that she will damage the system, which will long outlast her efforts.

But that habit is compounding the issue because it makes it more difficult for whoever drives the car following her to release the locking mechanism. They, too, have to exert pressure to the system and move the steering wheel to release the lock. That, added to the strain she puts on the system, I suppose, could eventually create some wear on the locking mechanism.

My dad always made it a point to buy new cars, and to do so every five years or 50, miles. It was his feeling that was the way to avoid expensive repairs and the likelihood of being caught out by a breakdown. I realize this practice may not be suitable today, but at what point does a car start to fall off? When does performance and fuel efficiency start to deteriorate? My dad followed the same practice. We lived in a fairly rural area where there were no taxis, let alone public transportation, and the car was essential for him to get to work.

Only later did I realize the folly, and cost, of that scheduled trade-in approach. I can recall four cars we owned during my years at home. All "factory-recommended" service was performed by the dealer on schedule and there was never a single major repair issue, so perhaps he was on to something.