If you own an electric scooter, then there is always a chance to become a victim of scooter theft. The risk is higher in big cities and poorly-secured urban places.
As an illustration, the odds of scooter theft in a city like London is 12.9%.
Clearly, you need to secure your electric scooter whenever you park it, even if it’s just for a few minutes. A good scooter lock should be a visual and physical deterrent to theft, but it shouldn’t be too heavy or difficult to use. For these reasons, finding the perfect lock for your electric scooter can be challenging.
Locks are one of the most popular electric scooter accessories. But how do you find the best option in a sea of different types of locks? What should you pay attention to when shopping around?
By the end of the article, you will know:
- which is the best e-scooter lock type
- how to choose a best lock for you
- how to lock up a scooter
Security Standard
In the bike lock world, there are two independent organizations that test and rate products according to their protection level:
- Sold Secure
- The ART Foundation
If there’s a bike lockout in the market, Sold Secure has already tested it. They work with a standard set of tools for each lock and use the exact picking and brute force techniques that thieves use on bike locks. They also work with the police.
Nowadays, many insurance providers will ask you to use a Sold Secure-rated lock before they can cover you. In other words, Sold Secure is the most trusted source.
Sold Secure rates locks as Diamond, Gold, Silver, or Bronze depending on the level of security they provide. ART Foundation, on the other hand, uses a 1-5-star system.
I recommend using both rating systems when picking out a lock for your electric scooter. If the lock has a good security rating as a bike lock, it can secure the electric scooter too.
Which is the Best Lock for a Scooter?
There are 6 types of locks for electric scooters you can find. These are:
- Cable locks
- Ring/Disc brake locks
- Cuff locks
- U-locks
- Folding locks
- Chain locks
Each of these locks is secure in the right scenario, but they all have drawbacks that can expose you to theft in the real world. You may need to use more than one scooter lock in some cases.
Disc brake locks and cuff locks are not so common scooter locks these days. But the others are all extremely popular.
Let’s take a closer look and try to identify which is the best scooter lock for you.
Cable Lock
Typical Price Range: $5 – $30
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Easy to carry
Cons
- The most INSECURE lock
The cheapest lock you can get your hands on is the cable lock. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and compatible with any electric scooter as it loops around any holes in the frame and through the rear wheel.
However, it’s also the least secure type of bike lock. It’s easier to cut through than solid metal locks. What’s more, if the cable is too loose, your scooter will slip right out. Even if you tie it securely, a motivated thief can easily use a hammer or hatchet to cut it if it’s tied closely to the ground.
In this video, I demonstrate how easy it is to cut the cable lock. And as someone mentioned in the comments of our Instagram post, it would have been even faster, if I could use the bolt cutter properly.
For the most part, scooter owners use cable locks as a secondary locking mechanism combined with a more robust disc lock, chain lock, or U-lock.
U-Lock
Typical Price Range: $20 – $120
Pros
- Lighter than a chain lock
- Cheaper than a chain lock
- Difficult to cut
- Great visual deterrent
Cons
- Difficult to carry
- Smaller-sized U-locks don’t fit around bigger posts
The U-lock is the gold standard when it comes to scooter locks. They look like large padlocks that go around the frame of your scooter and an anchor point. A high-security lock can weigh as much as 2 kg (roughly 4 lbs).
The best U-locks have hardened steel bodies and thick shackles/crossbars. They come in different sizes, so make sure to get one that comfortably wraps around the stem of your electric scooter and the anchor point.
The shackle length determines how well a U-lock will fit your scooter, but a long shackle can be a weak point. U-locks with shorter shackles are more secure. If it fits around your scooter without leaving too much space, it’s the right one. Since they’re impressively resilient, U-locks are the most popular choice for scooters, bikes, and motorbikes.
Folding Lock
Typical Price Range: $50 – $150
Pros
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Easy to carry
- More locking opportunities than U-locks
Cons
- Not as secure as a U-lock or chain
- Lots of moving parts can be vulnerable to attacks
- Not many folding locks have the Silver or Gold security standard
Get a folding lock if you want to lock your scooter onto a wider range of anchor points. A folding lock is a bit like a U-lock with a flexible shackle. You can bend it around thick objects and attach your scooter to hard-to-reach anchors with ease. Folding locks can even anchor two scooters at the same time, so they’re as versatile as it gets.
