What To Do If You're Locked Out of Your Vehicle

Before you call anyone, check every door. About one in five lockout calls we get turns out to be an unlocked passenger door the owner didn't try. Also check the trunk — many vehicles have a fold-down rear seat that provides access to the cabin.

If you have a partner or family member with a spare key, call them before you call a locksmith. Even a 30-minute round trip is usually faster and cheaper than professional lockout service.

Call immediately if a child, pet, or vulnerable adult is inside the vehicle — especially in Southern California summer heat, where interior temperatures can hit 130°F within 15 minutes on an 85°F day. In that scenario, call 911 first; they will dispatch fire and, if needed, break a window at no cost.

For a standard lockout without occupants in danger, call our mobile lockout service. Response is typically 25 to 45 minutes across San Diego County.

Coat hangers were the go-to trick in the 1990s because doors had simple mechanical linkages inside. Modern cars have power window regulators, side-impact airbags, and cable-driven door latches that a coat hanger can easily damage — turning a $100 lockout call into a $600 repair.

Slim jims, string-loop kits, and 'car lockout kits' from Amazon rarely work on modern vehicles and often break plastic weather seals or scratch paint. The tools professional lockout services use — inflatable wedges and long-reach tools — are specifically designed to avoid this damage.

The technician verifies ownership with your ID and registration, gently inflates a plastic wedge in the top corner of the door frame to create a small gap, threads a long-reach tool through the gap, and manipulates the interior door handle or unlock button. On most passenger vehicles, this takes 5 to 15 minutes with zero damage.

For proximity-key-only cars where the doors have no manual keyholes, the process is nearly identical — the tech simply presses the interior unlock button rather than turning a lock. Modern smart keys often require the physical key remote to be inside the car in addition; if yours is missing, we'll help you plan next steps.

Keep a spare key with a trusted family member or friend, ideally one who lives within 30 minutes of your usual driving area. A magnetic hide-a-key box under a wheel well is another option — obscure but not truly hidden from professional thieves.

For newer vehicles, most automakers offer a smartphone app that can unlock your car remotely. Ford, GM, Toyota, and Honda all have versions of this. Enroll now, before you need it.