Locked Keys in Car? Here's How to Get Back Inside Without Calling Roadside Assistance
The odds of locking your keys inside your car are likely to be higher than you think. There are many ways to get inside your car without calling roadside assistance.
You can prevent being locked out of your vehicle by taking preventative measures like checking the doors twice before locking them and storing spare keys in designated locations.
1. Inflatable Wedge
It's a frustrating feeling to realize that you've locked your keys inside the car. It can send your entire day into a tizzy and leave you wondering if you'll get home or to work or to your next appointment.
Fortunately, there are a number of methods for getting back into your vehicle after locking your keys inside the vehicle. You can break the glass by using a coathanger wire that you've turned into a 'hook' or making a wedge out of two or three door stoppers. If you don't have access to these materials, or if your vehicle has an automatic lock using an air pump wedge might be the best solution.
An air pump wedge is a versatile tool that's often used by professional locksmiths and repo experts for auto lockout services. These tools typically come with an inflatable bag that slides between the car's door and the weather stripping to form an opening that can be reached with longer-reaching tools, like car-unlocking rods. These wedges also feature the highest quality design and are non-marring to prevent chipping of the paint on the exterior of a car.
For DIYers, there are many air wedge kits that are available on the market, including a few which come with a hand pump for manual inflation. A good kit can create a gap big enough to allow tools to be inserted and unlock many cars with manual locks.
For those who do not have an air wedge or other option, there is always 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 you have make sure you keep a spare in a secure location so you won't lose it when you need it. Whatever method you choose, be patient and remember that it's okay to be scared when you lock your keys in your car. your life will continue in the normal way if you follow these simple tips.
2. Coat Hanger
A wire coat hanger is a common item in many households and can be easily used to open a locked car. The trick is to bend the hook into a small V shape so that it can grab the lock post in your door. Then, you can manipulate the hook to pop the lock. The same technique is used by police officers who have the slim Jim, but a coathanger requires less finagling.
Tie a slipknot at the middle of a long, string or paracord that is stiff. Make use of the slipknot to pull open the car door in the upper corner. This allows you to have enough room to put in a long rod, such as hanger for clothes or a blood pressure cuff. If you don't have a blood pressure cuff visit your local discount or drugstore; they often include one in their emergency kits.
Unravel the end of your coat hanger and straighten it to ensure that you have a hook as well as a straight edge on both sides. If you have pliers, it may be easier to bend the hook into a V-shape. You will need to do this several times to achieve the ideal hook shape. Once you've gotten the correct shape, slide the hook behind the weather stripping on the lower part of the door. Install it on the door just above the handle.
Once the hanger is in place and it is in place, move it around until you locate the pin or bar that controls the door lock post. Depending on the vehicle you drive, it may be located either above or below the door's interior handle. Once you find it, tap on it lightly to test whether it moves. You can also try to move it upwards or backwards to disengage the lock.
You have successfully disengaged your lock if the lock post jiggles. You can then pull the handle downwards and you're inside your vehicle! This method works on older vehicles that have manual locks. Be careful not to scratch your window or the car frame by slipping the hook too far.
3. Shoestring
There are many tools to gain access to your car that is locked. You can make use of a long wooden or metal strip that can fit through the gap between your car and the door frame, and then press the unlock button from the inside. However these options aren't always easy to find and can scratch the paint on your vehicle. Another alternative is to use an air wedge. It looks like an inflatable cuff that you may find in the doctor's office. It can be pumped into the gap to make it enough to push the unlock button. These devices are quite affordable and can be used repeatedly, if needed, to unlock your car.
A shoelace is a simpler tool. To locate the slip knot, first unlace your shoe and then look around the middle. Place unlock keys in car of your shoelace between the doorframe and the corner of your car. Work it through the crack until it forms a wrap around the knob of the lock. Pull tightly and pull upwards. This technique can be learned by practicing for less than 30 seconds.
If this method doesn't work, you could try a slim Jim to unlock your vehicle. A slim jim, a thin, flat metal tool with hooks at both ends that fit between the weatherproofing rubber of the car's door and window, is the ideal solution. One can use the hooks of a slim jim in order to open the door of a car, but this method is somewhat risky since it requires the device to be inserted through the glass of the window and could cause damage to the door's seal.
Make a plan for the event that you leave your keys inside your vehicle and require to get it. There are several ways you can prepare for this situation before it happens, such as signing to an automaker's app or service, signing up for roadside assistance, or leaving keys and fobs with your family or friends.
4. Blood Pressure Cuff
Many nurses, doctors and other professionals have a blood pressure cuff in their bags. Even if you don't have one, this is an inexpensive device that could save the day when you lock your keys in your car.
Insert a cuff that has been deflated into the gap where the door joins the frame and slowly inflate it until it creates an opening. Be careful not to over-inflate or you could damage the door. You should have enough room to insert a wire hanger or a long thin object that could penetrate the door.
If you don't have a hanger for your coat you can try a piece of tubing or some wire. This is the same method that professionals use to open their vehicles and make their cars more secure, so you can be certain it will work!
There are many ways to open a locked vehicle, but you must be cautious not to damage your car or injure yourself. Always use the most simple and most secure method first. Your insurance policy may also cover these services! If all else fails contact 911 or a towing company. They'll charge a small fee, but you'll be saving time and money in the end. The positive side is that a lot of us have locked keys in our cars at one point or another. It's not a huge issue when you know how to enter. If you have a spare key in your house, make sure that you have it in a place where you can access it. If you don't have a trusted person or relative to store an extra key for you. To ensure your safety, always make sure you have the keys before you press the lock. These simple tips can prevent you from being locked out of your car in the future.