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Six Ways to Get Locked Out of Your Car
Being locked out of your vehicle is an extremely stressful and frustrating experience. It's important to keep in mind that there are safe and efficient methods to gain access back to your vehicle.
Calling roadside assistance or an urgent locksmith is the best option because they have the tools needed to open your vehicle without causing damage. Remaining calm and taking several deep breaths will help you figure out the best solution.
1. Review the Situation
The dreaded locked out of your car situation is always a nightmare however, it's essential to remain calm and evaluate the situation. You'll be able to make smart decisions to increase the chances of regaining your keys quickly and efficiently. This comprehensive guide will reveal six of the most frequent lockout scenarios, and provide efficient solutions.
A common cause of car lockout is not remembering your keys or misplacing keys. But, many get locked out of their cars because of malfunctioning keys or doors that won't open. Whatever the reason it's essential to remain calm and take the steps below to get back on the road quickly.
First, you should reassess the situation to determine if it's appropriate to attempt an DIY solution. If it's late or you're in an area that's busy or crowded, it's probably not an ideal idea to reach into the trunk of your car or through the rear window. This is not just a risk of damaging your vehicle and placing yourself at risk of injury, but it may also trigger the car's security system or void your warranty.
Instead, if possible, reach out to your contacts from home to see if they've got keys that are spare or help you out in some other way. You might want to consider using a roadside assistance application on your phone to contact the towing or locksmith services. If you're unable to contact any of these options, it's time to call for professional help. A towing company with appropriate skills will be able to manage your situation swiftly and safely.
2. Find an extra key
Keep the spare key in a safe place. This will allow you to avoid costly roadside assistance or locksmith calls. If you have a family member that knows where the spare key is stored and is willing to take it to you in case in the event of an emergency. In some instances you could even use a smart phone app to gain access to your car without having an actual key. This is a great option for those with newer cars that allow the control of their vehicles from the smartphone app!
If you do not have a spare, remain calm and look into the issue. When we lock ourselves out of our car most of the time, it's because we've shut the door without keys inside. Check all the doors and windows before you panic. You might discover there is an open entry point you didn't know about.
Another way to gain access to your vehicle is to use a tool like a Slim Jim, inflatable wedges, bobby pins or a flathead screwdriver. But, these are risky tools that can break the parts of your car or cause injury, and they should be used only as the last resort.
If nothing else works, contact your automaker for assistance or a third party roadside assistance provider. They can provide a professional locksmith to unlock your vehicle for you and the cost may be covered by your service plan. Alternately, you can engage a local locksmith for rapid response. In many urban areas, you can find a 24-hour locksmith who offers competitive rates and 24 hour service. Longo Toyota offers many vehicles with outstanding safety features. Be sure to check our latest inventory.
3. Help is available
The chances that you'll lock your keys in your car at one time or another are very high. Absentmindedness, keys disappearing from your pocket or purse as you leave the vehicle, and malfunctioning locks can all cause this to happen. Whatever the reason, the important aspect is to be at peace and think about your options for getting back in.
Double-checking the doors of your home is the first step. While it may seem obvious, a lot of people fail to double-check their doors prior to closing them especially in a crowded lot or unfamiliar environment. Contact lockout car service if you are not able to open the doors. A police officer will be dispatched to your location as soon as it is possible. Depending on the situation, they might be able to unlock your vehicle or call a tow-truck for you.
It's a good idea to prepare ahead of time by stashing a spare key in your home or office, or leaving it with a trusted friend or neighbor. It's also advisable to make it a practice to check your keys before closing the car door.
Roadside assistance programs are run by experts who are trained to unlock most cars. They're your best bet for the most secure, reliable and cheapest alternative. Be sure to check that your auto insurance policy covers roadside assistance before making a call, as some policies do not. If you don't have roadside assistance, you can contact a locksmith for help. Beware of scammers and crooks who advertise on the Internet to unlock your vehicle for a fee however. They might use tools like slim jims to break into your car and, in the majority of cases, result in extensive and expensive damage to the locking mechanisms.
4. Take an inhale
Being locked out of your vehicle is not an enjoyable situation, but being panicked can only make the situation worse. Take a deep breath, assess the situation and follow the steps below to quickly and safely get back into your vehicle.
Examine if you've actually locked your keys in your car. Then take a walk around the exterior of your car to inspect all the windows and doors. If you have an SUV or hatchback, check the trunk as well. Examine the surrounding area to determine any potential dangers for example, an unidentified person or activities that could put your safety at risk.
It is possible to break a window out to escape from the car, but you should be sure to look around for pedestrians and traffic before you attempt this. You should also consider whether you have a spare key located at home or if you have roadside assistance through your insurance company. Numerous roadside assistance providers provide assistance for car lockouts in addition to other typical problems like battery jump-starts or flat tires.
These preventative measures can help prevent you from being locked out of your vehicle in the future. It is also worth keeping a spare set keys with a trusted family member so that they can unlock your car in the event that you ever find yourself in a bind. You can also purchase an electronic key system for your car to avoid having to fumble around with a spare set of keys when you're out and about. You can also make use of one of the tricks that many professional mountain climbers do to get out of a tricky situation, such as threading a shoestring using an untied slip knot through the door to open a post lock or inflating a blood pressure cuff to create a gap that you can insert your arm or tool through.
5. Need Help?
When you're locked out of your car, it's essential to keep a cool head and think rationally. Avoid using tools that are improvised, such as wire coat hangers or shoelace, since they can cause damage and may not work. Contacting a roadside service or a professional locksmith is the most secure and secure option. Many auto insurance firms and automakers provide these services, and they usually come at a cost. However they do have the right tools to unlock a vehicle without causing any damage to it.
A lot of newer cars come with technology that can help those who are locked out. For instance, some automakers offer smartphone apps which allow you to control your car from a distance and transform your phone into a key fob that allows you to unlock the doors and start the engine. It's a good idea to connect your car with the app ahead of time. Longo Toyota offers a variety of newer models with impressive security features. These features can help you avoid any future lockouts.
You can also avoid a costly locksmith or roadside assistance call by leaving the spare car key with a neighbor or friend and ensuring that your car's door locking mechanism is working properly. You can also reduce the risk of accidental lockouts by routinely checking your car before leaving, and storing an extra key in a safe place in case you forget where you put it. Contact us to find out more about our latest vehicles, and which ones have the security and convenience features you desire.