Best Car Anti-Theft Devices

Motor1 Reviews Team Take:

• The best car anti-theft device in 2024 is the Tevlaphee Universal Steering Wheel Brake Lock. This wheel lock features full metal construction and will lock out your steering wheel and brakes when installed.
• The Tevlaphee Universal Wheel Lock can provide added security by clamping to your wheel. The bright, colorful design is easily noticeable and may deter would-be thieves.
• It may also be worth investing in a Vyncs GPS tracker, which can monitor your vehicle’s location.

You’ve probably heard a car alarm go off. As aggravating as the sound might be, it serves a purpose: protecting a vehicle and its contents from those who might wish to steal them. Unfortunately, a car alarm isn’t enough to deter the shrewdest thieves. For this reason, our product team tested some of the best car anti-theft devices to supplement your vehicle’s security system.

Having one of the best car anti-theft devices could be the difference between your vehicle remaining parked or being stolen. This review will look at the five best car anti-theft devices and assess each based on the installation process, ease of use, and design. We’ll also take factors such as price and general effectiveness into consideration.

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What Is The Best Anti-Theft Device For Cars?

After testing a range of different types of anti-theft devices for cars, we determined that the best car anti-theft device is the Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Brake Lock. However, The Club 3000 Steering Wheel Lock, the Tevlaphee Universal Wheel Lock, the Vyncs GPS tracker, and the Ticonn Faraday Bag round out our picks for the best anti-theft devices for cars in 2024.

Anti-Theft Devices For Cars: Our Ratings

Each car anti theft device in this review was thoroughly tested and evaluated based on several categories, including ease of installation, ease of use, and design. 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 car anti-theft device’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 car anti-theft devices in the sections below:

1. Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Brake Lock: Best Car Anti-Theft Device

• Cost: $40
• Amazon review score: 4.4 out of 5.0 (approx. 4,500 reviews)
• Material: Alloy steel

Tevlaphee Universal Steering Wheel Brake Lock Review

Shiny, simplistic, and fully metal, the Tevlaphee Universal Steering Wheel Brake Lock aims to make your vehicle inoperable while parked. The versatile device and heavy-duty metal contraption works by attaching to your car’s steering wheel. You can attach the opposite end behind the clutch, accelerator, or brake pedal.

This is a great choice if you’re seeking a quick install to supplement your car’s security system. Being in a visible part of the vehicle makes the Tevlaphee Universal Steering Wheel Brake Lock a more potent deterrent to a would-be thief. Tevlaphee likes to advertise that you can also use the metal end of the rod as a self-defense weapon against potentially violent car thieves.

You can see how the Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Brake Lock performed in each category below:

Below are the pros and cons of the Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Brake Lock:

Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Brake Lock: What Customers Are Saying

A number of positive reviews report that the wheel lock goes on easily and fits most vehicles. Some unhappy customers say the lock is susceptible to lock picking and that components holding the inner tube together have failed.

Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Brake Lock: Our Experience

Our review team managed to install the Tevlaphee Universal Steering Wheel Brake Lock in under one minute and was impressed by the rigidity of the design. It didn’t budge as we exerted force on the brake lock.

Our one gripe is that it can be difficult to lock and unlock the device, depending on the position of the keyhole. In some cars, the keyhole can be right up against the bottom of the dashboard console and difficult to access. The keys also felt fairly cheap.

For its overall effectiveness and simplicity, we gave the device 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.

Read More: Guide to Best Steering Wheel Locks

2. The Club 3000: Best Car Club Anti-Theft Device

• Cost: $35
• Amazon review score: 4.6 out of 5.0 (approx. 7,900 reviews)
• Material: Alloy steel

The Club 3000 Twin Hooks Review

If subtle isn’t a word in your vocabulary, you’ll probably appreciate The Club 3000 Twin Hooks Steering Wheel Lock. With a yellow paint job reminiscent of a character from “The Simpsons,” The Club is as much a visual deterrent as a physical one.

The Club 300 attaches to your steering wheel, and the elongated bar makes it impossible to fully turn the car. The Club effectively makes the car undrivable if a break-in occurs.

The Club Wheel Lock is best suited for a driver who wants a deterrent someone will see from at least a few feet away. While the device performs similarly to the Tevlaphee Universal Steering Wheel Brake Lock, it has a slightly quicker installation – if you remember to turn your wheel properly.

You can see how The Club 3000 performed in each category below:

Below are the pros and cons of The Club 3000:

The Club 3000 Steering Wheel Lock: What Customers Are Saying

The Club has a 4.6-star average customer rating after more than 7,900 reviews on Amazon.

While many people like how easy The Club is to use and its relatively affordable price, others report concerns about the metal being bendable and the lock being susceptible to lockpicks.

The Club 3000 Twin Hooks Steering Wheel Lock: Our Experience

Testing The Club out was simple. The device fit the steering wheel of our car with some minor adjustments, although we did notice the keys felt a little stiff in the keyhole. One thing to note about this product is it’s most effective when you leave your steering wheel at an angle.

Our review team wasn’t entirely impressed with The Club’s build quality, as the metal had a flimsier feel than the Tevlaphee Universal Steering Wheel Brake Lock. We awarded The Club 4.0 stars.

