Did you know that around 4 million people lock their keys in their cars every year in the United States? If you have never been locked out of your car, we recommend learning ahead of time what to do in case you find yourself in this situation. We have put together this short guide sharing what to do the next time you accidentally leave your keys in your car and lock the doors. Keep reading to learn more.
Assess the Situation
The first thing that you have to do is take a deep breath and assess the entire situation. Go around to each door to make sure that they too are locked because you might get lucky and one of them was left unlocked for some reason. Also, check all of the windows to see if you accidentally left any of them open.
If you find that all of the doors are indeed locked and there are no open windows then think about your spare key. Do you have a spare key? If so, where is it and can you contact a friend or family member to bring you your spare key?
Roadside Assistance
After assessing the situation and finding that you still need help then you can contact roadside assistance if you have this service. They will be able to send you a dispatcher that will open your car doors for you. In the event that you lost your keys, they might be able to help with car key replacement.
If you do not have roadside assistance then you can find a locksmith nearby. They will usually have a flat rate fee of anywhere up to $150 (depending on where you live).
Emergencies
If you find yourself in an emergency such as your young child getting locked inside your car or your pet then you want to call 911 instead. Now, if you are worried that they are not going to get to you on time after you call them you might have to break a car window yourself.
We do not recommend breaking a window unless it is an extreme emergency such as a super hot summer day and your child or pet is in there without any air conditioner or ventilation. If you find yourself having to break a window make sure that you break the window that is furthest away from your child or pet to avoid them from getting hurt in the process.
Now you know What to Do if you are Locked Out
We hope that now that you learned what to do if you’re locked out you are feeling more confident in the event you get yourself locked out. It is a good idea to have a spare key made and attached under your vehicle in something like a magnetic holder.