Locked Your Keys in the Car? What to Do Next

If you locked your keys in the car, stop, check that everyone is safe, and then run a few quick checks before you call for help. Some checks take less than a minute and may get you in. If none of them work, a licensed mobile locksmith can drive out at any hour and get you back in. Here is what to do, in order.

What Should You Do First?

Check for a child or a pet inside the car. If one is locked in, call 911 right away. Do not wait for anyone else. Every minute counts when someone is trapped inside.

Next, look at where you are standing. A busy parking lot, a gas pump or the side of a road can be risky places to wait. If the spot feels wrong, walk to a bright, busy place nearby and make your calls from there.

Are All the Doors Really Locked?

Walk all the way around the car and try every handle. It sounds too simple, but one door is often left unlocked. Try the trunk and the rear hatch too. On many SUVs and minivans, the hatch locks on its own schedule. It takes 30 seconds and rules out the easy fix.

Can You Unlock It With an App or a Spare Key?

Many newer cars come with a phone app from the maker that can unlock the doors from your phone. If you set the app up when you bought the car, now is the time to use it. Make sure your phone has enough battery to get through it.

Then think about spare keys. Is one at home, in a desk drawer at work or with a family member? If someone close by has it, one quick call may end the problem. No spare nearby, or no spare at all? That is just the kind of day a locksmith handles.

Who Should You Call When Your Keys Are Locked in the Car?

You have 3 good choices, and which one is best depends on your situation:

• Someone with a spare key. Best if they are close and can get to you soon.
• A roadside plan, if you pay for one. Some auto insurance and motor club plans cover lockouts. Wait times vary.
• A licensed mobile locksmith. A locksmith answers the phone, tells you when they can get there, and comes to the car with the right tools.

In North Carolina, every locksmith must hold a state license and show the number in their ads, under Chapter 74F of the state’s General Statutes. Ask for the number when you call.

Why Not Try to Open the Door Yourself?

Forcing a car door is how a small lockout turns into an expensive repair. Prying at a door can bend the frame, tear the rubber seal or scratch the paint. Breaking a window means glass in the car and a repair bill. Modern doors also hold wiring for the windows and locks that is easy to damage from the outside. Waiting a short while for a pro almost always costs less in the end.

What Should You Tell the Locksmith?

Clear details on the first call help the locksmith arrive ready. Have these on hand:

• Your exact location, with a cross street, store name or highway exit.
• The car’s make, model and year.
• Whether you can see the keys inside, and where they are.
• Your photo ID. A careful locksmith confirms the car is yours before opening it.

Then stay near the car with your phone on, so the technician can reach you when they get close.

How Does a Locksmith Get You Back In?

A trained locksmith uses tools made for car doors and works slowly to avoid damage. Different cars need different approaches. If you are curious, read more about how a locksmith opens a locked car door. The goal is simple: an open door, your keys back in your hand and no new scratches on the car.

What If Your Keys Are Lost, Not Locked Inside?

Look through every window before you call. If the keys are nowhere in sight, you may be dealing with lost keys, which is a different job. A new key has to be made, and the lost one may still be out there. See our checklist for lost car keys with no spare before you make the call.

How Can You Avoid the Next Lockout?

A little planning now saves a stressful hour later:

• Get a spare key made and keep it at home or with someone you trust.
• Never hide a spare in or under the car.
• Put a trusted locksmith’s number in your contacts today.
• Make a habit of keys in hand before the door closes.

Still locked out? All In Locksmith carries NC Locksmith License #2554. We offer 24/7 car lockout service and come to wherever your car is parked. Call (919) 901-3231 and tell us where you are.