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 likely to be greater than you imagine. There are several ways to gain access to your car without calling roadside assistance.
By taking precautionary measures, like always double-checking locks before locking doors and storing spare keys in designated locations you can ensure that you don't get locked out of your vehicle completely!
1. Inflatable Wedge
The feeling that you've locked your keys in your car could be among the worst things you can experience. It can throw your entire day into a tizzy and leave you wondering if you'll get home or to work or to your next appointment.
There are many ways to get back in your car if you've lost your keys. Using a wire coat hanger that you've shaped into a hook or constructing a wedge out of two or three door stops can help break through the glass and open your door. If you don't have these materials or your car has an auto lock, then an air pump wedge might be the best choice.
Air pump wedges are an incredibly versatile tool used by locksmiths and repo experts to help with auto lockouts. These tools typically feature an inflatable bag that slides between the door of the car and the weather stripping to form an opening that is accessible via longer-reach tools, like car-unlocking rods. These wedges are also designed to be durable and non-marring, which aids to avoid chipping the car's paint while also providing a solid solution to gain access to a locked vehicle.
For those who are DIY-ers There are a variety of air wedge kits that are available on the market, including a few which come with a hand pump to allow manual inflation. car keys locked in car will be able form a gap big enough to fit tools and open many vehicles with manual locks.
If none of the other options work it is possible to call roadside assistance or a local lock-smith, if you don't have a spare lock. If this is the only option, ensure that you keep an extra key in a safe place to ensure that you don't have to worry about losing it when the time comes to utilize it. No matter what method you select Don't be afraid. You can get your life back to normal by following these tips.
2. Coat Hanger
A wire coat hanger is a standard item in the majority of households. It can be easily used to open a locked car. The trick is to bend the hook into a small V shape to allow it to grab the lock post in your door. You then move the hook to unlock the lock. This is the same method police officers employ with a slim jim, but using a coat hanger requires less finagling.
Make a slipknot in middle of a long, stiff string or paracord. Make use of the slipknot at the top of the car door to pry it open. This will give you enough space to place a long rod like a clothes hanger or blood pressure cuff. If you don't have a blood pressure cuff visit your local discount or drugstore as they often have one in their emergency kits.
Unravel the end 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 the hook into a V-shape, especially if you have pliers. This requires repeating the process several times until you reach the ideal hook shape. Once you've found the perfect shape then slide the hook through the weather stripping on the door's bottom. Install it on the door just above the handle.
Once the hanger is in place then move it around to find the pin or bar controlling the door lock post. Depending on the vehicle you drive it could be 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 move it upwards or backwards to disengage the lock.
If the lock post jiggles then you have successfully disconnected the lock. You can then lower the handle and you are in your car! This method also works on older vehicles that have manual locks. Just be careful not to scratch your window or the car frame by sliding the hook in too hard.
3. Shoestring
There are several tools that can be used to quickly unlock your car. You can use an extended rod, such as a metal or wooden strip that can fit through the gap between the door frame and the car. It will then push down the unlock button on the inside. However these options aren't always readily available and can scratch the paint of your car. An air wedge is a different alternative. It resembles an inflatable cuff you might find at the doctor's office. It can be pumped into the gap until it large enough to push the unlock button. These devices are fairly inexpensive and can be used repeatedly in order to unlock your vehicle.
A shoelace is an even more simple tool. First, take off your shoes and then look around the middle to determine where the slip knot situated. Place one end of your shoelace between the corner and the doorframe of your car. Work it through the crack until it forms a loop around the lock's knob. Pull tightly and pull upwards. With practice, this method can be learned in less than 30 seconds.
If this method doesn't work If this doesn't work, you can try using the slim jim to open your car. A slim jim is a flat thin metal tool that has hooks at both ends that fit into the space between the weatherproofing rubber on your car door and the window. One can use the hooks of a slim jim to open the door of a car, but this method is somewhat risky because it requires insertion of the device through the window glass and could cause damage to the seal of the door.
Make a plan for the event that you leave your keys inside a vehicle and need to get it. You can prepare yourself for this situation by signing up for the automaker's app or service, subscribing for roadside assistance, or leaving a spare fob and key with friends or family.
4. Blood Pressure Cuff
Many doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals carry a blood pressure cuff in their bags. Even if not, this is a cheap device that can save the day when you lock your keys in the car.
Place a deflated hand into the gap between the door and the frame. Slowly inflate the wrist until it forms a hole. Do not over-inflate it, or you risk damaging 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 inside the door.
If you don't have a coat hanger you can try a piece of tubing or some wire. This is a trick that professionals employ to open their cars, so it should work!
There are many methods to open a locked vehicle but you should be careful to not harm your vehicle or yourself. Always go for the simplest and least damaging method first. And don't forget that your car insurance may provide assistance in this kind of scenario! If nothing else works you can contact 911 or use an auto towing service. There will be a small fee but you will save money and time in the end. The positive side is that a lot of us have locked our keys inside our cars at one point or another. It's a frequent occurrence and it usually won't cause any problems as long as you're aware of right tips to get back inside! If you have an additional key in your home, make sure 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 ensure your safety, always check that you have the keys before pressing the lock. These tips will ensure that you are not locked out of your vehicle in the future.