Locked Out of Your Car? What to Do First (and What Not to Do)

Realizing you’re locked out of your car is a sinking feeling. The keys are sitting on the seat, or in the ignition, or in a bag in the trunk, and the door won’t open. It happens to everyone sooner or later, and it usually happens at a bad time: in a grocery lot with ice cream in the bag, at work when you’re already late, or in a parking lot at night.

The good news is that a lockout is almost always a short, simple job for a car locksmith. The most important thing is to not make it worse while you wait.

First: Is Anyone Inside?

If a child or a pet is locked in the car, especially in the sun, call 911 first. A parked car heats up fast, even on a mild day. Emergency services can get in quicker than anyone. Then call us, and tell us a child or pet is inside so we know what we’re driving to.

Check These Before You Call

It sounds obvious, but in a stressful moment people skip it:

• Try every door, and the trunk or tailgate. One door is often left unlocked, and on some cars the trunk opens separately.
• Is there a spare key nearby? If someone at home has a spare and can bring it in a reasonable time, that might be your cheapest option.
• Check your phone apps. Some newer cars can be unlocked from the manufacturer’s app if it was set up before.
• Check your roadside cover. Some insurance policies and memberships include lockout help. Waiting times vary, so weigh that against how stuck you are.

What Not to Do

We’ve opened a lot of cars where the owner already tried a coat hanger or a screwdriver first. Please don’t. Here’s why:

• Wire hangers and slim jims can scratch paint, tear the weather seal around the window and pull wires inside the door. Many modern doors have side airbag parts and wiring right where people poke.
• Prying the door or window can bend the frame. Then the door whistles or leaks for the rest of the car’s life.
• Breaking a window costs far more than a lockout call, and leaves your car open until it’s fixed.

A professional opening uses tools made for the job, and the goal is simple: you get back in, and the car looks exactly the way it did before.

How We Open a Locked Car

When you call (510) 766-0099, we ask for the year, make and model of the car and where it’s parked. You get the price on the phone before we drive out. Most calls are reached in 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic, and we tell you an honest arrival time when you call.

When we get there:

1. We check the car is yours. We ask for a photo ID, and once the car is open we check the registration. It protects you from someone using a locksmith on a car that isn’t theirs.
2. We open the car without damage. The method depends on the car. Older cars and newer cars with smart keys need different tools.
3. You get your keys back, and you’re on your way.

If the keys aren’t inside the car at all, it isn’t a lockout any more. You need a new key, and we can make one at the car. See car key replacement.

Locked Out at Night or on a Weekend?

We take calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. Being stuck at 11pm in a dark parking lot is exactly when you want someone who picks up. Read more about our 24-hour emergency locksmith service.

How to Avoid the Next Lockout

• Get a spare key made while you still have a working one. It’s much easier and cheaper than starting from nothing. See car key duplication.
• Keep the spare somewhere useful, like at home or with someone you trust, not inside the car.
• Replace a weak fob battery. A dying battery can make a smart key act up at the worst moment.

Car Lockout FAQs

Related: car lockout service, 24-hour emergency locksmith and car key replacement if the keys are lost, not just locked in.