Locked Keys in Car? Here’s How to Get Back Inside Without Calling Roadside Assistance
The odds of locking your keys in your car are probably much higher than you think. There are many ways to get inside your car without calling roadside assistance.
By taking precautionary measures, like always double-checking locks before locking doors and storing spare keys in designated areas to avoid being locked out of your car completely!
1. Inflatable Wedge
The feeling that you’ve locked your keys in your car could be among the worst experiences you’ll ever have. It can turn your day into chaos and make you think about how to get home, to work, or to your next meeting.
Fortunately, there are several options for getting back into your vehicle when you’ve locked your keys in it. Using a wire coat hanger that you’ve shaped into a hook, or creating an elongated wedge from three or two door stops can help you break through the glass and open your door. If you don’t own these items or your car has an auto lock or air pump, then an air pump wedge could be the best choice.
Air pump wedges are a nifty tool used by locksmiths as well as repo experts for auto lockouts. They typically have an inflatable bag component that slips between the car door and the weather stripping to form an opening that can be reached via longer-reach tools, such as car-unlocking rods. These wedges also have a heavy-duty design that is non-marring, which helps to prevent chipping of the paint on the car.
For those who are DIY-ers there are numerous air wedge kits available for purchase on the market, including some that come with a handy hand pump to allow manual inflation. A top-quality kit will be able to create a gap between the door and the jamb sufficient to allow for the installation of access tools and unlock most cars with manual locks.
For those who do not have an air wedge or other alternative, there’s the option to call for roadside assistance or a locksmith in your area in the event that there is nothing else that works. If this is the only option, make sure that you keep an extra key cutting near me open now in a safe place so that you don’t need to be concerned about losing it when you need to use it. No matter what method you choose, be patient and remember that it’s ok to panic when you lock your keys in your car. your life will continue on as normal if you follow these simple tips.
2. Coat Hanger
A wire coat hanger is a common item found in most households and it can be used to open a locked car. The trick is to bend the hook into a tiny “V” shape that will hold the lock post inside your door and then manipulate it to push the lock open. The same technique is used by police officers with a slim Jim, however coat hangers require less fiddling.
Make a slipknot in middle of a long piece string or paracord that is stiff. Use the slipknot to pry open the car door slightly in the upper corner. This will allow you enough space to place an extended rod, such as a clotheshanger or blood pressure cuff. If you don’t own an cuff for blood pressure or a blood pressure cuff, ask your local pharmacy for one. They usually include them in their emergency kits.
Unravel the top of your coat hanger and straighten it out so you have a hook on one side and a straight one on the other. It might be easier to bend hooks into a V-shape if you have pliers. This requires repeating the process several times before you reach the perfect hook shape. Once you have the perfect shape, slide it in behind the weather stripping on the bottom of the door. Then, insert it into the door, just above the handle.
Once you have the hanger in place, move it around to locate a pin or a bar that regulates the door lock post. Depending on the vehicle you drive, it may be located either above or below the interior door handle. Tap it lightly to see if you are able to move it. You can also try to pull it upwards or backwards to release the lock.
You have successfully removed your lock if the lock post jiggles. You can then pull the handle backwards and you’re in your vehicle! This method is also applicable to older vehicles that have manual locks. Slide the hook in gently to avoid damaging the frame of the car or window.
3. Shoestring
There are many tools that can be used to quickly unlock your vehicle. You can use a long rod like wood or metal strips that fits through the gap between the door frame and the car to press down the unlock button on the inside. However these options aren’t always readily available and could scratch the paint of your vehicle. A wedge made of air is another option. It looks like the inflatable cuff you might use at the doctor’s office and can be pumped up to create a gap large enough to press the unlock button inside. These devices are fairly inexpensive and can be used over and over when needed to unlock your vehicle.
A simpler tool to make use of is a shoelace. To find the slip knot, you must first unlace your shoe and look around the middle. Then, you can place one end of the shoelace between the corner of your car’s door and the doorframe and move it through the crack until it wraps around the knob on the lock. Pull tight and up. If you practice this technique, it can be learned in less than 30 seconds.
If this method does not work, you can use a slim Jim to open the door of your vehicle. A slim jim is a flat thin piece of metal that has hooks at both ends that fit into the space between the weatherproofing rubber of your car door and the window. One can use the hooks of a slim jim to open a car door, but this technique is a bit risky as it requires insertion of the device through the window glass and could cause damage to the door’s seal.
It is important to prepare for scenarios where you might leave your keys in a car and have to access it. There are many ways you can prepare yourself for this scenario prior to it happening like signing up for an automaker’s app or service, signing up for roadside assistance, or leaving keys and fobs with friends or family members.
4. Blood Pressure Cuff
Many doctors, nurses and others have a blood pressure cuff in their bags. This is a small device that can be used to unlock your car when you’ve locked the keys inside.
Insert a cuff that has been deflated into the gap where the door meets the frame, and slowly inflate it to create an opening. Don’t over-inflate it or you could damage the door. You should now have enough room to insert a wire coat hanger or another long, thin object that could reach the unlock button within the door.
If you don’t have a coat hanger, try a piece of tubing or some wire. This is the same method that professionals employ to open their cars and make their cars more secure, so you’re sure that it will work!
There are a variety of ways to gain entry into a locked vehicle, but you have be cautious not to do anything that might cause damage to your vehicle or yourself. Always try the simplest and least damaging method first. Your insurance company may also cover these services! If all else fails then you can dial 911 or an auto towing service. They’ll charge a modest fee, but you’ll be saving time and money in the long run. The good news is that the majority of us have locked our keys inside our cars at one time or another. It’s a common mistake and typically will not ruin your day so long as you’re aware of the right tips to get back in! If you have an extra key at your home, ensure you are aware of where it is. You can ask a relative or friend who you trust to keep keys for you if you don’t have one. To be safe, always make sure you have the keys before pressing the lock. These easy tips will help prevent you from being locked out of your car in the future!