What is a locking wheel nut key?
A locking wheel nut key is a security device designed to prevent the theft of wheels, a locking wheel nut will look quite similar to the other bolts on your vehicles wheels, but there are important differences. Many vehicle wheel bolts tend to be hexagonal in shape, a locking wheel nut is normally more cylindrical.
Do I need a locking wheel nut key?
Before looking for a locking wheel nut key we would advise, if safe to do so to check if you have locking nuts fitted to the vehicle.
Some vehicles have wheel cover or caps over the wheel bolts so these will need to be removed to see if one is required. please see the pictures below of examples of wheel covers and cap covers.
After the cover/cap has been removed you should be able to see all the wheel bolts and determine if you have a locking nut fitted to the vehicle.
Please see some examples of different locking nut styles below.
If your wheel bolts look like the above pictures with a different style for one of the bolts, then a locking nut key is required
Where is my locking wheel nut key?
If you know you have not used your locking wheel nut key during the time you've owned your vehicle, chances are it's where the manufacturer of the vehicle stored it. This means it could be in any number of places.
The glove box: many vehicle manufacturers will store the locking wheel nut key in the vehicles glove box, so it makes sense to check here for it.
With your spare wheel, as we're sure you know, if your car has one, your spare wheel is normally kept underneath the bottom panel of your boot. Many car manufacturers will store the wheel nut key in a compartment next to the spare wheel itself, so make sure you look here.
Boot storage: some manufacturers will store the wheel nut key in a storage panel either side of the boot. If your car has these storage panels, this is where it could be.
In or under the seats: if you've checked elsewhere, the final places you need to check are in the seat pockets, both driver and passenger, and under those seats as the set could have slid under there during travel.
Your cars owners manual should say where your locking wheel nut key is kept.