It has happened to all of us, and usually on our worst, or best, days. If you are already having a tough day, it shouldn’t come as a shock to you when you lock your keys in the car; and if you’re having a great day, all it takes is locking your keys in the car to make it instantly go in the wrong direction. When you lock your keys in the car, the first and most important thing to do is to not panic; there is very little you can do about the fact that your keys are staring at you from the drivers seat. When you panic, you lose your sensibility, and in these cases that does nothing productive for us. There are steps that you can take that will help you take constructive action, and some of these suggestions may seem like no-brainers; but, again, you would be surprised at how useless our brain becomes when panic ensues. First of all, just take a deep breath and get your cell phone out just in case; you may need to call for some help. But first, you should try these few quick tips.
Check all the doors
Before you jump to any conclusions, you should check all of the doors on your vehicle, including the trunk. Sometimes we panic because we only have tried the driver’s side door, while the other doors may be unlocked. It might be a slim chance, but it is definitely worth a try. Some cars have remote functions, such as OnStar, which can unlock your vehicle for you from a separate location. If you don’t know if you have such a service, then it is likely that you don’t have it. However, it is worth a try to call whatever dealership you got the car from just to be sure. If worst comes to worse, you can call a roadside service to help you get your car unlocked.
Call professionals for help
The chances are low, and if you don’t have access to your keys then it is probable that you also do not have access to a wire coat hanger. This is the quintessential alternative method for opening your car door, and it is pretty effective for what looks like the beginning of a terrifying craft project. The basic ideal for a coat hanger opening your locked door is having a long, sturdy, yet bending material that can be hooked around the lock and pulled upward to unlock the door. This is a less than ideal way to unlock your car, and could even damage it if you do it incorrectly or aren’t sure how to execute this method. While it is important that you get your car opened, it is not important enough for you to cost yourself money attempting to get it open on your own. When in doubt, call automotive professionals for help—they can offer you solutions that will not damage your car and will ultimately be more effective than the coat hanger method.
Keep the spare key at the best place
If you do not have a roadside service, you may want to call whoever has the spare key to your car. Having a spare key is one of those things that we never think about, until it is our only hope of getting into our cars. Giving your spare key to a trusted friend is not a bad idea, and keeping your key at home with your loved ones can be especially helpful if you don’t have the money to dish out for a tow truck driver to help you out. When the dealership hands you the spare key, think long and hard about the best place for it, or the best person to give it to. It is important that they are reliable and trustworthy, but will also drop what they are doing to come help you out of your pickle. Getting locked out of your car is no fun, but it is not the end of the world. There are ways around paying money for help; in fact, when you get locked out of your car take the opportunity to go for a walk, enjoy nature, and relax—it is likely that you will not get another break from the daily grind otherwise.