Since they fold down, they’re easier to carry than bulky U-locks, even though they provide almost the same level of security. Most folding locks come with a frame mount that you attach them to while riding. In any case, they’re much less of a hassle to deal with.
However, a folding lock won’t survive a vigorous attack as well as a U-lock. Its multiple components make it vulnerable to irreparable damage from attacks.
Chain Lock
Typical Price Range: $30 – $200
Pros
- The highest level of security
- Great visual deterrent
- More versatile than U-lock due to length and flexibility
Cons
- Heavy
- Difficult to carry
- Expensive
They say that a thick, heavy chain lock is better than any U-lock when it comes to security. Although this may be true, you should think about other factors when buying a lock, such as whether it is portable enough.
In my opinion, the chain lock is not as bulky as the U-lock and it takes less room if you want to carry it in a packback. However, it’s much heavier than a folding lock.
Chain locks can be as thick as 12 mm, so they’re nothing to sneeze at. That makes them ideal for stationery security, but it also makes them too heavy to lug around.
Wearable Chain Lock
Hiplok lock company has designed a chain lock that you can wear like a belt. It has a patented belt-like fastening and can be adjusted to perfectly fit around your waist. It makes it easier to take a good-quality lock with you on your rides.
Electronic Lock
Pros
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not all scooters have it
- Low security level
Many electric scooters can be locked electronically. It assumes your scooter comes with an app with electronic lock functionality.
To lock your scooter electronically, you just have to switch the lock button in the app. It blocks the wheels and if somebody moves the scooter, the alarm goes on. Although the scooter is unrideable, it doesn’t prevent the thief from simply lifting your scooter into the trunk of the car.
So, an electronic lock is a nice feature but it doesn’t provide enough security to solely rely on it.
How to Choose the Best Lock for Your Electric Scooter?
If you would prefer to watch it from the video, we have covered all the aspects you should know when choosing a perfect lock for your electric scooter in our YouTube video as well.
What are the most important factors to consider when buying a lock for your electric scooter?
What’s Your Budget?
Quality locks can be expensive, so it’s good to know how much you’re willing to spend. Invest in quality materials and reinforcements instead of fancy bells and whistles. An expensive U-lock is more reliable than a similarly-priced folding lock because its main selling point is high-end security.
As with any other security product, you get what you pay for. Cheaper locks are ideal for low-risk environments such as private parking lots but don’t make the mistake of cutting corners in a high-risk environment. Invest as much as you think you should keep your electric scooter safe. You’ll need to know how dangerous your environment is before deciding how much to spend on a lock.
How Much is Your Scooter Worth?
How much did you pay for your scooter? If it’s an expensive electric scooter, then it’s a more attractive target and thus will require more security to deter theft. But if it’s a relatively inexpensive model, it doesn’t make sense to invest in pricey state-of-the-art scooter security.
You don’t want a situation where thieves cut the scooter in half to steal your lock.
Thieves will spend more time cutting loose a high-end scooter than they will a cheaper one. That alone is incentive enough to buy the biggest lock you can find if you’re riding on anything worth $1,000 and above.
That doesn’t mean that you should leave your cheap scooters unattended. A cheap, unsecured scooter is more attractive to criminals than any expensive scooter with a decent lock.
What’s the Level of Risk
- Where do you live?
- How safe is the neighborhood you park in?
- Can you maintain a line of sight to your parked scooter at all times?
- How long do you usually leave your scooter unattended?
These questions will help you establish your risk level for scooter theft. An unsafe neighborhood or crowded city center is a high-risk environment. Parking lots that are out of sight give thieves a lot of time to work your lock uninterrupted, so they’re also very risky.
If you leave your scooter unattended for hours, then you need strong locks that can deter thieves and survive multiple attempts. Knowing your risk level will help you buy the best locks for your situation.
How to Lock an Electric Scooter?
Let’s take a look at some best practices and tips for locking e-scooter.
Find Secure Locking Points On Your Scooter
The most secure locking points on your scooter are:
- Built using solid material (stainless steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, etc.)
- Free of screws and removable attachments
- Difficult to break and/or vital to the functioning of the scooter
Other locking points include the folding mechanism and the carry handle. You shouldn’t lock around the handlebars and removable accessories like fenders. Even if it’s bolted on, all it takes is a patient and well-equipped thief to get past your lock.
