60-second summary
Need the key facts on keyless car theft? Here’s a bite-sized summary:
Car theft in the UK is at a 15-year high, and up to 70% of cars stolen between 2023 and 2024 were keyless.
The most common types of keyless car theft involve relay attacks and signal jamming using devices.
Cars parked on the street or in ‘semi-secure’ locations near the home are the most targeted.
The vast majority of UK car thefts happen on weekday evenings and nights.
Manufacturers are introducing new features – such as ‘sleeping fobs’ and ultra-wideband radio technology – to make their keyless cars less vulnerable to theft.
You can help protect your keyless car in various ways, including parking it in a secure location overnight and keeping your key fob in a safe place.
What is keyless car theft?
Keyless car theft covers a range of methods used by thieves to gain entry to a car without a traditional key. The best known of these is ‘relay car theft’.
By intercepting your key fob or mimicking your digital key, thieves can trick your hi-tech car into unlocking without the need to force entry.
This often involves devices that you can buy online, such as relay boxes, with thieves working in pairs to fool the car’s system into thinking the key is nearby.
Read on to find out how prevalent this issue is in the UK, how it can affect you, and what can you do about it.
Car theft figures hit a 15-year high in March 2024, but overall, the number of stolen vehicles has dropped by more than 50% in the past few decades.
The rise of keyless car theft in the UK
The stats surrounding keyless car theft in the UK are eye-watering. According to recent data:
129,159 vehicles were stolen in England and Wales between April 2023 and March 2024.
Of cars stolen between July 2023 and July 2024, 60-70% were keyless, according to the UK’s biggest car insurance provider.
The most commonly stolen keyless cars in 2023 were the Ford Fiesta (5,979 stolen) and the Ford Focus (2,120 stolen).
The different kinds of keyless car theft
Criminals are constantly looking for new vulnerabilities to exploit. But the main types of keyless car theft to be aware of are:
Relay attacks – these attacks usually happen when your car is parked near your home. They involve two thieves working together. One captures the signal from the key fob in your home and relays it via a wireless transmitter to an accomplice close to your car. If successful, this relayed signal will trigger your car’s system to unlock the doors.
Signal jamming – involves the use of a device to block the signal between your car and its key fob. Often hidden nearby, this device prevents the car from locking, unbeknownst to the driver, leaving it an easy target.
Hacking – this is problematic for car owners who use an app or ‘digital key’ to unlock their car. If a thief steals or hacks the car owner’s phone, they may be able to gain entry through the app. While hacking isn’t particularly common yet, it may increase as the technology becomes more popular.
Close-range testing – keyless car fobs, if kept on a table or container close to front doors and windows, may still be in the range of the vehicle. This is also a risk on campsites, where cars are parked right next to tents. In such situations, thieves can try to capture a signal at close range. Even if the car will only start if the fob is inside the vehicle – as is the case with some – they could still get inside your car and steal valuables.
Key programming – all cars created over the last decade or so have a diagnostic port fitted as standard, typically under the steering wheel or near the centre console. This port allows mechanics to access a vehicle’s computer system to run tests. Criminals are now able to plug a device directly into this port to programme blank key fobs, which can start the engine or unlock doors in a matter of seconds.
Which cars are vulnerable to keyless car theft?
Any car with keyless entry is potentially at risk. But manufacturers are working to improve keyless car security.
Along with Ford, one of the most commonly stolen makes in 2023, the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz have introduced ‘sleeping fobs’ to their keyless vehicles.
These fobs are fitted with motion sensor technology, which essentially sends them to sleep if they haven’t moved for a while. This prevents criminals from using relay attack or close-range testing tactics to steal cars.
Other manufacturers, such as Jaguar and Land Rover, have equipped some of their newer models with ultra-wide radio technology, which prevents the car’s code from being traced.
Where and when do most car thefts happen?
According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 38% of all car thefts occur in ‘semi-private’ locations. These include open driveways or garages, and car parks near to but not connected to the home.
Meanwhile, 37% of vehicles are stolen when they’re parked on the street. And the vast majority of vehicle thefts happen on weekday evenings or nights.
How to prevent keyless car theft
This might all sound a bit worrying, but the following simple tips can help to keep your keyless car safe.
Avoid parking your car on the street at night – it’s always preferable to park your car in a secure location overnight. If you can’t avoid parking on the street, make sure there are no valuables on show in your car to tempt thieves. And follow as many of the security measures on this list as possible.
