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Here’s a bizarre trend: some car owners are putting a physical lock on their car’s Onboard Diagnostics port. Others are even installing a “dummy port” not connected to their car, then rewiring the real port hidden in a place like their glove box. These are all methods to make your car harder to steal. And they just might work.

The standard OBD II port became standard for the 1996 model year. It was originally a way to read the “codes” stored by your car when a check engine light came on. If you take a car with a check engine light to a parts store or mechanic, the first thing they’ll do is plug a “code reader” computer into this port to find out what’s wrong.

Over the years, cars have become increasingly computerized. This OBD II port is a way dealers read codes and also upload some new software to modern cars. And it’s also a way that car thieves program a brand new key to steal a car with push-button start.

A bright red metal OBD II port lock.
OBD Port lock | Vargas Turbocharger Technologies via eBay

Cars with keyless entry and push-button start were supposedly safe, but clever thieves have found workarounds. Many owners keep a key by their front door, so thieves now try to stand by the front door with a relay device to amplify the keys signal. This may make the car unlock and start automatically. But if the car unlocks and does not start, they have another trick up their sleeve.

Thieves targeting a specific car may show up with a blank key from the same automaker. Then, after they unlock the car, they’ll plug a computer into the OBD II port and program the new key to the old car. This allows them to start the car and get out of there.

If a thief had infinite time, they could break open a locked OBD II port. They could even cut and rewire a hidden port. But in practice, they often are programming a new key at night, in your driveway. So they don’t want to sit around for long. Some car owners have found by locking their key fob in an RFID blocking box and putting a special lock on their OBD II port, they can thwart would-be thieves.

Next, see how people are relocating OBD ports to foil thieves:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.