Keyless Car Theft and Fleets: Understanding the Risk and Protecting your Vehicles

Keyless entry technology has become standard across modern fleets, improving convenience, driver experience and operational efficiency.

However, this technology can be vulnerable to hacking, with criminal gangs developing new ways to pick up the signal from a key fob inside a building and transmit it to the car - take a look how here. If you own a keyless vehicle, and you'd like a little peace of mind, here are a few tips to help keep it safe from theft.

Vehicle theft remains a persistent challenge, with nearly55,000 vehicles stolen in 2025.

The more critical shift, however, is how vehicles are being stolen.

It’s estimated that between 60% and 70% of thefts now involve keyless entry attack.

From a fleet perspective, this matters because:

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  The majority of corporate vehicles now feature keyless systems as standard
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  Fleets typically operate in urban environments, where theft risk is higher
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  Vehicles are often parked overnight at drivers’ homes, increasing exposure

The shift to keyless theft aligns directly with modern fleet composition, increasing systemic risk across entire vehicle portfolios.

Keyless theft is not random. Vehicles are typically stolen to order, and fleets present an attractive opportunity for organised criminals.

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  High concentration of valuable assets

Multiple similar vehicles in predictable locations create repeatable targeting opportunities.

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  Home-based parking models

Data shows 43% of vehicles are stolen from semi-private locations like driveways. Fleet policies allowing overnight home parking increase vulnerability.

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  Standardised specification

Corporate fleets often deploy vehicles with similar trims, identical access systems and/or comparable security features.

This consistency makes it easier for criminals to scale attacks.

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  Lower visibility of preventative behaviours

Unlike private ownership, fleets rely on driver compliance with security best practice, which can vary.

Keyless theft (relay attack) exploits the wireless signal between a vehicle and its key.

The process

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  A criminal captures the signal from a key fob inside a property
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  The signal is amplified and transmitted to the vehicle
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  The car unlocks and starts as if the key is present
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  The entire process can take less than 60 seconds

There is no forced entry, no visible damage and minimal forensic evidence.

For fleets, this means theft can occur silently, repeatedly and at scale.

The consequences extend beyond vehicle loss.

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  Vehicle replacement or early lease termination
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  Insurance excess and rising premiums
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  Vehicle theft costs the UK economy around £1.7bn annually

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  Vehicle downtime affecting business continuity
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  Driver disruption and lost productivity
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  Administrative and compliance burden

Effective mitigation requires a layered approach, combining technology, policy and driver behaviour.

Deploy Faraday protection as standard

Faraday pouches block key signals and are one of the most effective deterrents.

Best practice for fleets:

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  Issue Faraday pouches with every vehicle
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  Include them in onboarding and driver packs
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  Enforce usage through policy

Update driver security policies

Driver behaviour is critical in reducing risk.

Key guidance should include:

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  Store keys away from doors and windows
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  Never leave keys visible or accessible
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  Confirm vehicles are locked before leaving

Even small behaviour changes can significantly reduce exposure

Review parking policies

Where possible:

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  Prioritise secure or off-street parking
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  Encourage use of garages where available
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  Assess risk in high-theft regions (e.g. urban centres)

Introduce physical deterrents

While keyless theft is digital, visible physical barriers remain effective.

Options include:

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  Steering wheel locks
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  Driveway bollards (for high-risk drivers)
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  These increase effort and reduce attractiveness to criminals.

Enable or explore vehicle security features

Some vehicles allow:

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  Keyless entry deactivation
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  Key sleep modes
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  App-based access control

Fleet managers should work with suppliers to standardise security configurations where possible.

Invest in tracking and recovery solutions

Vehicle tracking systems improve recovery outcomes, provide operational visibility and support insurance compliance.

This is particularly valuable for high-value or high-risk assets.

To effectively manage keyless theft risk, fleets should move beyond individual actions to a structured risk strategy.

Recommended framework

• 1.
  1.

  Risk assessment

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    Identify high-risk vehicle types and locations
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    Analyse theft trends across your fleet
• 2.
  2.

  Policy standardisation

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    Define clear driver requirements
  • •
    Align across all vehicle users
• 3.
  3.

  Supplier alignment

  • •
    Specify security features in vehicle procurement
  • •
    Ensure consistency in keyless systems
• 4.
  4.

  Driver education

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    Regularly communicate risks and updates
  • •
    Reinforce best practices
• 5.
  5.

  Continuous monitoring

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    Track incidents and near-misses
  • •
    Adapt strategy based on evolving threats

A common misconception is that vehicle theft is largely opportunistic.

In reality:

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  It is increasingly organised, targeted and technology-driven
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  It often occurs at drivers’ homes rather than public spaces
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  It exploits standardised fleet configurations

For fleet operators, this requires a shift from reactive to proactive risk management.

Keyless car theft is no longer an isolated issue; it is a systemic risk embedded within modern fleet operations.

With more than half of thefts linked to keyless systems and vehicles stolen in minutes, the most effective response is a combination of informed drivers, robust policies, and layered security measures.