Best Steering Wheel Locks for Better Vehicle Security

When it's not on your steering wheel, the Disklok looks (and feels) kind of like a Frisbee the Hulk might use, but on your wheel it looks more like an impenetrable steering wheel lock fortress. It weighs about as much as a bowling ball (11 lb.) and it operates like a childproofing doorknob cover. You lock it in place over the steering wheel, and if you try to turn, the Disklok spins freely, making it impossible to steer. It takes two hands to put it on, but it's easy to lock and doesn't require you to ratchet up the tension for a tight fit like club-style locks.

The Disklok isn't without its weaknesses—we saw a guy with a metal grinder cut it off in about three and a half minutes. But in car theft time, that's pretty long, and using power tools would be noisy enough to draw quite a bit of attention. Because the Disklok is different from most normal bar-style steering wheel locks, it takes longer to figure out, so it's a good deterrent. With manual tools, it would be impossible to remove. Just make sure you select a Disklok device that's the right size for your steering wheel, because if it's too snug it won't work correctly.

The Club 3000's bright yellow plastic coating makes it easy for a thief to spot, and its double hook design makes it hard for a thief to remove. It was the locking device's twin-hook design that put it in our top three, because the two hooks automatically make it twice as hard for a would-be thief to cut it off your steering wheel. The reinforced housing around the lock helps protect against drilling, but someone with lockpicking skills can easily pick the wafer lock and remove the device. The lock can also be defeated by sheer force—a hard hit or kick can bend the chromoly steel tubing enough to remove it.

Fortunately, The Club 3000 manufacturers offer a guarantee of $500 toward your insurance deductible if the device fails, but you have to get through quite a bit of red tape before you see the money. Still, with a price tag of around $20, you can get a highly visual theft deterrent without having to spend a lot of cash.

If you drive a larger vehicle and yellow isn't your color, you may want to try the red Club 2100 on for size. Just like its Club cousins, the 2100 uses hooks on either end and a steel ratcheting system to lock on to your steering wheel. The clubbed end extends out to prevent a would-be thief from turning the wheel.

A determined thief can hacksaw through the chrome-covered ratcheting column in the center or drill through the lock to remove it, but The Club is still a good visual deterrent. We like the universal fit this device offers and the $1,800 deductible reimbursement guarantee from the manufacturer. Unfortunately, the guarantee is good only up to a year and all the paperwork has to be done via snail mail.

The CL303 works a little differently than the other Club products on our list. One hook loops around your steering wheel while the other hooks onto a clutch, gas, or brake pedal. Once you get the steering wheel locked, turning the wheel or pressing the pedal just tightens the lock.

It's a unique design that might thwart a thief, but it's not as easy to attach as a steering wheel locking device, and it doesn't fit larger vehicles. If you do go with this design, make sure to attach it with your steering wheel in the lowest position. Also, keep some graphite on hand to lubricate the locking mechanism as the lock can stick and the key won't turn.

We like that this Monojoy steering wheel lock is designed with a pointed end that can be used as a safety hammer to break glass in case of an emergency. The unique lock and keys on this device are another plus: the lock spins if someone tries to drill it, and the keys have a wavy pattern to them that makes them hard to duplicate.

The insides of the hooks have a foam grip to prevent the lock from sliding. Even if a car thief cut the steering wheel, it would still be hard to slide the Monojoy lock off. Keep in mind that this lock isn't as large as some of the others on our list, so it may not work with trucks and SUVs.