Don’t Panic! What to Do When You’ve Locked Your Keys inside Your Car

This article was co-authored by Shawn Fago and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Shawn Fago is a Master Locksmith and the Founder of Noble Locksmith, a nationwide locksmith company based in San Diego, California. With over seven years of experience, he provides commercial, residential, and automotive locksmith services to customers. Shawn attended California State University, Fullerton.

There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.

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There's no feeling more helpless than locking your car and slamming the door only to see your keys sitting there inside. But you're not helpless—you've got wikiHow! Keep reading for tried-and-true solutions that will get you back in your car and back out on the road. These DIY methods should get the job done and save you a few bucks. But if all else fails, you can always call a local locksmith—just be sure to ask about their rates before you get them to meet you.

Things You Should Know

Check for unlocked doors or other ways to get into your car before you resort to more complex methods.
Thread a shoestring with a slip knot through the door to pull up a post lock.
Straighten a coat hanger and slip it between the window and the weatherstripping to pull up the locking mechanism.
Inflate a blood pressure cuff to create a gap between the door frame and the car that you can stick your arm or a tool through.

Method 1 of 4:

Getting Help

Taking a walk around the car and checking all the other doors also gives you the opportunity to take a few deep breaths so you can calm down a little.

The first responder might not always use the least destructive option to get into your car. If they break a window, for example, you'll be on the hook for replacing it. But if it's truly an emergency, that's a small price to pay.

If you do have a spare key, attach it somewhere on the underside of the car with a magnetic key safe so you'll have it on hand if this happens again.

At home: If you're at home, do you have a spare key inside the house? Even if your house key is on your key ring with your car key, it's usually easier to break into the house.
At a school: Go to the office and let them know what's going on. Most schools have a courtesy officer on duty who might be able to help you out. On larger campuses, try an administrative office or the student union, or just look for campus security.
At a shopping center: If there's a security guard, they'll likely be able to help you out. If not, look for a grocery store, discount store, hardware store, or pharmacy—they're your best bets to find tools that might help you.
In a parking lot: If there are any other drivers around, one of them might have an emergency kit or other tools in their car that would be helpful.

Some manufacturers also have roadside assistance programs available for their vehicles. If there's one available for your car but you don't have it activated, you can typically get it started on the spot.
You can always try the DIY options if you find out they're going to take longer than you'd like—and if they don't work, you'll still have someone on the way!

Advertisement Method 2 of 4:

Trying a Shoelace

Work it down into the corner enough that you can just see the shoelace inside the car from the top corner of the window.

The loop behind the knot is the part you're going to try to fit over the door lock post to unlock the door.
If you don't have a post, you might be able to fit the loop around the handle in the door, but you won't be at the right angle to pull it out and open the door.

If you've got something you can use as a wedge, stick that in the corner between your door frame and your car to make the gap between them a little wider. That'll make it easier for you to get the knot through.
If you use a wedge, take it out as soon as you get the knot through the door. You actually need the door frame and the car to be relatively tight so you can control the shoelace.

Stop when you get to the point where the slip knot you created is touching or right over the post for your door lock.

Go slowly here and make sure the loop is completely around the post so it will tighten around it rather than slip off.

Your shoelace might be a little frayed, but it shouldn't be damaged to the point that you can't put it back in your shoe and continue to use it.

Advertisement Method 3 of 4:

Using a Wire Coat Hanger

No coat hanger available? Any kind of long, bendy wire will work as long as it's stiff enough to hold its position when you bend it in place.
That spiral where the hanger meets the hook can be difficult to bend open. If you happen to find a pair of pliers, they'll make the job a little easier.

Bend one end of the coat hanger into a "V" shape. Take the "hook" part of the coat hanger and bend it just a little bit more, so that it's more of a "V" shape than a "U" shape. This will make it easier for you to hook it under the locking mechanism so you can unlock your car. [12] X Research source

Slide the "V" end between the window and the weatherstripping in the door. Press the long wire part of the straightened coat hanger up against the window right above your car's door lock. Peel the rubber flap of weatherstripping away from the window so it doesn't get pushed down into the gap and make it more difficult for you to move the coathanger. Then, push the "V" down between the rubber weatherstripping and the window itself. [13] X Research source

If you have post locks, watch the post as you tap on the pin or bar you've found. If it's the locking mechanism, the post will jiggle a little when you tap it.
Be really careful if you have side airbags in your door—it's easy to accidentally deploy them. Stay perpendicular to the lock itself to avoid this. [15] X Research source

If you've got a post lock, you'll have visual confirmation that you've unlocked your car because the post will come up. Otherwise, listen for that satisfying click.
Open the door immediately, then pull out the coat hanger. That way, if you accidentally snag the locking mechanism again, you'll already be in your car.

Advertisement Method 4 of 4:

Using a Blood Pressure Cuff

Pry open a gap between the door frame and the car. This works easiest if you have something you can use as a wedge, like a rubber door stopper. If you don't have such a thing, you'll have to rely on finger power. [17] X Research source

Don't have a blood pressure cuff? If you're near a store, they might have one in their emergency kit. Discount stores or pharmacies typically have them too.
This is the same method the pros use, and it works for any kind of lock! Car lockout kits have inflatable bladders designed for this purpose if you want to have one handy.

Go slowly and be careful not to over-inflate it. If you have a tool you plan to use to reach in the car, test it every couple of pumps to see if it'll fit through the gap.
If you don't have a tool, you'll have to inflate the cuff enough that you can get your arm through the gap. It might be easier to reach through if you get on top of the car.

If you're reaching in yourself, extract your arm from the gap before you open the door to avoid injury.

What Should You Do If You Lock Your Keys In Your Car?

Community Q&A

How can I open the trunk of my car to get my keys out? Community Answer

It depends on the type of car. You may need to open the car door first. If you can get in the car, some cars have a remote release button in the glove box. Some may not work without power, though. In this case, go into the back seat and pull down the middle arm rest -- there should be an access panel to your trunk behind that.

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How can I get in the front door of my house if I am locked out? Community Answer

Try one of these methods on your door - Pick a Lock With Household Items. Otherwise, calling a locksmith is your best option.

How do I enter a locked trunk? Community Answer

If you don't have a key, try going through the back seat. Many car models have direct truck access through the back seat.

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Keys in the trunk? As long as you can get into one of the doors using these methods, you can use the lever or button inside your car to pop the trunk, or fold down the seat in the back and get through that way.

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Instead of using a magnetic box, try placing a spare key under your car with a wire-tie. This way, it won't accidently come loose when you hit a bump.

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Any of these DIY methods can result in damage to your car, so use them with caution. If you really don't want to take the risk of damaging your car, you're better off waiting for a locksmith.