If You've Just Purchased Locked Keys In Car ... Now What?
Locked Keys in Car? Here's How to Get Back Inside Without Calling Roadside Assistance It's more likely than you think that you will keep your keys locked inside your car. There are many ways to gain access to your car without having to call roadside assistance. You can avoid being locked out of your vehicle by taking preventative measures like checking the doors twice before locking them and storing spare keys in designated places. 1. Inflatable Wedge It's a uncomfortable feeling to realize you've locked your keys in the car. It can send your entire day into a tizzy and leave you wondering how you'll ever get back home or to work, or to your next appointment. There are several options to get back into your vehicle when you've locked your keys in the car. You can break the glass by using a coathanger made of wire that you've turned into a hook or making a wedge out of two or three door stoppers. If you don't have access to those materials or if your vehicle is equipped with an automatic lock, an air pump wedge might be the best option. An air pump wedge is a multi-purpose tool used by professional locksmiths and repo professionals to provide auto lockout services. They typically come with an inflatable bag that slips between the door and weather stripping of the car to create gaps that can be opened with more extended tools, such as car unlocking rods. These wedges also have an extremely durable design that is non-marring to prevent chipping of the paint on the exterior of a car. There are many DIY air wedge kits available on the market. Some include a hand pump to manually inflate. A high-quality kit will create a gap large enough to fit tools and open many vehicles with manual locks. If you don't have an air wedge or another alternative, there's the option of calling for roadside assistance or a locksmith in your area particularly if you're not able to find a solution. If this is the only option available you should keep a spare key in a secure location to ensure you don't lose it when you require it. No matter what method you choose, be patient and remember that it's ok to be scared when you lock your keys in your car; your life can still go with the same ease when you follow these easy tips. 2. Coat Hanger A wire coat hanger is a common item in many households and can be used to open a locked car. The trick is to bend your hook into a small V in order to grasp the lock post in your door. Then, you can use the hook to open the lock. This is the same method police officers employ with a slim jim. However, using a coat hanger requires less effort. Take a long piece of stiff string or paracord and tie a slipknot around the middle. Apply the slipknot to the top corner of the car door to pull it open. This gives you enough space to place a rod, such as a clothes hanger or a blood pressure cuff. If you don't have a blood pressure cuff 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 an opening on one side and a straight side on the other. It might be easier to bend a hook into a V-shape if you have pliers. This requires repeating the process a few times until you reach the ideal hook shape. Once you have the perfect shape, slide it in behind the weather stripping on the bottom of the door. Then, slide it into the door, just above the handle. Once you have the hanger set on the wall, you can move it around to locate the pin or bar that is responsible for the door lock post. Depending on the type of vehicle you might find it either above or below the handle of your door's interior. Tap lightly on it to see if you are able to move it. You can also move it upwards or backwards to release the lock. If the lock post moves then you have successfully disconnected the lock. Then you can simply pull the handle down and you're back in your car! This method also works on older vehicles that have manual locks. Use the hook gently to ensure that it doesn't damage the frame of the car or window. 3. Shoestring There are a number of tools that can help you get into your locked car quickly. You can use a long rod like a metal or wooden strip that can be inserted into the gap between the door frame and the car to press down the unlock button on the inside. These options aren't always available and could scratch the paint on your vehicle. Another alternative is to use an air wedge. It looks like the inflatable cuff you might utilize at a doctor's appointment and can be pumped up to create a gap large enough to push the unlock button within the. These devices are not expensive and can be used again and repeatedly to unlock your car. A much simpler tool to use is the shoelace. First, take off your shoes and eyeball around the middle to find where the slip knot situated. Then, you can place the shoelace's end between the corner of your car door and the doorframe and pull it down through the crack until it is looped around the knob of the lock. Pull the knob tightly and pull upwards. This technique can be learned by practicing for less than 30 second. If this method isn't working, you can try using a slim jim to open your car. A slim jim is a flat thin metal tool that has hooks at both ends that fit into the space between the weatherproofing rubber of your car door and the window. One can use the hooks of a slim jim in order to open the door of a car, but this method is somewhat risky as it requires insertion of the device through the glass of the window and could cause damage to the seal of the door. It is essential to be prepared for the eventuality in which you'll need to leave keys in your vehicle and have to access it. There are many ways you can prepare for this problem before it happens, such as signing to an automaker's app or service, signing up for roadside assistance, or even leaving an extra key and fob with friends or family members. 4. Blood Pressure Cuff Many nurses, doctors and other professionals carry a blood pressure cuff along with them. Even if not, this is a low-cost device that could save the day when you lock your keys in the car. Slide a deflated cuff into the gap where the door meets the frame, and slowly inflate it to make an opening. Do not over-inflate it, or you could damage the door. You should now have enough room to fit a coat hanger made of wire or another long, thin object that could reach the unlock button inside the door. If you don't have a coat hanger or wire, you can make use of a piece of tubing. This is the same trick that professionals use to unlock their cars, so you can be certain it will work! There are unlocking car door service of methods to open a locked vehicle, but you must be careful not to harm your vehicle or yourself. Remember to always try the simplest and least damaging method first. Your auto insurance could also cover these types of services! If nothing else works contact 911 or contact a towing company. They will charge a small fee, but you'll be saving time and money in the long run. The positive side is that a lot of us have locked keys in our cars at one point or another. It's not a huge issue if you know how to get in. If you have an additional key in your home, make sure you are aware of where it is. If not, ask a trusted friend or relative to keep an additional key for you. To be safe, always make sure you have the keys before you press the lock. These simple tips can ensure that you are not locked out of your car in the future.