I'm Anthony Calhoun, ASE Master Technician with 25 years of experience. Locking your keys in the car is one of those things that happens to everyone at least once. I've done it myself. The good news: there are several ways to get back in without damaging your car. The bad news: most of what people try first — coat hangers, wedges, random apps — either doesn't work or creates damage. Here's the right way to handle it.
Check These Things First
Before you call anyone or try anything, spend two minutes checking the obvious:
- Try every door. All four doors plus the trunk or liftgate. One may be unlocked and you didn't realize it.
- Check for a spare key. At home, with a family member, at your workplace. A spare key is the fastest solution if someone can bring it to you.
- Check your automaker's app. If you have a connected car with a mobile app — Ford Pass, MyChevrolet, Toyota Connected Services, FCA Uconnect, Tesla, OnStar, etc. — you may be able to unlock the car remotely from your phone right now. These apps are free and this feature is available on most vehicles built after 2018.
- Check your insurance card. Many auto insurance policies include roadside assistance with lockout service. Check the number on your card before paying out of pocket for a locksmith.
Your Best Options for Getting In
Option 1: Roadside Assistance (Best First Call)
If you have AAA, call them. If you have insurance roadside assistance, call that number. If your car is covered under a manufacturer's roadside plan (most new vehicles include this for 3-5 years), call that. These services are free, and dispatching a professional is faster and safer than attempting anything yourself. Have your membership number ready.
Option 2: Professional Locksmith
A licensed automotive locksmith is your next best option. They carry specialized tools — wedge kits, air bags, and long-reach tools — that open car doors without scratching the paint or damaging the door mechanism. Do not go with the cheapest result from a quick search. Look for a locksmith with verifiable reviews. Expect $50-$150 for a standard lockout.
Option 3: Your Automaker's Dealer
If you are near a dealership for your brand, they can sometimes help, especially if you are a current owner and can prove it. This is slower than a locksmith but may be covered under your ownership benefits.
Option 4: Non-Emergency Police Line
In some areas, local police will respond to lockouts — especially if there is a safety concern like extreme weather. Call the non-emergency line, not 911 (unless there is a child or pet inside). Some officers carry slim jim tools. Results vary by department and location.
What NOT to Do
Here's where most people make the situation worse:
- Do not use a wire coat hanger. Modern car doors have complex linkage, wiring, and airbag components behind the door panel. Poking a wire in blindly risks bending the door rod clip, tearing the weather strip, or — on some vehicles — triggering the side curtain airbag. This is a real risk, not a scare tactic.
- Do not wedge the door open with a screwdriver. This bends the door frame and weather strip. A bent door frame can cause wind noise, water leaks, and a door that never quite closes right again. That repair is far more expensive than a locksmith.
- Do not break a window unless it is a genuine emergency. A window replacement costs $200-$500. A locksmith costs $50-$150. Break a window only if a person or animal inside the vehicle is in immediate danger from heat or injury.
- Do not trust random YouTube slim jim tutorials. The technique varies by vehicle make and model. What works on a 2005 Silverado will not work on a 2022 Camry. Locksmiths know the specific door anatomy of the vehicles they work on.
Life-Threatening Emergency: Child or Pet Inside
If a child or pet is locked inside a vehicle in hot weather, this is a medical emergency. Do not wait for a locksmith. Call 911 immediately.
A car interior can reach 130°F on an 80°F day within minutes. Children and pets are far more vulnerable to heat than adults. Heatstroke is possible within minutes in extreme temperatures.
If authorities cannot arrive in time and the child or pet is in distress: break the window farthest from the child, on the opposite side of the car, using a sharp tool aimed at the corner of the glass. The corner of a window is the weakest point. In most states, breaking a window to rescue a child or animal from life-threatening heat is legally protected.
How to Prevent It From Happening Again
Once you're back in your car, take 10 minutes to set up one or more of these so this doesn't happen again:
- Set up your automaker's mobile app and confirm the remote unlock feature works. Do this today while it's fresh in your mind.
- Get a spare key cut and give it to someone you trust — a family member, coworker, or neighbor. A basic cut key (non-fob) costs $5-$15 at a hardware store for most vehicles. For more car ownership tips and guides, APEX Tech Nation covers everything from preventive maintenance to emergency preparedness.
- Install a magnetic key box under your vehicle's frame. Get one rated for highway speed so it doesn't fall off. Stick it somewhere non-obvious — not directly under the door, which is the first place someone would look.
- Add roadside assistance to your insurance if you don't already have it. The annual cost is typically $10-$30 added to your policy. Worth every penny.
- Make a habit of touching the key before closing the door. Physical confirmation — key in hand or in pocket — before the door closes is the simplest prevention of all.