Relay theft, or relay attacks are a common method of keyless car theft. It works by exploiting the signal emitted from a key fob for a car with keyless entry fitted. This signal is picked up from outside the house using an amplifier, and then the signal is used to clone the key, tricking the car into thinking the owner is driving the car.
Relay thefts are typically done by two car thieves. One will stand next to the victim’s house with a signal amplifier, walking around the building until a signal from the car’s key is picked up. Then, once the signal has been found by the car thief, they amplify the signal which allows a second participant with a transmitter to clone the key.
This second thief stands close enough to the car to unlock the door, allowing them to get in and drive off in almost complete silence. This vulnerability in keyless cars effects almost all of them, because some kind of wireless signal must be transmitted from the key fob in order for the car to know when to unlock the car door without the key’s button being pressed.
How Long Does Relay Theft Take?
You’re not going to like the answer if you currently have a keyless car on your driveway. Skilled car thieves are known to be able to steal a keyless car in as little as 30-60 seconds. By the time you realise your car is being stolen, it’s already gone. Take a look at this video of a relay attack being performed on a popular luxury vehicle:
Due to the nature of relay thefts, there is a very strong chance the car thieves will be tech-savvy. This means even if you have a Ring doorbell or other security camera monitoring systems in place, they will have spotted them and masked their identities. The thieves in this video made the mistake of not covering themselves whilst stealing the car, but you might not be so lucky.
If My Car Does Not Have Keyless Entry Can Relay Theft Be Used Against It?
Only cars fitted with keyless entry are susceptible to this type of theft. If you have to press a button on your car key to unlock it, your car is not at risk of being stolen from this type of car theft.
Are All Keyless Cars Easy To Steal?
Based on the car theft statistics of 2022, it can definitely be argued that all cars with keyless entry as “easy” to steal, however not all keyless entry systems are equal in terms of their vulnerability to relay theft. Some manufacturers have now developed inactivity based keys.
This means that the signal is no longer emitted from the key fob if it hasn’t been moved for a short period of time. The degree to which these are successful in preventing car theft is still up for debate.
Some of the best rated keyless cars for security include the BMW X5/X6 and Audi e-tron, whilst many popular affordable cars such as the Mazda 3 and DS3 Crossback ranked poorly, with a “fail” rating given to them by Thatcham.
How Do I Know How Secure A Keyless Car Is?
To understand how secure a keyless car is straight from the manufacturer, I would recommend taking a look at the research undertaken by Thatcham. They release frequent consumer security ratings, which are hugely beneficial for discerning buyers and insurers.
They rank the security features of a car from ‘poor’ to ‘superior’. Ideally when looking for a new car, opt for one with a higher rating. These security ratings include traditional security features too, such as immobilisers, alarms and locks.
Are Keyless Vans Susceptible To Relay Attacks?
The systems used in vans with keyless entry are also susceptible to relay theft in the same way. Newer van models such as the Ford Transit have keyless entry as an option, so it’s worth considering if you are looking to buy a new van.
How Can I Protect My Car Against Relay Theft?
If you own a keyless car and need to secure it from being vulnerable to relay theft, read my article here on how to protect your car from keyless car theft. One of the best options is to put your car keys in a signal blocker such as a faraday box.
So there you have it, that’s what relay theft is and how it’s done. If you have any more questions on this topic feel free to comment down below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.