An electric steering lock device includes an operation relay for operating an electric motor, a pair of switching relays for switching the rotating direction of the electric motor, and diodes for energizing each relay connected to a port of a control unit respectively. A steering shaft is unlocked by providing the operation relay in an ON status to allow the electric motor to displace the locking rod in the unlocking direction. The steering shaft is locked by providing the operation relay and the pair of switching relays in an ON status respectively to allow the electric motor to displace the steering rod in the locking direction.