Locked out of your car in New Jersey: what to do
If your keys are locked inside the car, call for a professional lockout: a technician opens the door with an inflatable wedge and a reach tool without touching the glass or wiring. If a child or pet is locked inside, especially in heat or cold, call 911 first.
The short answer
If your keys are locked inside the car, call for a professional lockout: a technician opens the door with an inflatable wedge and a reach tool without touching the glass or wiring. If a child or pet is locked inside, especially in heat or cold, call 911 first.
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Call nowIf a child or pet is inside, call 911; otherwise check the easy options
A closed car heats up fast in summer and gets dangerously cold in winter. If a child, a vulnerable adult or a pet is locked inside, call 911 immediately. Emergency responders can get into the car quickly. Do not wait for a roadside technician in that situation.
Walk around and try every door and the trunk. Check whether a spare key is at home and someone can bring it. Some cars can be unlocked from the manufacturer's phone app or a connected-car service if you set it up. If none of that works, a professional lockout is the fastest route.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowWhy the coat hanger is a bad idea
Older cars had simple lock rods that a hanger could catch. Modern doors have shielded linkages, side airbags, sensors and wiring harnesses running through the same space a hanger goes down. Fishing around in there can tear wiring, bend linkages or damage the weatherstrip, and the repair can cost far more than the lockout call. Breaking a window is even worse: the glass, the cleanup, and a car you cannot lock until it is replaced.
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Call nowWhat a professional lockout looks like
A technician slides an inflatable wedge into the top corner of the door and inflates it slowly, spreading the pressure along the frame to open a small gap. A long-reach tool goes through the gap to press the unlock button or pull the handle from inside. Nothing goes down the window channel. Once the door is open, the tech checks your ID and registration to confirm the car is yours.
Our car lockout service is one flat price, the same day or night, quoted on the phone. Tell the dispatcher where the car is, where the keys are, and the make and model.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowKeys in the trunk, or keys lost
If the keys are in the trunk, say so. On many cars the tech opens a door and then uses the interior trunk release or folds the rear seat. Some cars make this harder, and the dispatcher will tell you what to expect.
If the keys are lost, not locked inside, opening the door does not solve the problem. We do not cut or program keys. A mobile automotive locksmith or the dealer can make a new key. If the car has to go to the dealer for that, we can open it and tow it there on the same call, quoted as a flat hook fee plus a per-mile rate.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowWhere lockouts happen, and when it is urgent
At gas pumps, when the driver steps out with the engine running and an automatic lock engages. At grocery stores and malls, when the keys go into a bag that ends up on the front seat. At home, when the keys are left in the ignition of a car parked in the driveway. At train station lots, after a long day, when the keys are in a jacket left in the back. And at the beach or the park, when keys go into the trunk with everything else.
A simple habit prevents most of them: touch the keys before you close the door. Keep a spare somewhere you can get to, such as with a family member or a neighbor, never hidden on the car itself, where a thief can find it as easily as you.
If the car is locked with the engine running, mention it on the call. Fuel is burning and some cars will shut down on their own after a while, but there is no safety reason to break a window for that. If the car is locked in a spot where it creates a hazard, such as blocking a lane or a gas pump, tell the dispatcher so the call can be prioritized.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowPush-button and fob cars
After the door is open, take a minute to figure out why it happened. If the car locked itself with the fob inside, the fob battery may be weak or the car's settings may need a look at the dealer. If it happens often, ask the dealer about auto-lock settings, which on many cars can be adjusted.
Many keyless cars try to prevent locking the fob inside, but it still happens, especially when the fob battery is weak or the fob is in the trunk. The same wedge-and-reach method applies. If the fob battery is dead and that is why the car will not start, your owner's manual usually shows a backup way to start it.
Call (908) 444-0129 for a lockout anywhere in our service area.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowMore on lockouts & keys
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Tip #15: Locked out? Never break a window, unless a person or pet inside is in danger
- Tip #21: A dead key fob battery rarely means you are stranded
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which does your car need?
- What happens to your car after a police-ordered tow in New Jersey
- Dead car battery in a New Jersey winter: why it happens and what to do
- Flat tire on a New Jersey highway: what to do
- EV towing in New Jersey: what electric car owners need to know
- All posts
Questions drivers ask about this
Short answers.
Will a lockout service damage my car?
A professional lockout uses an inflatable wedge and a reach tool and does not touch the glass, wiring or lock linkages. The damage risk comes from coat hangers and slim jims.
Do you make car keys?
No. We open locked cars. For a new key, call an automotive locksmith or the dealer; we can tow the car to the dealer if needed.
What do I need to show the technician?
Once the door is open, the technician checks your ID and the registration to confirm the car is yours.
What if a child is locked in the car?
Call 911 immediately. Emergency responders can get into the car faster than any roadside service.
Ask the dispatcher anything.
Call nowNeed towing and roadside assistance right now? One call, truck on the way.
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