Locked Your Keys in the Car? What to Do (and What Not to Try)

It happens to everyone: the door shuts, you reach for your pocket, and the keys are sitting on the seat. Before you panic, take a breath. There are a few simple things to check, and a few popular "hacks" you should skip.

First: is anyone inside?

If a child or a pet is locked in the car, especially on a hot or very cold day, call 911 right away. That comes before anything else.

Quick checks that might get you in for free

1. Try every door and the trunk. It sounds obvious, but in a panic people often only try the driver's door. Some cars lock only certain doors.
2. Check for a spare key. At home, with a family member, a roommate or a coworker nearby.
3. Use your car's app. Many newer cars can be unlocked from the manufacturer's app if it's set up on your phone.
4. Call your car's connected-service program if you have one. Some can unlock the car remotely.
5. Check the windows and sunroof. One may be cracked open more than you think. Don't force it.

What NOT to try

These DIY tricks show up all over the internet. Here's why they're a bad idea on modern cars:

• Coat hangers and wire. Modern door panels hide wiring, airbag parts and lock rods. Fishing around with a wire can scratch the paint, tear the weatherstripping or pull a wire loose.
• Prying the door open with a screwdriver. It can bend the door frame so it never seals right again, which means wind noise and water leaks.
• The "tennis ball" or "string" tricks. They're mostly myths, and they waste time.
• Breaking a window. It's expensive, it's dangerous with glass everywhere, and it leaves the car open until it's fixed. Only consider it in a real emergency when 911 isn't an option.

What happens when we open the car

A car lockout service uses lockout tools made to open the door without damaging it. When the door is open, you'll be asked to show ID and something that links you to the car, like the registration. That protects you too: nobody should be able to open your car just by calling.

While you wait

• Stay near the car if it's safe, or somewhere you can see it.
• Keep your phone charged and on so you can get the ETA text.
• If the engine is running with the keys inside, tell us when you call.

How to avoid the next lockout

Habit	Why it helps
Keep a spare key with someone you trust	A free fix next time
Set up your car's app if it has one	Remote unlock from your phone
Make "keys in hand" a habit before closing the door	Stops most lockouts
Don't leave keys in the ignition "for a second"	That's how most lockouts happen
Replace a weak key fob battery	Prevents surprise lock problems

Lost the key instead of locking it in?

If the key is lost or broken, getting into the car is only half the problem. You'll need a new key from a locksmith or the dealer. We can get you inside to grab your things.

Locked out in Alexandria, Suitland or DC?

TB Roadside does car lockouts 24/7 across Alexandria, Suitland, all of DC and Prince George's County. Call (877) 265-9250. And if the car won't start when you get back in, we do jump starts too.