Keyless Car Theft in Texas: How to Protect Your Vehicle

Written by Thumann Agency on Nov 19, 2025
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If you drive a keyless, push-button car in Texas, you’re not imagining it – theft feels like it’s getting smarter, not just more common.

More than one million vehicles were stolen across the U.S. last year, and Texas ranks second in the nation for total thefts.National Insurance Crime Bureau+1 Criminals are now using technology to copy or boost keyless signals, making modern cars a prime target in cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston.

As a local auto insurance broker in Dallas, we’re seeing more questions from drivers who want to know: “Is my keyless car really safe – and am I actually covered if it’s stolen?”

Let’s walk through what’s happening, which cars are at risk, how your insurance fits in, and what you can do tonight to protect your car.

 

Why Texas Drivers Need to Pay Attention

Texas has always had a big mix of trucks, performance cars, and daily drivers – exactly the kind of vehicles thieves love.

Recent analysis from national insurance data shows:

At the same time, global studies show that more than half of newer car thefts now involve manipulating keyless systems, such as boosting or intercepting the key fob signal.WeCovr+2buckinghaminsurance.co.uk+2

Put simply:
If you have a modern, keyless car in Texas, you’re in the sweet spot of what thieves are looking for.

How Thieves Steal Keyless Cars

Most keyless thefts fall into three main methods. Understanding them helps you block them.

1. Relay attacks (“signal boosting”)

This is the classic keyless hack.

  1. Your key fob is inside your home – usually near the front door or on a hallway table.

  2. Thief A stands outside with a device that captures and boosts the signal from your fob.

  3. Thief B stands by your car with another device that replays that signal.

  4. The car thinks the key is right next to it, so it unlocks and allows the engine to start.

Security tests in the U.S. and Europe have repeatedly shown that many keyless cars can be opened and driven away in under a minute using relay devices.Leasing.com+1

2. Key-learning and fob cloning via the OBD port

This method targets the car’s electronics instead of the radio signal.

  • Thieves break into the car, plug a device into the OBD-II port (usually under the dash), and program a new key or cloned fob.

  • Performance models and high-value cars are especially tempting. Recent research shows the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (2022–24) is now one of the most stolen vehicles in the U.S., with a theft rate many times higher than average – driven partly by vulnerabilities thieves exploit via keyless and OBD systems.IIHS+2Road & Track+2

3. “Carhacking” and electronic bypass tools

Some thieves use devices that:

  • Imitate signals on the car’s internal network (CAN bus).

  • Exploit weaknesses in older keyless systems to unlock doors and disable immobilisers.Driving Instructors Association+1

Old-fashioned methods (breaking windows, towing, hot-wiring older trucks) still happen, but the biggest worry for keyless car drivers is how quiet, fast, and “clean” these tech-based thefts are.

 

Which Vehicles and Locations Are Most at Risk?

Vehicles thieves love:

Recent data from Texas law enforcement and national loss studies shows that thieves tend to favour:San Antonio Express-News+3IIHS+3Road & Track+3

  • Hyundai: Elantra, Sonata (especially older models without immobilisers)

  • Kia: Soul, Forte, Optima

  • Full-size pickups: Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Dodge/Ram

  • Performance & high-value models: Chevrolet Camaro (especially keyless 2016+), Corvettes, some luxury SUVs

If you drive one of these in Dallas or the surrounding suburbs, it doesn’t mean theft is guaranteed – but it does mean you should be extra intentional about security and your insurance choices.

Where the thefts happen

Patterns across Texas and other large states look similar: My WordPress+2Road & Track+2

  • Apartment and condo car parks (especially around gyms and shopping centres).

  • Residential driveways and streets at night, particularly where the key fob is likely near the front door.

  • Big surface car parks at malls, sporting events, and entertainment districts.

  • Areas with low lighting, no visible cameras, and easy escape routes.

For Dallas drivers, that might mean large lots around shopping centres, busy night-time entertainment areas, or densely parked apartment complexes in and around the city.

 

Does Your Auto Insurance Cover Keyless Car Theft?

Here’s the key point:

Keyless theft is covered the same way as any other theft – under comprehensive coverage.

In Texas:

So if someone steals your keyless car using a relay device or an OBD hacking tool, it’s treated just like any other theft – your comprehensive coverage should respond, minus your deductible.

A few important details:

  • If personal items (laptop, handbag, tools) are stolen from inside the car, those are usually covered under homeowners or renters insurance, not the auto policy.

