Locked Your Keys in the Car? Here’s What to Do

Before you panic or start pulling at door handles, do a calm sweep of your situation. Check every door — all four of them, plus the trunk or rear hatch. It sounds obvious, but drivers are often surprised to find a rear passenger door they didn't try is unlocked. While you're at it, check whether any windows are cracked open enough to reach a lock button. A slightly open window on a back door can sometimes let you reach in and manually pop the lock.

Also ask yourself: do you have a spare key? If a family member or trusted friend has one, a quick phone call might solve this in 20 minutes. If your vehicle is newer, check whether you enrolled in the automaker's connected services app — Ford's FordPass, GM's myChevrolet, Hyundai's BlueLink, and others allow remote unlocking directly from your smartphone. If you set this up when you bought the car, now is the time it pays off.

When you're frustrated and in a hurry, it's tempting to try anything. But a few common DIY attempts can cause real, expensive damage to your vehicle. Avoid using a wire coat hanger, a slim jim, or any metal tool to try to fish through the door frame — modern cars have weather stripping, internal airbag sensors, and wiring that runs along door frames. You can easily damage the rubber seal, scratch the paint, or worse, trigger a side curtain airbag. Repairs for that kind of damage can cost far more than a locksmith call.

Also skip the 'tennis ball trick' — it doesn't work and has been widely debunked. Don't try to wedge a door open with a screwdriver or pry bar. And if there's a child or a pet locked inside, especially in warm weather, that changes everything: call 911 immediately rather than trying to solve it yourself. In New York, law enforcement can respond quickly and breaking a window to protect a life is the right call — no question.

Many drivers don't realize they may already have lockout coverage included in a plan they're paying for. AAA members are covered for car lockouts as part of their membership — if you have a card in your wallet (or the app on your phone), call them. Your auto insurance policy may also include roadside assistance as an add-on; it's worth a quick call to your insurer or a check in their app to see if lockout service is covered.

Some major credit cards — particularly travel rewards cards — also include roadside assistance benefits. Check the benefits guide for your Visa, Mastercard, or Amex. The limitation with these programs is that response times can vary, and in some areas — particularly at night or in less central locations — wait times can run an hour or more. If time is a factor, calling a local mobile locksmith directly is often the faster and more predictable option.

If you've gone through the checks, don't have a spare key handy, and either don't have roadside coverage or need faster service, calling a licensed mobile locksmith is the right move. A professional locksmith uses specialized tools — including air wedges, long-reach tools, and lock picks designed for automotive locks — that let them open your vehicle without causing any damage. A good technician can typically unlock most common makes and models in just a few minutes once they arrive on site.

When you call, be ready to give your location, the make and model of your car, and the year. This helps the locksmith confirm they have the right tools and set an accurate arrival estimate. Ask for an estimated arrival time and make sure the person you're speaking with is actually the company you called — unfortunately, some locksmith scam operations use third-party dispatch and inflate prices on arrival. Always use a locally established company with a real local number.

Locksmith pricing for car lockouts varies based on a few real factors — not guesswork. The time of day matters: a call at 2 a.m. on a Sunday will typically cost more than a standard weekday afternoon call, because after-hours and emergency availability carries an honest premium. Your location plays a role too; a call from a central area of the Five Towns or the Rockaways is different from a remote spot late at night. The make and model of your vehicle also affects the process — luxury vehicles, push-button-start cars, and high-security transponder systems can require additional steps or equipment.

A reputable locksmith will give you a clear quote over the phone before they arrive, and that number shouldn't change dramatically when they get there. If a company refuses to give any estimate before showing up, that's a red flag. At Durham Pro Locksmith, we're straightforward about pricing before we ever leave to come to you.