subject: So You Locked Your Keys In Your Car – Now What? [print this page] So You Locked Your Keys In Your Car Now What?
Maybe you have felt that fright: a split second after your car door locks shut, you notice that the door is all secure and your keys hang inside the vehicle. Now what? How can you now secure a ride to your house? Do you even have a duplicate key? All of those things float through your head along with the most critical condunrum: How will you get into your car?
The easiest solution is to find a extra car key. Almost always, when you buy your vehicle, it comes with two car keys. One keyring you usually keep with you, and the spare ought to be hidden away in a spot you deem secure. If you have a person who can get the extra set of keys and deliver it to your car, then the most you have lost is a small period of time fretting, and a little pride.
But, it's possible you do not have anyone available to do you this favor, or possibly your duplicate key is long gone. Another choice is to call your auto club, or any roadside assistance company. If your vehicle is still under warranty, then you probably still have a roadside assistance included. If that doesn't apply to you, but you or another person in the car belongs to a club like AAA, then that provider can drive to your location to help.
Your potentially most expensive option for help is to hire a locksmith. He will come out and open your car door without the key. But, such a service call can cost more dollars than you are able to spend, more so after everyday business hours.
Your most desparate choice is to find a way to pop the lock on the spot. You probably want to start this on a car door that is not one you open as often, maybe the rear passenger door, just in case it goes awry. You're going to need an unfolded wire hanger, or something like it, with a long, thin rod and a strong bend on one end. In a dark setting you will want a flashlight or other such light source. You also will probably require something small but not critical, for example a pen.
Push the rubber weathering seal on the bottom of the window and hold the spot open by pushing the pen or pencil into place. Look down by the hole you created into your car door's guts. You hopefully can see a metal rod that attaches to the locking mechanism. Very deliberately feed the coat hanger hook-side first into the space in the door. Use the hook to tuck under the iron rod and manipulate the piece in the same direction that the door unlocks from the interior. When the vehicle is unlocked, carefully slide the clothes hanger and the space holder out of the door and open your vehicle.
To forestall this ever happening again, stash one extra key in your billfold or purse. That's typically on your person, even when you exit the car!
