Locked Out: Key Inside the Car

Try the simple options first

1. Spare key: can someone bring it?
2. Manufacturer app: some vehicles can be unlocked via an app.
3. Automobile club or breakdown cover: members can prove ownership with vehicle documents and ID.
4. Roadside assistance or a locksmith: professionals can usually open the vehicle without damage.

What not to try

Pushing a wire, coat hanger or wedge into the window gap often leads to scratches, bent door frames, damaged seals, and problems with the electronics or airbags. In the end that's often more expensive than a proper unlocking. Breaking a window is usually the most expensive option of all.

How a professional unlocking works

Professionals use specialist tools and usually open the door within a few minutes without leaving any trace. Have your ID and vehicle documents ready, or other proof that the vehicle is yours. A reputable provider will ask for this.

Costs and breakdown cover

Breakdown cover or automobile club membership can cover all or part of the cost, often up to a maximum per case. Ask your insurer before you pay. If a provider gives you a quote, ask about the price beforehand.

What to tell us on the phone

• Make, model and year of the vehicle
• Whether a window or sunroof is open
• Whether there are people, pets, or valuables inside
• Where you are, and whether you have your ID and registration document with you

Lost the key, rather than locked inside

If the key isn't in the car but lost, unlocking won't help, since the vehicle usually can't be started without it. A replacement key usually comes through the garage or manufacturer, for which you'll need vehicle documents and ID. Until then, the vehicle can be taken to the garage on a flatbed.

Keyless-go: key left in the car, or missing

Vehicles with keyless-go unlock and start by radio signal as soon as the key is nearby. That has consequences: if the key is inside a locked car, the approach depends on the model. A second key or the manufacturer app is the safest route. If the key is missing entirely and there's no spare, transport to the garage to have a new key programmed is often the only option. Some manufacturers even check while driving whether the key is still in the car, and the vehicle will stop after several warnings. So when swapping drivers, don't leave the key with the person getting out.

Some modern vehicles can be unlocked via a manufacturer app. Whether that works for your model is in the owner's manual. If you've lost the key, theft protection is also a factor: if you suspect theft, call the police.

Preventing it

• Keep a spare key outside the vehicle.
• Pay attention to key fobs with a lock-status indicator.
• Always take the key with you when getting out, even for a quick fuel stop.