Have you ever locked yourself out of your car? You’re not alone. We’ve all done it at least once in our lives. According to the AAA’s (American Automobile Association) reports, over 4 million drivers report getting locked out annually.
With numbers that high, it makes sense why locksmiths are never out of business.
Mistakes happen, and you never know how near or far your next lockout is. Knowing what to do in such a situation can make a world of difference. This article will tell you what to do and what not to do if you ever get locked out of your car in the future.
Let’s begin!
1. Breaking the Window Isn’t an Option
Locked out of your car? Here’s a bright idea that immediately magically pops into any locked out motorist’s head. That’s because in pressure situations, not knowing what to do can lead to unwise decisions.
Remember that by breaking a window, you’ll make this entire situation much more costly than it needs to be. Not only will it cost a lot to repair, but you also run a pretty high risk of hurting yourself with shattered shards.
2. Carry a Spare Key
Prevention is better than cure — and you’ll remember that after your first time getting locked out.
Having a spare key in your wallet or purse will always be the most effective get out of jail free card for this situation.
With time, people have found creative ways to stash spare keys on the outside of their cars secretly. A popular one is to have your key in a magnetic box attached to the vehicle’s underside.
Sometimes, your purse or wallet may be inside your locked car, but that magnetic box will always be where you left it — pretty neat!
3. Call a Locksmith
If you don’t have a spare key and no other options are in sight, calling a locksmith is your best bet. They’ll have advanced auto entry tools to get you back into your car in no time.
4. Call 911
Sometimes, you can get locked out of your car in the unfriendliest locations at the worst times. If you feel unsafe at any point, feel free to call emergency services to help you out. The police can help get your vehicle towed to safety (at your expense).
5. Roadside Assistance
Many locked-out motorists don’t know of (or forget about) roadside assistance and how helpful they can be in such a situation. It may take them a bit to get to you, but they can quickly unlock your car for you.
You’ll probably have roadside assistance services covered within the warranty duration if you have a new car.
You’ll find the contact details inside the owner’s manual — but that’s probably stashed into your dashboard. Luckily, sometimes their contact number will be mentioned on the window decal. If not, call your dealership to get it from them.
If you’re reading this article as a precautionary measure for the future, make sure you check your owner’s manual and feed the roadside assistance contact details into your phonebook right away.
