It happens to the best of us; “@#$%! I’m locked out of my car!” Even if the engine is turned on or your baby is inside, don’t freak out – freaking out limits your rational ability and makes you more prone to mistakes. However, you should call for help immediately. If your phone is inside the car, borrow someone else’s phone to call for help. Read this guide to know what to do when you are locked out of your car.
What to Do
1. If there is a baby in the car, call 911 — it can be seen as an emergency situation. A team of professionals will be there to assist you in minutes. For non-emergency situations, you can follow the steps below.
2. If there is a crack in your window, find a metal wiring (like coat hanger), make a thin but firm hook, and lower it through the crack of the window to get hold of the door switch inside. Then pull on the hook to release the lock from the inside of the car.
3. If you find that there are no cracks in the window for you to lower a hook into, find the nearest gas station and ask them for help. They can “jimmy” your car for you – jimmy refers to a gadget that easily pops most car locks open.
4. If you find that there are no gas stations near you, or that the jimmy won’t unlock your car, it’s time for the last resort. Head to a police station and ask for assistance there. Unless it’s an emergency situation, you might have to wait as they assist with an actual emergency — but they are sure to do the job; police units unlock suspicious vehicles all the time.
5. If no police stations are near you, call a locksmith — but expect to pay them extra for traveling out to your car from their office. It might take a while for a locksmith to get to your car and unlock the car, so call some people and let them know that you won’t possibly make it into the near future arrangements.
Additional Help
If you feel like you need professional help on getting into a locked car, TalkLocal can help you find the right professional for you, in just minutes — and it’s free!
