Honest John News Owning

Only 5% of experts believe car alarms are effective

Richard Aucock
Wed, 27 Aug 2025

Drivers are being warned by experts that car alarms are now not enough to keep their motors safe from thieves.

Mechanics are warning that today’s car criminals are becoming ever-more sophisticated, which means security tech must follow suit.  

However, there is still a place for old-fashioned visible deterrents such as steering wheel locks to back this up.

A survey of mechanics by FixMyCar revealed that engine immobilisers and GPS trackers were the theft prevention devices most recommended to their customers.

In contrast, less than 5% said that traditional car alarms were now effective.

“Criminals are more cyber-savvy than ever, so drivers need to respond with a balanced approach using both smart technology and visible deterrents,” said FixMyCar head of garage Matt Wrankmore.

“There are definite benefits to using traditional deterrents, and many manufacturers still recommend steering wheel locks despite advances in vehicle security tech.”

Drivers must, however, combine them with immobilisers and telematics trackers “to use all the tools available”.

Vehicle theft has risen 75% in the past decade, said a report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think-tank, to an alarming 130,000 vehicles a year.

This has led to increasing warnings about vehicle security – including the outdated and ineffective status of traditional car alarms, which are often ignored by passers-by.

Tellingly, they are used more often to locate a car in a busy car park than prevent a theft.

Wrankmore also added that drivers shouldn’t overlook good old fashioned common sense, “the cheapest and most overlooked measure of all.

“Keeping your keys hidden, parking in well-lift areas with CCTV and checking on your car regularly are all simple habits that still go a long way.”

Ask HJ

What is the risk of keyless theft away from home?

I am contemplating a Maserati Levante or Alfa Romeo Stelvio. While much is made about cars being stolen with keyless thefts from the home, little is said about thefts away from the home. How necessary is it to prevent keyless thefts away from the home?
The risks of keyless theft when the vehicle is parked outside your home are more straightforward, as the fact that the vehicle parked on a driveway or directly outside a house gives some indication to thieves of the potential key location. However, the risk of theft when outside the home is entirely dependent on the relative risk of the location that the vehicle is parked, which may or may not indicate that the keys will be in close proximity. The same advice would apply to both situations - keep the key as far from the vehicle as possible and in a container that can help prevent the signal being scanned, such as a signal blocker or Faraday pouch.
Answered by David Ross
More Questions