What To Do In Case Of A Car Lockout?


It is pretty stressful to get locked out of your car. It can be due to a broken key, lost key, or key fob failure. Whatever the reason may be, it is essential to keep calm and find a way out of the situation.

Stressing on a problem will not make it go away but can worsen the situation. Car snatchers can easily spot a worried car owner locked out.

A car lockout can happen with anybody so don’t feel embarrassed about it. You may also need to opt for some embarrassing method of car opening at the roadside. Or you will have to find "car key maker near me Springfield VA" on the internet.

Let us look at all the possible options.

1. Assess Your Safety

The first step is to assess your safety before investing your time in car opening methods. Is the road deserted? What is the general reputation of the crime rate in the area?

Do you know any person nearby? Is it daytime or at night? Answers to all these questions will help you decide about your available options.

2. Hide Any Valuables

If you have any valuable items outside of the car, ensure that these are kept in safe or hidden places. You can also hide things in the roadside bushes for a while. You don’t want to attract thieves or robbers towards you in a vulnerable situation. Hide your wallet and expensive jewelry items in your pockets.

3. Recheck All The Doors

It may appear to be a naïve thing to do but it is possible. Due to the panic or stress of losing a car key, you can forget to recheck all the car doors.

Recheck all the doors. The last thing you would want is to call for help when one of the doors was unlocked the whole time. 




4. Can You Get A Spare Key?

Reconsider all your options of finding a spare key. Do you keep a spare key beneath your car? It is a pretty easy way to secure a car key. It minimizes the chances of car lockout to zero.

Some people give a spare car key to a trustworthy friend or family member. If so, call the person and get the spare key as soon as possible.

5. Check Your Car Insurance For Roadside Assistance

Some of the car insurance policies also offer roadside assistance. Not all the insurance companies provide this facility even under terms such as "comprehensive coverage".

It is important to verify the details of your car insurance so that you can call roadside assistance at their expense.

If your car insurance includes roadside assistance and locksmith costs, make sure to keep the contact details on your phone. Print out the information on paper and keep it in your wallet in case the phone battery gets dead. 

6. Recheck The Warranties

 If you have recently bought a new car, high chances are that you are safe with roadside assistance. Most of the new cars come with warranties including roadside assistance. Call your car dealership to check your options. It may speed things up.

7. Weigh Your Options

Some of the credit cards also offer benefits such as roadside assistance. If you pay an annual fee of a credit card, it comes with more perks. It may be a help if you call your credit card company to find out about the roadside assistance.

 It is wise to keep this information checked before you face an emergency lockout situation so that you don’t waste any more time.

8. Try To Unlock Door On Your Own

When you have plenty of time, safety and some tools at your disposal, try unlocking your car on your own. It is only advised when you have enough knowledge and some experience to do so. At times, such attempts can make you suspicious of being a cat thief.





The following are the famous four methods. 

Shoe String Method

If you are wearing shoes, you can use this simple method. Take out your shoestring. Tie a small loop at one end of the string. Try to get the shoestring inside and hook the car look with it.

Once it is firmly stuck with it, pull it up. This method needs a lot of patience and multiple attempts in most cases.  

Coat Hanger Method

It may be rare to have a coat hanger around you but not impossible. Untwist the hanger and make a hook with it. This method works well when you have a horizontal door lock.

Work the hook into the door and pull it up. You can also use a twistable wire for this trick. Ensure that the wires do not scratch the surface.

Rod And Screwdriver Method

Opening a door lock with a screwdriver is pretty risky as you can damage the car paint or the entire lock. The car exterior or interior can both be affected. Use the screwdriver to create a small space to get the wire inside. Hook the lock and pull it open. 

Use A Inflatable Wedge

A safer method of unlocking your car is to use an inflatable wedge. You will be using air to create a space for the opening wire. Insert the deflated bag in the car door.

Inflate the bag to create the space but do not overdo it as it can damage the car door. Use a hooked wire to get access to the car lock and open it.

9. Call A Tow Truck Service

If you no previous experience with the above-mentioned tips and tricks, call your nearby towing service. They can reach you within minutes and take your car to a reputable locksmith.
 Insurance claims often include costs of hiring towing services.



10. Hire A Key Copy Maker

A reliable solution is to search for " key copy near me Springfield VA" and call the nearest car key maker. 

Tip For Breaking Car Window In Emergency 

If breaking a car window is inevitable, always begin at the edges. Window glass is strongest at the center.

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