What to Do if You Lock Your Keys in the Car

Locked your keys in your car? You’re not alone. Ten percent of all calls for AAA roadside service in 2024 were for vehicle lockouts. But that actually represents a downward trend, considering in 2021, 11.9% of all calls were for lockouts. With keyless entry becoming more common, lockouts aren’t as frequent, dropping from 13% for cars manufactured in 2007 to below 10% for cars manufactured in or after 2017. But they still happen. Here’s what to do if it happens to you.

Before You Panic

It’s easy to immediately panic when you realize your car is locked and you don’t have the keys. “Remain calm, don’t panic,” says Bryan Rodriguez, manager of fleet operations for AAA Club-owned Fleet Marin. Panic can make you forget the basics before calling for help. “Our drivers [sometimes] arrive on scene and discover other doors unlocked or windows that are rolled down,” Rodriguez says.

Instead of panicking, start by walking around the car to check all the doors and windows, especially if you have a keyless vehicle. Keyless start vehicles are typically designed to prevent you from locking all the doors if the key is still inside—but it’s still possible. A dead key fob or car battery, as well as failure in the electronic locking system, can prevent the vehicle from recognizing the key is still inside. 

If you’ve downloaded the vehicle manufacturer’s app, you may be able to unlock it that way. Even if you haven’t previously downloaded such an app, if one is available, it may still allow you to set it up and remotely unlock the car on the spot. These services often have subscription fees, but are worth a quick check.

Finally, stop to think about whether you have a spare key somewhere—at home, say, or with a friend. If you do have a spare, getting that key will likely be easier and quicker than calling roadside assistance or a locksmith. One solution: Leave that spare with a friend, who can then send it to you via a rideshare service if you later get locked out.

Call for Help

If there are no open doors or windows, an app won’t help, and there isn’t an easily accessible spare key, the next best solution is to call for roadside assistance. Most roadside assistance policies cover vehicle lockouts. (AAA does.) The operator that the roadside assistance company dispatches should be able to open the car, in many cases, without requiring a locksmith.

If you don’t have access to such a service, you could call a locksmith. For some SUVs and luxury vehicles, which roadside services might not be able to unlock, a locksmith (or a tow to the dealer) may be the only option. If you don’t have a spare key, you might want to kill two birds with one stone by getting a locksmith to unlock the car and make a copy of your key at the same time. You’ll want to verify that the locksmith is bonded, licensed, and insured, says Rodriguez, to avoid any damage to your vehicle due to their lack of training, knowledge, or experience.

Due to liability concerns and their lack of locksmith training, police are unlikely to respond to calls for lockout assistance unless there’s an active emergency. If there is—such as a child or animal locked in the car—they’re likely to do the same thing you would: break the window to get in. 

Other Options

There are a lot of tricks for breaking into your own car in the event of a lockout, such as using a shoelace, coathanger, or slim jim. But all of these methods risk damaging your car or its locking mechanism, and are often ineffective when attempted by amateurs. Consider such means only in extreme cases and with an understanding of the risks involved. 

Breaking a car window to gain access may cause damage to the car paint, shower the inside of your car with tiny shards of glass, and leave you without a window until you can secure a replacement. Additionally, breaking a window may be challenging without a window-breaking tool. 

“I had to unlock a Honda Civic with an infant locked inside,” says Rodriguez. When he got there to help, the car owner shouted, “‘Stand back!’ Then, in one smooth motion, he took off his t-shirt, wrapped it around his right hand, and proceeded to punch the passenger side rear door’s window three times before I could stop him.” Despite his best efforts, the car owner didn’t manage to break the window. Thankfully, Rodriguez quickly and easily got the car open.

In an emergency if a child or animal is in the vehicle, particularly in extreme weather and no other help is available, breaking a window might be worth considering. Choose a window that’s far from the person or animal inside to minimize physical harm.

Tips for Prevention

The best solution to getting your keys out of a locked car is to avoid locking them in the car in the first place. Considering that no one intentionally locks their keys in their vehicle, this is easier said than done. 

Magnetic lock boxes are popular for hiding a spare key on the body of the car, but they’re risky. Anyone who wants to steal your car could quickly locate the box. Additionally, such boxes can be jolted or corrode from exposure to salt and other contaminants, causing them to fall off the vehicle without being noticed. 

There are some common-sense habits that can help reduce the likelihood of misplacing or locking the key inside your car:

• Keep your keys visible to verify they’re on you before leaving your car.
• Avoid using the lock inside the car. Instead, use the key to lock the car after getting out.
• Use a carabiner to clip your keys to the top of your bag or belt loop to prevent them from getting lost.
• Leave a spare key somewhere you frequent or with someone you trust. That way, if you lock the key inside by mistake, you have a backup.
• Set up the manufacturer’s app to serve as a backup if all other methods fail. But don’t leave your key at home just because you have an app.
• Replace your key fob’s battery as soon as it shows signs of dying.

There’s nothing quite as motivating as having to wait on roadside assistance or pay a locksmith to get into your car. Use that experience to adjust your routine and prevent yourself from locking your keys in the car again.