Locking your keys in the car is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to anyone. While you may feel helpless, there are actually some things you can do to save yourself some stress and money.
If you’re reading this right now, there’s a chance that you’re currently locked out of your car. Or maybe you’ve lost your keys somehow, or you’ve managed to snap them in half. Either way, you’re stuck, and you need help fast. Don’t panic, though! There are many people you can call for help, whether it’s a friend, roadside assistance, emergency services, or an automotive locksmith. Let’s explore which one is the best choice.
Don’t feel ashamed if you’ve locked yourself out of your car. It happens to the best of us. The American Automobile Association says that over 4,000,000 drivers get locked out of their cars each year, a fact that the organization attributes to keyless ignition and electronic anti-theft systems.
But numbers don’t really help anyone. What you need is advice, right?
First off, if you’re in danger, call 911 immediately. You should also do this if you’ve locked a young child or a pet in the car in hot weather - the temperatures inside the vehicle can soar to 100°F in just five minutes, which will quickly cause heat stroke or even death.
Otherwise, emergency services should only be called as a last resort. For a less urgent option, you can consider roadside assistance. This will likely have you waiting for a while, but if you’re a member of any auto club, it’ll be quite cheap.
If you happen to be located close to a local dealership, you can also try your luck with them. If you’ve only locked your keys in your car, the dealer might be able to make a temporary key that will open the door but won’t start the ignition. However, this can be a very expensive option if you need new keys or fobs, especially if the car’s warranty has expired.
Your other option are automotive locksmiths. And if they’re local, that’s even better - many of them offer rapid response times. For example, Not Your Basic Locksmith, which is local to Arlington, consistently reaches customers in 30 minutes or less. That’s less time spent standing around and twiddling your thumbs and more time spent getting to where you need to be!
In fact, most locksmiths these days can cut and program replacements for standard, transponder, remote, or smart keys, which will be usable as soon as the work is finished. They can also open the door without damaging your car or safely extract keys that have jammed or broken while in the ignition.
Of course, you probably don’t want to trust your keys with just any locksmith. Try to find one that’s licensed, bonded, and insured and has many years of experience - that way, you’ll know that they’re a reputable company.
