Locked Keys in Car? Here's How to Get Back Inside Without Calling Roadside Assistance
The chances of locking your keys inside your car are likely to be greater than you imagine. Luckily, there are multiple ways to get back inside without calling assistance on the road.
You can prevent being locked out of your vehicle by taking preventative measures such as checking the doors twice before locking them and keeping spare keys in designated areas.
1. Inflatable Wedge
The feeling that you've locked your keys in the car be one of the worst things you can experience. It could send 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 a variety of ways to get back into your car after losing your keys. You could break the glass using a coathanger wire which you've shaped into a 'hook' or making a wedge from two or three door stoppers. If you don't have these materials or your car has an auto lock, then an air pump wedge could be the best option.
Air pump wedges are a versatile tool that locksmiths and repo experts to help with auto lockouts. They typically come with an inflatable bag that slips between the door and weather stripping of the car to create gaps that can be opened by longer-reaching tools such as car unlocking rods. These wedges also feature the highest quality design and are non-marring, which helps to prevent chipping of the paint on the exterior of a car.
For those who are DIY-ers, there are many air wedge kits available for purchase on the market, with some which come with a hand pump that can be used to manually inflate. A high-quality kit can create an opening large enough to allow tools to be inserted and unlock many cars with manual locks.
If all else fails it is possible to call roadside assistance or a local locksmith If you don't have a spare lock. If this is the only option you have you should keep a spare key in a safe location to ensure that you don't lose it when you need it. No matter what method you choose, remain patient and remember that it's okay to be scared when you lock your keys in your car; your life will continue with the same ease when you follow these easy guidelines.
2. Coat Hanger
Wire coat hangers are a typical household item that can be used to open the car. The trick is to bend the hook into a small V to allow it to grab the lock post inside your door. Then, you can use the hook to open the lock. The same technique is used by police officers who have a slim Jim, but coat hangers require less fiddling.
Attach a slipknot in the middle of a length of stiff string or paracord. Make use of the slipknot to pull open the car door slightly towards the top 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 own a blood-pressure cuff you can ask your local drugstore for one. They often include them in their emergency kits.
Unravel the top of your coat hanger, then straighten it out so you have an opening on one side and a straight one on the other. It is possible to bend the hook into a V-shape when you have pliers. It is necessary to do this a few times to achieve the ideal hook shape. Once unlocking car door service have the perfect shape, slide it in behind the weather stripping at the bottom of the door. Then, insert it into the door just above the handle.
Once you have the hanger positioned in the desired position, move it around to find a pin or bar that controls the door lock post. Depending on your vehicle you drive, it could be either above or below your interior door handle. Once you find it, tap it lightly to test whether it moves. Try pulling it up or backwards to release the lock.
If the lock post moves it means you have successfully disengaged the lock. You can then pull the handle backwards and you're inside your vehicle! This method works for older vehicles with manual locks. The hook is inserted gently to ensure that it doesn't damage the frame of the car or window.
3. Shoestring
There are a number of tools that can help you get into your car that is locked. You can make use of a long rod such as a metal or wooden strip that can be inserted into the gap between the door frame and the car. It will then push down the unlock button on the inside. These options are not always available and could scratch your vehicle's paint. An air wedge is a different option. It resembles the cuff that you utilize at a doctor's appointment and can be pumped into to create a gap enough to push down the unlock button inside the. These devices are not expensive and can be used again and again to unlock your car.
A shoelace is an even simpler tool. To locate the slip knot, you must first unlace your shoe and look around the middle. Set one end of the shoelace between the corner and the doorframe of your vehicle and then work it through the crack to wrap around the knob of the lock. Pull the knob tightly and pull upwards. This technique can be learned with practice in less than 30 second.
If this method does not work, you can try using a slim Jim to open your vehicle. A slim jim, a thin, flat tool made of metal with hooks at both ends that sits between the weatherproofing rubber on your car's door and window, is the ideal solution. One can use the hooks of a slim jim to open a car door, but this method is a bit risky since it requires insertion of the device through the window glass and could damage the seal of the door.
It is important to be prepared for the eventuality in which you'll need to leave keys in your vehicle and have to access it. You can prepare yourself for this eventuality by signing up for the automaker's service or app or by subscribing to roadside assistance, or leaving a spare fob and key with your family or friends.
4. Blood Pressure Cuff
Many nurses, doctors and others have a blood pressure cuff that they carry in their pockets. This is a small device that can be used to open your car after locking the keys inside.
Place a deflated hand into the gap between the frame and the door. Slowly increase the inflation of the wrist to make a hole. Be careful not to over-inflate the air cuff or you could cause damage to the door. There should be enough room to fit an iron coat hanger or any other long, thin object that can reach the unlock button on the door.
If you don't have a coat hanger you can try a piece of tubing or wire. This is the same method used by professionals to open their cars, so you can be certain that it will work!
There are many tricks to gain entry into a locked car, but you need to be careful not to do anything that could damage your vehicle or hurt yourself. Always go for the simplest and least damaging techniques first. And don't forget that your car insurance may cover assistance in this kind of scenario! If all else fails contact 911 or a towing service. They will charge a small fee, but you'll be saving time and money in the end. The good news is that the majority of us have locked our keys in our cars at some point or another. It's a common mistake and typically won't cause any problems as long as you're aware of the best ways to get your keys back! If you have a spare key at home in your home, ensure that you have it in a place where you can access it. Ask a friend or relative who you trust to keep a spare key for you if you don't have one. Also, make a habit of checking that you have your keys before pressing the lock button and never lock your car with the remote, simply to be safe. These simple tips can prevent you from being locked out of your car in the future.