Locked Out of Your Car? Here’s What to Do

It’s not a difficult scenario to imagine. You’re returning to your car; you reach for your keys – and it turns out that they aren’t in your pocket. You watch in disbelief as they are still in the ignition of your car, which is now locked from the inside. It’s an embarrassing situation that can happen to anyone. There’s no reason to fret, it’s not the end of the world. There are a couple of ways you can get inside your vehicle.

A friend in need

Being locked outside of your vehicle can put you in a precarious position. If it happens on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, you could end up in a dangerous situation. Asking for help is your best option, but who can you trust?

Asking a stranger to help you might not be the best decision right off the bat. You’re already in a vulnerable position and there’s no telling who you could run into. Your best bet would be to contact a friend or acquaintance that can help you in a pinch. If your phone isn’t locked inside the vehicle, give them a call and try to resolve the situation.

Try your luck with the locks

When you find yourself locked out of your car and you need to get inside, any measure is worth trying. Sometimes, the simplest solution is hiding right under your nose. If you have no access to your keys or another way to open the car door, might as well test your luck.

It’s not uncommon for car door locks to malfunction to some degree. If just one of the doors hasn’t locked properly, you could have a way inside your vehicle. Check every door and the trunk to check if you’ve gotten lucky this time. If not, it was worth a try.

Get professionals on the case

It isn’t much you can do when your car door is locked. At some point, it would be best to swallow your pride and call for some professional help. If you’re stuck in the dead of night somewhere off the road, it would help if you had the number of a 24-hour emergency locksmith on hand. Professionals will be able to open your car door and help you get to safety.

This is simple enough when you’re lost in a familiar place, but that isn’t always the case. What if you aren’t familiar with your location? How do you tell the locksmiths where to locate you? If you’re able to call the locksmiths, chances are that you have your phone with you. There are lots of online services that can help you pinpoint your location. Worst case scenario, you might have to send the locksmiths your coordinates through Google maps.

Make use of your shoe

When you feel like you’re out of options, it might be time for some DIY methods. This one requires that your car has a “post lock” system which sticks out and upwards. Start by removing the shoelaces from your shoes. Take a point that is five inches from the edge of the lace and tie a slip knot around it.

Hold one side of the lace from the top of the window while trying to wedge the other part between the door and the doorframe. The other end should be aimed at the area where the door is supposed to unlock. With a bit of effort and a lot of patience, the slip knot could end wedged around the post lock. If you’re able to achieve this, all you need to do is pull up and keep the string tight. This will successfully unlock the door. It’s a difficult method, but it might save you in a difficult situation.

Conclusion

Locking yourself outside of your car might be a stressful situation, but there’s no reason to panic. There’s always a way to get inside your car, even if it costs you the comfort of a pair of shoelaces. Whether you call on a friend or a professional, you can be sure that you’ll end up inside your car in no time. Just make sure to keep a clear head and think before deciding to break your expensive car window.