You’ve locked the keys in the car, and you don’t have a spare key. After cursing the gods for your misfortune, it’s time to do something about it. No matter how much you swear, the door won’t unlock itself. Fortunately, you have a few strategies to help you out of this tight situation. Let’s look at what you can do to get back in control after you lock your keys in the car.
What to Do If You Lock Your Keys in the Car
Can I Call the Police to Unlock My car?
It depends. Did you lock Fido in the car or discover someone left their baby unattended in the backseat? That qualifies for a high-risk emergency, and you can call the police to help you out.
Dial 911 and give them your car’s make, model, and location. The dispatcher will send a unit to your location. Emergency services will arrive in less time than roadside assistance or a locksmith, which is important in a crisis.
The good news is that you won’t receive a bill for the service, but they may damage the vehicle and break the window and you’ll have to pay for that.
Can You Unlock a Car with a Cellphone?
Many new cars come with cellphone apps allowing you to unlock the car with the touch of a button. These apps are available for download for iOS and Android devices. The app turns your smartphone into a key fob and allows you to lock and unlock the car directly from your device.
Some even enable remote starting of the vehicle. However, you must pair the app with your car before locking yourself out. Waiting until you’re locked out is too late.
Can You Open a Car Door with a Shoelace?
This is an old-school method – you’ve probably seen someone pull it off on TV or in a movie. Unfortunately, it’s harder than it looks when you try it in a real-life situation and requires some epic hand-eye coordination. It’s also not likely to work on new model cars.
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- Tie a slipknot in the center of the shoelace (look up how to tie this knot on YouTube if you don’t know how). You’ll need a loop around the size of your finger to make it work.
- Wriggle the shoelace around the corner of the driver’s door until you get the know inside the door seam.
- Hold the shoelace with both hands and move it back and forth in a flossing motion.
- This action shifts the knot further down the side of the window to the lock knob on the window sill.
- If you manage to get the knot over the knob, pull both ends of the string simultaneously to tighten the knot around it.
- Gently pull up on the string to unlock the door.
Can You Unlock a Car with a Hanger?
This is another classic method. Like the shoelace trick, it only works on older model cars featuring manual locking systems. It’s also unlikely you’ll have a hanger on hand, so it generally only works in the driveway at home or a friend’s place.
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- Undo the wire coat hanger by twisting the hook to release it into a straight piece.
- Slide the hanger between the window and the weather stripping at the bottom of the window.
- Fish inside the door cavity for the locking mechanism; it’s a straight bar.
- You’ll feel the contact when you hit it; now maneuver the hook under the bar and pull up.
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Can You Unlock a Car with a Bobby Pin?
It’s possible to unlock an older-model car door with a bobby pin and a few hours. Essentially, you’re trying to pick the manual lock. You can give it a try, but unless you have lock-picking skills, don’t bother.
Bite the Bullet and Call the Locksmith
The methods above often damage the door-locking mechanism. Also, the weather stripping or the lock can get damaged as well. That’s going to cost money to replace.
Instead of wasting your time, pick up the phone and dial a trusted local locksmith. You might have to admit defeat, but you’ll only make the mistake of locking your car keys inside once unless you’re unfortunate.
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- We are licensed, bonded, and insured
- Provide immediate response
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