Locked Keys in Car? Here's How to Get Back Inside Without Calling Roadside Assistance
It's more likely than you think you'll lock your keys in your car. There are a variety of ways to gain access to your car without having to call roadside assistance.
You can prevent being locked out of your car by taking preventative measures like checking the doors twice before locking them and storing spare keys in designated places.
1. Inflatable Wedge
The feeling that you've locked your keys in the car be among the worst things you can experience. It can turn your day into chaos and cause you to think about how to get home to work, or to your next event.
There are a variety of ways to get back in your car if you've lost your keys. You can break the glass using a wire coathanger that you've turned into a hook or creating a wedge using two or three door stoppers. If you don't have 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 as well as repo experts to help with auto lockouts. These tools typically have an inflatable bag that is slipped between the door and weather stripping of the car to create a gap which can be reached with longer-reaching tools, like rods for unlocking vehicles. These wedges are also designed to be durable and non-marring. This helps to prevent scratching the paint of your car while providing a strong solution to gain access to the locked vehicle.
There are many DIY air wedge kits on the market. Some come with the option of a hand pump that you can manually inflate. A top-quality kit should be able form a gap between the jamb and the door sufficient to allow for the installation of access tools and unlock most vehicles with manual locks.
If all else fails, you can always call roadside assistance, or a local lock-smith in the event that you do not have a spare key. If this is the only option you have you should keep a spare key in a secure location so you won't lose it when you require it. Whatever method you select do not panic. You can still return to normal by following these simple tips.
2. Coat Hanger
A coat hanger made of wire is a common item in many households and can be easily used to open a locked car. The trick is to bend your hook into a small V so that it can grab the lock post on your door. Then, you can move the hook to unlock the lock. This is the same method police officers employ with the slim jim, however using a coat hanger requires less finagling.
Choose a long piece of paracord or string with a stiff end and tie a slipknot around the middle. Use the slipknot to push open the car door slightly at the top corner. This will allow you enough room to put in a long rod like a clothes hanger or a blood pressure cuff. If you don't own an cuff for blood pressure or a blood pressure cuff, ask your local pharmacy for one. They often include them in their emergency kits.
Unravel the end of your coat hanger, then straighten it out so you have a hook on one side and a straight side on the other. It is possible to bend a hook into a V-shape if you have pliers. This requires repeating the process a few times until you achieve the perfect hook shape. Once you've found the perfect shape, slide the hook behind the weather stripping on the bottom of the doors. Then insert it into the door just above the handle.
Once you have the hanger set on the wall, you can move it around to locate a pin or bar that controls the door lock post. Depending on the vehicle you drive, it may be located above or below the door's interior handle. Tap it lightly to see if you can move it. Try pulling it up or backwards to release the lock.
If the lock post moves then you have successfully disconnected the lock. Then you can simply lower the handle and you are in your vehicle! This method also works on older vehicles that have manual locks. Just be careful not to scratch your window or car frame by sliding the hook too far.
3. Shoestring
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There are several tools that can be used to unlock your vehicle. You can use a long wood or metal strip that fits through the gap between your car and the door frame to press the unlock button from inside. These options are not always available and can scratch the paint on your vehicle. A wedge made of air is another option. https://www.g28carkeys.co.uk/car-opening-unlock-your-vehicle/ looks like an inflatable cuff could be found in a doctor's office. It can be put into the gap until it sufficient to push the unlock button. These devices are inexpensive and can be used again and again to unlock your car.
An even more simple tool to use is a shoelace. First, take off a pair of shoes and eyeball around the middle to find where the slip knot located. Then, put one end of the shoelace between the corner of your car door and the door frame and pull it down through the crack until it wraps around the lock's pull knob. Pull tight and up. This technique can be learned by practicing for less than 30 second.
If this method doesn't work, you can use a slim Jim to unlock your vehicle. A slim jam is a flat thin metal tool with hooks at both ends that fit into the space between the weatherproofing rubber on your car's door and the window. The hooks on a slim jim can be used to open the door of a car. However this method is dangerous since it requires insertion of the tool through the window, and could cause damage to the seal.
It is essential to prepare for scenarios where you might leave your keys in a car and have to access it. There are several ways to prepare for this problem prior to it happening by signing up for an automaker's app or service, subscribing to roadside assistance, or leaving a spare key and fob with friends or family members.
4. Blood Pressure Cuff
Many nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals carry a blood pressure cuff in their bags. Even if not, this is a low-cost device that can help to save the day if you lock your keys in your car.
Place a deflated hand into the gap between the frame and the door. Slowly increase the inflation of the wrist to make a hole. Don't over-inflate it or you risk damaging the door. There should be enough room to insert an electrical wire hanger or other long thin object that could be able to reach inside the door.
If you don't have a hanger for your coat Try a piece tubing or some wire. This is a trick the pros use to open cars, so it should work!
There are many tricks to gain entry 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 insurance company could also cover these types of services! If all else fails call 911 or a towing service. You will be charged a small fee but you will save money and time in the end. It's a good thing we have all locked our keys inside our cars at some point. It's not a huge issue if you know how to enter. If you have a spare key in your home, make sure that you have it in a place where you can access it. If you don't have a trusted person or relative to keep an extra key for you. Also, be sure to make a habit of checking your keys before hitting the lock button. Never lock your car with the remote, just to ensure your security. These simple steps can help ensure that you are not locked out of your car in the future.
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