  • If your car is financed or leased, your lender will typically require comprehensive and collision coverage anyway – but that doesn’t guarantee your limits and deductibles suit your current risk.

This is where a local auto insurance broker in Dallas really helps. We can walk through:

  • Whether you have comprehensive now (many people assume they do and don’t).

  • What your actual deductible is if the car disappears.

  • Whether you need extras like gap coverage or coverage for aftermarket wheels and modifications.

 

What Car Manufacturers Are Doing About It

Manufacturers know keyless theft is a real problem, and many have started rolling out fixes.

Hyundai & Kia

After widely publicised theft spikes involving models without immobilisers:

  • Immobilisers are now standard on newer Hyundais and Kias built after late 2021.

  • Software updates and free anti-theft devices (like steering wheel locks) have been offered in many U.S. cities, including Texas.San Antonio Express-News

Chevrolet & other brands

Following the surge in Camaro thefts, Chevrolet is:

  • Rolling out software updates and improved security for affected Camaro models.

  • Tightening how keys are programmed to reduce the impact of cloned fobs and OBD attacks.Road & Track+1

Across the industry, newer models are gradually adding:

  • Better encryption in fob-to-car communication.

  • Fobs that go into “sleep mode” when not moving, making relay attacks harder.Driving Instructors Association+1

  • Built-in tracking and remote immobilisation via apps and connected services.

That’s all good news – but there are still millions of slightly older keyless cars on Texas roads that don’t benefit from the latest protections. For those, your habits matter just as much as the hardware.

 

Practical Steps to Protect Your Keyless Car in Texas

Here’s a simple, real-world checklist you can share with your clients or readers.

1. Protect your key fobs

  • Keep keys away from doors and windows, ideally in the centre of the house.

  • Use a Faraday pouch or proper RFID-blocking box to block the signal when you’re at home. A good one is inexpensive and can make relay attacks much harder.Leasing.com+1

2. Add visible deterrents

  • A steering wheel lock is still one of the cheapest and most effective deterrents. Thieves want quick, quiet jobs – visible hardware slows them down.

  • For high-value cars, consider a wheel clamp or pedal lock if it’s practical.

3. Harden the electronics

  • Ask a trusted installer about:

    • OBD port locks

    • Aftermarket immobilisers or a discreet kill switch

  • Keep your car’s software updated and get any security-related recalls done promptly. Road & Track+1

4. Park with intention

  • Best: a locked garage or secure gated parking.

  • Next best: well-lit driveway, nose-in parking, and within view of a camera or ring-style doorbell.

  • Try to avoid leaving high-risk models in the same vulnerable spot overnight (e.g., dark corners of large car parks).

5. Use tracking & documentation

  • Consider an OEM or aftermarket GPS tracker – some insurers may offer discounts for approved devices.Insurance Council of Texas+1

  • Keep a record of:

    • VIN

    • Current photos of the car

    • Details of any upgrades (wheels, wraps, sound systems)

If the worst happens, file a police report immediately, then contact your insurer or broker. Fast reporting can improve the chances of recovery and speed up your claim.

 

How an Auto Insurance Broker in Dallas Can Help You Stay Ahead

You can’t control what thieves do – but you can control how prepared you are.

Working with an auto insurance broker in Dallas means you’re not stuck with a one-size-fits-all online quote. Instead, you get someone who:

  • Understands Texas theft patterns, hail, severe weather, and urban parking realities.

  • Can shop with multiple carriers to find comprehensive coverage that makes sense for your car’s value and theft risk.

  • Helps you balance deductibles and premium so a theft doesn’t become a financial crisis.

  • Takes time to review your policy with you and point out gaps you might not notice on your own.

At Thumann Insurance Agency, we work with dozens of top insurance companies and relentlessly strive to help Dallas drivers feel more confident about their coverage – not more confused by it.

 

Ready to Talk About Your Keyless Car?

If you drive a keyless or push-button car in the Dallas area and you’re not 100% sure how it’s protected:

  • We can review your current policy,

  • Explain exactly what happens if your car is stolen,

  • And help you compare options from multiple insurers – all in plain English.

Protect your car, protect your budget, and protect your peace of mind.

When you’re ready, reach out to your local auto insurance broker in Dallas and let us help you make sure your coverage is working as hard as your car does.

 

Last Updated: 11.20.2025 
Author: Lauren Thumann Director of Marketing.

Lauren Thumann Marketing Director

Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only. Coverage details vary by provider. 

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