Accidentally locking yourself out of your car can be frustrating, to say the least. Luckily, there are ways to open a locked door without causing damage. In this article, we’ll discuss some methods that don’t require any tools and others that do. No matter what method you use, make sure to keep calm!
Use a wire coat hanger
- Unscrew the door handle to reveal a horizontal rod, which you will use to reach the lock button on your car’s door.
- Use a wire coat hanger to push down the lock button on your car’s door.
Use a long-handled tool to reach the lock button
- Use a long-handled tool to reach the lock button. The longer the tool, the easier it will be for you to push on the lock button without damaging your car or yourself.
- Make sure that your tool is sturdy enough to reach beyond your car door and into the window, so it can push on the lock button.
- Make sure that your tool is strong enough to push down on this button without breaking or bending. The last thing you need is for this whole process of opening a locked car door with a coat hanger to break off in mid-action!
Unlock the door using a wedge tool
If you don’t have a spare key, you can use a wedge tool to push the door open.
A wedge tool is a flat piece of metal that’s inserted into the gap between the door and frame, then pushed toward the inside of your car until it hits something solid. When this happens, it pushes against something in the door lock mechanism and unlocks it from inside your vehicle.
Shave off some of the rubber around the keyhole with a utility knife
- Shave off some of the rubber around the keyhole with a utility knife
- Be careful not to cut yourself
- If you don’t have a utility knife, you can use a credit card
Use a suction cup or stiff card
Use a suction cup to open the car door. This method is best for small cars, since you can’t reach the lock button through the window with your arm. It also requires a strong suction cup that can hold its own weight, and it’s best if the suction cup is long enough to reach the lock button on your car door handle (if there is one). If you have access to any other stiff plastic material like a thick business card or credit card, use that instead of a suction cup.
A stiff plastic object like a credit card inserted into your car window between it and the frame will give you leverage against the door handle when pulling up on it—this should pop open most locked doors without much effort!
Call for help from a locksmith or automobile dealership
If you don’t have a spare key for your car, then you will need to call for help from a locksmith or automobile dealership. A locksmith can open your car door and make a new key on the spot. They should be able to give you an estimated price over the phone so that they can come out as soon as possible with their equipment and tools.
Automobile dealerships may also be able to make you another key right away, but they may charge much more than a professional locksmith would (especially if it’s late at night or on the weekend). If this is the case, consider calling in advance of needing help so that they know what time frame works best for them before taking off without any means of getting inside your vehicle!
Don’t panic if you accidentally lock yourself out of your car; there are ways to get back in without breaking a window!
You’ve locked yourself out of your car and you’re freaking out. Don’t panic! There are plenty of ways to get back inside.
One method is to use a coat hanger, long-handled tool or wedge tool to unlock the door. If there are any keys in the car, try inserting them into the lock while holding onto the hanger or tool with one hand and turning it with your other hand.
Another option is using a suction cup or stiff card to open the door—just place it on top of your window near where you think there’s an opening for air flow, then push down hard until you hear/see something pop out from underneath (this may take some trial and error). You can also call for help from a locksmith or automobile dealership; this will likely cost money but not nearly as much as having someone break into your vehicle by smashing through its glass windshield paneling!
Conclusion
It’s never fun to find yourself locked out of your car, but we hope you found some helpful tips in this article. It’s important to keep a cool head and not panic, because that makes it harder to find solutions. Many DIY experts recommend keeping a few tools in your vehicle at all times, including the wire coat hanger and the wedge tool. These can come in especially handy if you’re able to use them successfully! But what if they don’t work? Don’t try anything desperate; instead, call a locksmith or tow truck as soon as possible so they can help get into your locked-up vehicle.