How to Unlock a Car Door After Locking Yourself Out

By: Admin Sep 21, 2022

Here are some tips for getting back into your car without damaging it.

 Uh-oh. It really did happen. You grab your vehicle's door handle and. . . nothing! You're locked out, and the keys are visible on the console. Ugh.

 What measures can you take if you've locked yourself out of your car? While many vehicles with push-button ignitions have measures in place to avoid this, lockouts continue to be an issue for millions of drivers whose vehicles use traditional keys for the ignition and door locks (and this goes for drivers whose cars have electronic key fobs).

Call a Locksmith—or Not


If this happens to you and you are a member of the American Automobile Association (AAA), you can contact this group for assistance from a locksmith. One advantage of AAA membership is the free lockout service.


You can also call a locksmith directly—some will take on car lockouts—but you'll have to pay for their services out of pocket.


There are alternatives if you don't have a AAA membership and don't want to pay for a locksmith. Here's all you need to know about unlocking a car door when your keys are inside.

Lockout Apps and Roadside Assistance


Some automakers have smartphone apps that allow you to unlock yo

ur vehicle during a lockout. For example, with a General Motors OnStar subscription, you can use an app to remotely unlock your Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, or GMC. BMW and Hyundai, as well as several other automakers, provide similar apps. Check your automobile manufacturer's website to check whether a downloadable lockout app is available.

 

Another method carmakers can help during a lockout: If you own a new or certified pre-owned vehicle, the automaker may provide free roadside assistance for the first few years of ownership. This service frequently covers lockouts. If you bought your vehicle new or as part of a certified pre-owned program, visit the manufacturer's website to see if you qualify for roadside assistance.

Use a String to Unlock the Door


A long, strong thread, such as a shoelace, can assist you in unlocking your automobile door. It should be noted that this method only works on vehicles that have a traditional, post-type door lock with a little knob on top (as shown above). Here's how to use a string to open a car door:

  • Make a slipknot in the center of the string. (Don't know how? Find out!)

  • Gently pry open a space between the top of a front door's window frame and the car body with a doorstop or a thin piece of wood (as far rearward on the upper door frame as possible). If you proceed too quickly, you may bend the door frame, resulting in an air leak and wind whistling, so proceed with caution.

  • Lower the slipknot into the car's cabin through the opening formed.

  • Adjust the string ends until the slipknot is positioned beneath the knobby upper end of the door lock's post.

  • Pull both ends of the string to tighten the slipknot around the post.

  • Pull the post upward to unlock the automobile once the knot is secure.

Try a Rod or Wire Clothes Hanger


During a lockout, you can also utilize a rod or a straightened wire clothes hanger to save the day. This strategy works well in vehicles with power door locks and lock buttons on the armrest.

  • Gently pry open a space between the top of one of the car's front-door window frames and its body with a doorstop or a thin piece of wood. To avoid harming the vehicle, go slowly and gently.

  • Insert the rod or straightened clothes hanger into the gap you've made.

  • Open the car door by sliding or depressing the door-lock flipper or button with the rod or clothes hanger.

Remember that getting a string or a wire hanger into place in such a small location is quite tough. It may take some time and several attempts to get these improvised tools into position, but it is possible (we speak from experience). Don't give up and be patient! When you're locked out of your car, one of these solutions may come in handy.