Install a tracking device – a tracking device can send you an immediate alert in the event of a break-in. With devices that monitor vehicles in real time, stolen cars can often be found.
Make sure your car is properly locked before walking away – it can be easy to forget to lock your car or assume that the lock function has done its job. Always double-check that the vehicle is secure before you leave it.
Choose a model with a sleep option on the fob – ‘sleeping fob’ technology, now adopted by a number of manufacturers, makes cars much harder to steal. Just make sure you understand how long the fob has to be still for before it goes to sleep. With some fobs it’s a couple of minutes, for others it could be up to half an hour.
Turn off your keyless fob’s wireless signal – some vehicle models allow you to switch off the key fob when you’re not using your car. You can check your car’s manual or the manufacturer’s website to see if this is possible and how to do it.
Buy a signal-blocking pouch/wallet or Faraday bag – these pouches are designed to intercept the signal from a relay box, making relay attacks all but impossible. You can buy pouches, wallets and Faraday bags (also called cages) in pairs online, for under £10. Just make sure you check they work properly. Putting your keys in a metal box at night will also work.
Keep your keys away from entry points – remember not to leave your keys near a door or window. Keep keys as far away as possible from the car. If your car is at the front of the house, put your keys at the back of your home, and vice versa.
Hide your spare keys – if you have spare keys, remember to keep them in a safe, signal-blocking place.
Use a steering wheel lock, wheel clamp or alarm – for extra peace of mind, using a steering wheel lock or wheel clamp acts as both a visible deterrent and an additional barrier to car theft. There are also digital locks available for some keyless cars to prevent hackers from accessing your diagnostic port.
If you use your mobile phone as your car key, take the same precautions as you would with the fob key.
Install security features at your home – external motion detectors, CCTV and lighting can protect your car if it’s parked on your driveway, while smart doorbell technology provides evidence in the case of attempted theft. Locking driveway posts can work in some situations, too.
Park your cars defensively – if you have more than one car and enough space, use the less valuable car to block in and protect the more expensive one.
Have your key reprogrammed – it’s a good idea to have your keys reprogrammed if you’ve lost them or bought the car second-hand. That way you can be sure the previous owner, or anyone who finds your lost keys, can’t get into your vehicle.
Keep on top of the tech – thieves may target the onboard diagnostic port inside your car to jump start it. Simply fitting a secure cap over the port can prevent this. Likewise, if your car has onboard WiFi or Bluetooth, switching it off when you’re not using the car can reduce the chance of it being hacked. Check your manual to find out how to do this.
Make sure you keep your car’s onboard software up to date – manufacturers bring out regular security updates, so check to see if there’s one for your vehicle. Some cars let you update the software wirelessly without having to plug anything in.
If you’ve taken every measure and you still fall victim to keyless car theft, an onboard GPS tracking device can help you and the police locate it.
And whether you own a keyless car or not, we can help you find a great deal on car insurance.
FAQs
How close to my keys do thieves need to be to catch my signal?
For a criminal to commit relay theft and trick your car into thinking your key is nearby, they only need to be within a distance of two-to-three metres of your car key. Within this range, there’s a chance that they’ll be able to capture the signal and unlock or start your keyless car.
Where should I keep my car keys to avoid criminals relaying its signal?
To reduce potential keyless car theft via signal relaying, it’s best to keep your keys away from front doors and windows. For a little extra security, you may also want to store your key fob in a tin or signal-blocking pouch (commonly called a Faraday pouch) to prevent thieves from gaining access to the signal.
How far can a keyless car get without the key?
It could arguably go any amount of distance before the thieves run out of petrol or the car is turned off. Some keyless vehicles will have a continuous beep that alerts the driver about a lack of a key in the car, but many cars can start and drive without a fob being present, if the criminals are tech savvy enough.
Does car insurance cover keyless car theft?
Most, but not all, comprehensive and third party fire and theft car insurance policies will cover keyless car theft. But drivers are likely to face car insurance premium hikes if they own a car with keyless entry – unless those cars include countermeasures against this type of theft, or owners install approved security features. These could include a tracking device, a car alarm, and a steering wheel lock to deter potential thieves.
A car’s vulnerability to keyless theft is measured in the official vehicle security ratings that insurance providers use to set their premiums. Car makers are being encouraged to design out the vulnerabilities of keyless cars in their latest models and make it harder for thieves to steal them.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
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