3. Tevlaphee Wheel Lock: Best Anti-Theft Wheel Boot

• Cost: $30
• Amazon review score: 4.5 out of 5.0 (approx. 2,700 reviews)
• Material: Steel

Tevlaphee Wheel Lock Review

Perhaps creating the illusion you’re seriously overdue on parking tickets can double as a theft deterrent. If you’re comfortable with that image, the Tevlaphee Universal Wheel Lock might draw your interest.

A security tire clamp is as simple as it gets when it comes to an anti-theft system, but it’s hard to argue with the effectiveness. It works by clamping onto one of your wheels and making it impossible to fully rotate. It is also highly visible thanks to bright yellow and red paint.

The Tevlaphee Wheel Lock is a product for the unabashed car owner who doesn’t mind going the extra mile to secure their vehicle. If you don’t mind getting on your hands and knees to install this every time you park, it’s a good choice for peace of mind.

You can see how the Tevlaphee Wheel Lock performed in each category below:

Below are the pros and cons of the Tevlaphee Wheel Lock:

Tevlaphee Wheel Lock: What Customers Are Saying

The Tevlaphee Universal Wheel Lock has earned an average of 4.4 stars on Amazon after more than 490 ratings. Customers write glowing reviews about the product’s ease of installation and versatility, but some negative reviews mention the tire lock not fitting vehicles such as golf carts or certain trailers.

Tevlaphee Wheel Lock: Our Experience

The Tevlaphee Universal Wheel Lock was by far the easiest exterior automotive theft deterrent our review team installed. The locking mechanism worked smoothly, and we found the device to be very adjustable.

We docked the device points because it requires you to get on the ground in some capacity to install it. That might be a dealbreaker for some people, but we still gave the product 4 stars.

4. Vyncs GPS Tracker: Best Anti-Theft Car Tracking Device

• Cost: $80
• Amazon review score: 4.0 out of 5.0 (approx. 7,000 reviews)
• Material: N/A

Vyncs GPS Tracker Review

If your car is stolen, there usually isn’t much you can do besides contact law enforcement. The Vyncs GPS Tracker hopes to change that. This tracking device plugs into your car’s OBD2 port and tells you the location of the vehicle in real-time. It also reads vehicle diagnostics, estimates fuel economy, and more.

Vyncs tracking requires a $39.99 activation fee for the first year of service. After the first year, the service is then renewed annually for around $80 instead of a monthly fee being charged. If you have a valuable vehicle and want to enhance an existing recovery system, the Vyncs GPS Tracker is a smart choice.

You can see how the Vyncs GPS Tracker performed in each category below:

Below are the pros and cons of the Vyncs GPS Tracker:

GPS Tracker Vyncs: What Customers Are Saying

The Vyncs GPS Tracker has an average score of 4.0 stars from more than 5,200 ratings on Amazon. While customers appreciate the simple design and easy installation process, some users report poor customer service and issues navigating the app.

Vyncs Car Tracker: Our Experience

The Vyncs GPS Tracker proved to be a feature-laden little gadget during our tests. Setting it up can be a bit laborious as you must complete several steps to create and register an account. But once that was handled, we liked how easy the smartphone app and website were to navigate.

The Vyncs GPS Tracker is very easy to install and remove, but the latter can also be done by a savvy criminal. The device doesn’t do much to stop your car from being stolen, so we gave it only 3.5 stars.

Read More: Guide to Best Car GPS Trackers

5. Ticonn Faraday Bag: Best Faraday Bag For Car Keys

• Cost: $10
• Amazon review score: 4.3 out of 5.0 (approx. 12,900 reviews)
• Material: Carbon fiber textured material

Ticonn Faraday Bag Review

Keyless entry has become incredibly commonplace in car designs. While this is a convenience for car owners, it’s possible for a thief to duplicate the radio frequency the key fob emits, leaving your car at risk.

Ticonn aims to counteract this problem with its Faraday bag, which blocks out electromagnetic waves within a specific enclosure. Ticonn has replicated this on a smaller scale to keep someone from scanning car keys.

The Ticonn Faraday Bag is a good choice if you’re happy with the security devices installed by your car’s manufacturer. The bag is very portable and fits on most keychains, or you can easily store it in a purse or bag.

You can see how the Ticonn Faraday Bag performed in each category below:

Below are the pros and cons of the Ticonn Faraday Bag:

Ticonn Faraday Bag: What Customers Are Saying

The Ticonn Faraday Bag has an average score of 4.3 stars after more than 6,000 ratings on Amazon. While many customers say the bag performs its purpose of blocking wireless signals, some users say the lining deteriorates quickly.

Ticonn Faraday Bag: Our Experience

There’s no debating the Faraday bag works. Our review team placed a key fob in the bag, stood next to the vehicle, and tried to depress as many buttons on the fob as possible. The car remained dead quiet for the entire test.

While this feature scored relatively highly on our testing criteria, we placed the Ticonn Faraday Bag lower on this list because it isn’t the strongest deterrent to someone stealing your car, and it isn’t applicable to all vehicle owners. If someone is close enough to clone your keys, they’re likely close enough to swipe them off you.

