I Locked My Keys In My Car, Who Do I Call?

You’re done with your errands, can’t wait to get home, and you put the keys down in the trunk or back seat to load your purchases. Then it sort of plays out like a bad, slow-mo movie scene as you watch yourself close the door, yelling “Nooooooo!” in monster voice. You frantically grab for the door handle, only to find it’s locked. We’ve all done this…right? No? Just us? (C’mon, back us up here!) 

Ok, well maybe it wasn’t you. It was your kids toying with the fun car buttons who then locked themselves AND the keys inside. Or it could be a simple case of over-stimulated distraction–you just left the keys in the car and it locked. Nothing exciting, just tragic. Or at least that’s how it feels in the moment. Who do you call? What to do first? We’ll break it down.

Emergency Situation

If you have the terrible misfortune of locking a child or pet in your vehicle, there is no wiggle room here–dial 911 right away. Life is in danger and you’ve got to act fast. And if push comes to shove, and you’re running out of time, it’s better to just go ahead and break a window than to regret things later on. 

Emergency services could also be a good choice if you don’t feel safe in your location and don’t have anywhere nearby to hang out while the situation is resolved. Thankfully, not every key-locked-in-car scenario is this dramatic (even though, yeah, it sure feels that way). 

Next Steps

Once you are in a safe place, your first call can be to a friend or family member to retrieve a spare key, given you know where it is. It’s always a smart idea to keep a spare around that’s easily accessible in times of emergency. 

If you don’t have a spare key available, or an obliging friend or family member who can get it to you, your insurance agent should be your next call. They’ll be able to access your policy and see if you have roadside assistance built in. They can then get you in touch with your provider and get help sent your way. If it’s after hours, and you can take the time, a quick call to your insurance company might yield a good result. Roadside assistance could mean a locksmith to open your vehicle, or a tow to your home.

And if none of these are viable options, or you can’t get a hold of anyone, it’s time to think about calling for a locksmith or a towing service. Some auto insurance policies reimburse towing or locksmith fees, so be sure to keep receipts and document any related expenses so that you can easily submit a claim after the fact. The good thing about a locksmith is that the only damage that’s done is to your wallet–they can get into your locked vehicle without so much as a scratch.

One last-ditch effort is to contact your local auto dealer, where you bought your car. There’s always a chance that they might be able to provide you with a key, so long as you can prove ownership. Womp womp if that’s locked in too. Some dealers might even offer key fob insurance as part of your vehicle’s warranty. That’s one worth checking in to.

In some cases, a credit card company will offer limited roadside assistance. That’s something to look into now, before you need it. Now that might mean a tow, not a locksmith, but at this point, any help is appreciated. And last, but actually, maybe first, if you have a membership to an automobile association (think AAA), a quick call day or night will typically get you what you need. Timing isn’t always ideal, so be sure you have somewhere safe to bide time till your rescue.

Rely on Your Hometown Heroes

When you get the exact help you need, at the precise time you need it, you realize that not all heroes wear capes. Here at Zinc we help to protect every area of your life, from business, home and auto, to Medicare, artists and collectibles. It’s our goal to be here when you call, whether that means you’re in a sticky spot, or you’d like to add roadside assistance to your policy so you never have to live through this again! Regardless, Zinc agents are always ready to help–get in touch today!