Locked Keys in Car? Here's How to Get Back Inside Without Calling Roadside Assistance
It's more likely than you think you will keep your keys locked inside your car. Fortunately, there are a variety of options to get back inside without calling roadside assistance.
By taking precautionary measures, like always double-checking locks before locking doors, and keeping spare keys in designated places to avoid being locked out of your vehicle completely!
1. Inflatable Wedge
The feeling of locking your keys in the car be one of the worst experiences you'll ever have. It can send your entire day into a tizzy and leave you wondering if you'll ever get back home, to the office, or to your next appointment.
There are several options to gain access back to your vehicle when you've locked your keys in it. You can break the glass using a coathanger wire that you have shaped into a 'hook', or making a wedge from three or two door stoppers. If you don't own these items or your vehicle has an auto lock and an air pump wedge might be the best option.
Air pump wedges are a nifty tool used by locksmiths and repo experts for auto lockouts. These tools usually feature an inflatable bag that slips between the door and the weather stripping of the car to create a gap that can be opened with longer-reaching tools, like rods for unlocking vehicles. These wedges also feature a heavy-duty design that is non-marring to prevent chipping of the paint on the car.
There are a variety of DIY air wedge kits on the market. Some come with an electric pump that can be used to manually inflate. A good kit will be able form a gap large enough to insert tools and open many vehicles with manual locks.
If you 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 particularly if nothing else works. If this is your only option, make sure that you keep your spare key in a secure place so that you don't have to worry about losing it when you need to utilize it. No matter what method you decide to use, be patient and remember that it's ok to panic when you lock your keys in your car; your life will go with the same ease if you follow these simple tips.
2. Coat Hanger
A wire coat hanger is a common item found in many households and can be easily used to unlock a locked vehicle. The trick is to bend your hook into a small V in order to grasp the lock post inside your door. Then, you manipulate the hook to pop the lock. The same method is employed by police officers using a slim Jim, however coat hangers require less fiddling.
Make sure you have a long length of stiff string or paracord and tie a slipknot through the middle. Use the slipknot on the top edge of the car door to open it open. This will give you enough room to insert a long rod, such as a clotheshanger or blood pressure cuff. If you don't own a blood pressure cuff or a blood pressure cuff, ask your local pharmacy for one. They often include them in their emergency kits.
Unravel your coat hanger's end and straighten it until you have a hook as well as a straight edge on both sides. It might be easier to bend a hook into a V-shape when you have pliers. You will need to do this a few times to get the right hook shape. Once you've found the right shape, you can slide it over the weather stripping at the bottom of the door. Install it on the door above the handle.
Once you have the hanger set on the wall, you can move it back and forth to find a pin or a bar that regulates the door lock post. Depending on the type of vehicle you have, it may be located just above or below the interior door handle. Tap lightly on it to see if you are able to move it. You can also try to pull it up or backwards to release the lock.
If the lock post jiggles, you have successfully disengaged the lock. Then you can simply pull the handle back and you are in your vehicle! This method works for older vehicles that have manual locks. Slide the hook in gently to keep from damaging the window or frame of the car.
3. Shoestring
There are a number of tools that can help you get into your locked car quickly. You can make use of a long metal or wood strip that fits through the gap between your car and the door frame to push the unlock button from the inside. However these options aren't always easy to find and may scratch the paint of your vehicle. Another alternative is an air wedge. It resembles the inflatable cuff you might use at the doctor's office and can be pumped into to create a space large enough to push down the unlock button inside the. These devices are not expensive and can be used repeatedly and again to unlock your vehicle.
An even more simple tool to utilize is the shoelace. First, take off your shoes and eyeball around the middle to determine where the slip knot located. Put one end of your shoelace between the doorframe and the corner of your car. Work it through the crack to loop around the lock's knob. Make sure you pull the lock hard and up. This technique can be mastered through practice in less than 30 second.
If this method isn't working, you could try using slim jims to open your car. A slim jim, a thin, flat tool made of metal with hooks at both ends that sits between the weatherproofing rubber on your car door and window, is the ideal solution. The hooks on a slim jim could be used to open the door of a car. However this is a risky method since it requires insertion of the tool through the window and could damage the seal.
It is crucial to prepare for scenarios where you might leave your keys in a car and have to access it. There are many ways you can prepare yourself for this scenario before it happens by signing up for an automaker's application or service, signing up for roadside assistance, or leaving an extra key and fob with family members or friends.
4. Blood Pressure Cuff
Many nurses, doctors and others have a blood pressure cuff that they carry in their pockets. Even if you don't have one, this is an inexpensive device that can save the day when you lock your keys in your car.
Insert a deflated arm into the gap between the door and the frame. Slowly inflate the wrist to create an opening. Do not over-inflate it, or you risk damaging the door. You should now have enough room to insert a wire coat hanger or any other long, thin object that can reach the unlock button inside the door.
If you don't own a coat hanger or wire, you can make use of a tubing piece. This is a trick professionals employ to open their cars, so it should work!
There are a myriad of ways to get into a locked car, but you need be aware not to do anything that might harm your vehicle or yourself. Be sure to take the simplest and most secure method first. Your auto insurance may also cover these services! If all else fails you can contact 911 or use an auto towing service. You'll be charged a small fee but you'll save money and time in the end. It's a good thing that we've all locked our keys in our automobiles at some point. It's not a huge issue when you are aware of how to gain entry. If you have an extra key in your house, make sure that you have it in a place where you can access it. If not then ask a trusted friend or relative to keep an extra key for you. To be safe, always ensure that you have keys before pressing the lock. G28 Car Keys will ensure that you are not locked out of your vehicle in the future.