Choose a Crowded Place
The biggest deterrent to theft is other people, so whenever possible, park your electric scooter near crowds or in high-traffic areas. Make sure the area is widely visible, well-lit, and easy to monitor and access.
Shopping centers are a good place to start. They’re often crowded, plus most shops these days have outdoor security cameras that deter theft in the vicinity.
Do not park between cars or in dimly lit areas. Avoid parking in areas you can’t see or get to quickly if you need to. Keep in mind that a secure parking space should also protect your scooter from the elements.
Choose a Permanent Object
Always lock your scooter onto a permanent fixture, preferably one that’s cemented to the ground. Ensure the anchor is not too short because lifting a 25lb scooter over a 3-foot locking point is easy.
Your best bet is a designated bike rack since it’s designed for that exact purpose. But, in a pinch, stair railings, steel posts, and signposts work too. Avoid metal fences and flimsy structures that look easy to cut or smash through.
Don’t Give Thieves Hints
Try to be as discreet as possible about your whereabouts.
You shouldn’t broadcast that your scooter is unattended. Always give the impression that you’re close enough to pounce on any delinquents looking to boost your electric scooter.
Keep the Lock Off the Ground
It’s a bad idea to let the lock hang too close to the ground. That’s a surefire way to get it pulverized by a hammer. Make sure it is suspended slightly above the ground, far enough to make hammer attacks ineffective.
Make It Hard to Access the Lock
- Fill the inside of the U-lock
- Face the keyhole downwards
- If the keyhole is hard to access, it is harder for lockpicking
There have been cases where thieves have put the glue inside the keyhole, so you can’t unlock your scooter and have to leave it overnight. This gives them the quiet nighttime to steal your vehicle.
Keep the keyhole facing down. You want to make your locks as difficult as possible to pry open with picking techniques. If you’re using a U-lock, fill the space between the shackles and your electric scooter to make it harder to crowbar open.
Related: How to Lock an E-Bike?
Other Security Options
Immobilizer Alarm
A nifty electric scooter theft prevention is the immobilizer alarm. This security system features a remote-control system with which you can disable the electronics of your scooter.
It also has a motion-activated alarm that sounds off and disables the scooter when it’s tampered with. Even though it doesn’t stop the thief from carrying away the scooter, it makes it impossible for them to ride it.
Bikeep Docking Station
In the near future, we might ditch our scooter locks in favor of docking stations. Like bike racks, you’ll find these at shopping centers, universities, and office buildings. It secures it by the fork and handles, making it impossible to jack.
The Bikeep Scooter Docking station even charges your electric scooter while it’s parked.
These docking stations can be unlocked using your smartphone and can even be booked in advance.
Other Risks to Consider
- Don’t leave your helmet or other gear on the scooters.
- If you have a rack or carrier, ensure it is properly secured, or don’t leave any valuables in it.
- Attachments like batteries, displays, and wheels can be dismounted, so take measures to secure them as well.
- Whenever possible, lock your scooter with two or more types of locks.
Conclusion
If you lock up your scooter every time you leave it unattended, thieves are less likely to make away with it. Scooter thefts are still on the rise.
To keep your electric scooter safe, it’s vital that you use the right lock(s). Risky areas may require you to use multiple locks to keep thieves at bay. But, if you follow the basic security guidelines in this article, such as
- using the correct locks for an electric scooter
- keeping your scooter visible when parked
- parking in crowded places
- and using secure anchor points,
then you can deter even the most motivated thieves.
I, personally, like the folding lock the most. It provides a good level of security and at the same time, it is really convenient to carry it. Also, the scooter I mostly ride isn’t the most expensive one, so the folding lock works well for me. But if I am about to park a scooter that costs over $3000, I would most definitely use at least 2 different locks and one of them must be a U-lock or a chain.
Which lock type do you like the most? Leave a comment and let us know!
The founder and the editor-in-chief of the Electric Wheelers blog. With a previous background in IT, sales, and video editing, he has now established himself as a micromobility expert.
He bought his first e-scooter over 5 years ago and since then has owned dozens of e-scooters and e-bikes. His deep understanding of the technical aspects, coupled with a keen eye for market trends, enables him to provide insightful and reliable content.
His commitment to promoting sustainable and efficient urban mobility solutions has made him a respected voice in the community of eco-friendly transportation enthusiasts.