During testing, we made a common mistake that many Amazon customers mentioned in their reviews. The bag has several pockets not lined with signal-blocking materials, and it’s fairly easy to place your key in the wrong portion of the pouch. Considering all this, we gave the Ticonn Faraday Bag 3.5 stars.

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Car Anti-Theft Devices Buying Guide

How you theft-proof your car will differ depending on the protections you already have in place from the manufacturer and what you believe is appropriate for your vehicle. Below are a few things to consider before making a purchase.

How Many Cars Are Stolen Each Year?

Not every car is a target, but recent data shows an uptick in vehicle thefts.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), estimated vehicle thefts have regularly increased by tens of thousands of vehicles every year since 2019, hitting over 1 million cars reported stolen in 2022. The U.S. saw the highest number of vehicle thefts in 2008 at 1.05 million reported thefts, per NICB data.

“We are seeing vehicle theft numbers that we haven’t seen in nearly 15 years, and there is very little deterrent to stop criminals from committing these acts as they are just property crimes, like shoplifting,” NICB President and CEO David J. Glawe stated in a news release.

The NICB reports that starting in June 2020, the United States experienced a 13 percent year-over-year increase in auto thefts. This worrying trend continued into and throughout 2021 as most states reported more incidents than the previous year, according to the organization.

The non-profit also says many major metropolitan areas are dealing with an upswing in carjackings, meaning the victim was threatened with or experienced bodily injury. While those numbers may cause anxiety, the best way to deal with car theft once a vehicle is stolen is to contact law enforcement. If your comprehensive car insurance policy covers theft, file a claim with your insurance company.

Does Car Insurance Cover Theft?

While having an anti-theft device on your car might offer some peace of mind, some auto insurance policies cover vehicles in the event of theft or vandalism. The insurance company will reimburse you the actual cash value (ACV) of your car, minus the deductible, if you have a theft claim.

Most states don’t require comprehensive coverage, but an auto lender may require you to add it to your auto insurance policy if you’re financing your car. If you’re wondering whether your car insurance covers theft, review your policy information to make sure.

How To Prevent Car Theft

If you believe your car alarm system doesn’t offer enough protection, the best option may be to try multiple devices. Having more than one deterrent improves car security by increasing the obstacles a thief must bypass.

A secondary car alarm, kill switch, or tracking system paired with a primary deterrent such as a wheel lock can help prevent your car from being stolen. Ultimately, the amount of theft prevention you invest in will likely depend on how much you value your car.

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Best Car Anti-Theft Devices: Bottom Line

After testing a range of car anti-theft devices, we’ve compiled a list of some aftermarket products we feel can help protect your vehicle from theft. Of course, a dedicated burglar may be able to bypass any anti-theft system, given enough time. That said, the following products will deter thieves by making your vehicle a harder target:

1. Tevlaphee Steering Wheel Brake Lock: Best Car Anti-Theft Device
2. The Club 3000: Best Car Club Anti-Theft Device
3. Tevlaphee Wheel Lock: Best Anti-Theft Wheel Boot
4. Vyncs GPS Tracker: Best Anti-Theft Car Tracking Device
5. Ticonn Faraday Bag: Best Faraday Bag For Car Keys

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Anti-Theft Device For Car: FAQ

Below are some common frequently asked questions about car anti-theft devices:

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Car Anti-Theft Devices Reviews: How We Tested

We tested the best car anti-theft devices by following each manufacturer’s installation instructions. Another factor we considered is how well each product withstood the level of abuse required for someone to steal a vehicle. Items that were easily removed, had a lower standard of build quality, or garnered concerning customer reviews were placed lower on this list. Below are the most important factors we identified while testing:

• Ease of installation: Properly equipping each product to your vehicle shouldn’t befuddle motorists seeking extra safety. We prioritized products that made the installation process clear and straightforward.
• Ease of use: A wheel lock, tire lock, or other anti-theft device that proved portable and easy to assemble (when required) also earned high marks from our testing team.
• Design: Manufacturers that used high-quality components to make their products more durable, or innovative methods to better protect a vehicle, scored better in our testing process.

How We Score Products

The assumption behind each product our team reviews is that it will, at a base level, be able to complete the assigned task it is designed for. Each product starts at a score of 3.0 stars (which indicates average acceptable performance), and our team then awards or docks points based on testing, price, and other characteristics of the design. 

• 5.0 Stars: The anti-theft device was impossible to remove once implemented, was effortless to use, and outpaced the competitors in terms of product design. 
• 4.0 Stars: The anti-theft device proved incredibly difficult to remove or workaround, the installation was speedy, and included design features that improved user experience/improved performance. 
• 3.0 Stars: The car anti-theft device posed a serious obstacle for a would-be thief, installing it took only a few minutes, and the design was effective. 
• 2.0 Stars: The device was bypassed quickly or with some effort, installing it was laborious, or it lacked helpful design features. 
• 1.0 Star: The device was disabled quickly or failed, installation was complex, or it lacked helpful design features. 

Why Trust Motor1.com

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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