How to Get Keys Out of a Locked Car
Published 2026-09-12
Short answer: check every door and the trunk first, use your phone app if your car has one, and do not attack the window gap with a coat hanger on a modern car. If none of the free options work, an automotive locksmith is almost always faster and cheaper than people expect, and far cheaper than a broken window or a bent door frame.
This guide walks through the options in the order worth trying them, including the ones that are free, the ones that risk damage, and what to expect if you call a professional.
Try the free options first
Walk around the car and physically pull every handle, including the trunk and hatch. On many cars the trunk stays unlocked after the doors lock, and folding rear seats can get you to the cabin.
If your car is from roughly 2015 or newer, there is a good chance the manufacturer app can unlock it remotely: myChevrolet, FordPass, Toyota App, MyHyundai, NissanConnect and similar apps all include remote unlock if the car has an active connected-services account. Setting the app up takes minutes and works even if you have never used it before, as long as the car is enrolled.
Roadside assistance you already pay for often covers lockouts: AAA membership, your insurance policy roadside add-on, and many new-car warranties include it. Check your insurance app before paying anyone.
The coat hanger and wedge tricks: what they really do
The classic wire-hanger trick was designed for cars with vertical post locks, which mostly disappeared decades ago. On a modern car, fishing blindly through the door risks scratching paint, tearing the weather seal, and snagging the wiring or side-curtain airbag sensors that live inside the door.
Professional lockout kits use an inflatable wedge to open a small gap at the top of the door and a rigid long-reach tool to press the interior unlock button. Done by someone who does it daily, this takes a couple of minutes and leaves no trace. Done for the first time in a parking lot with improvised tools, it commonly leaves a door that whistles on the highway.
If you are going to try anything yourself, the least risky target is the interior unlock button via a purpose-made wedge kit, not the lock cylinder or the window.
Can the police unlock your car?
In Florida, police departments generally will not open your car for convenience. Most agencies stopped routine lockout service because of liability for damage. The exception is an emergency: a child or pet locked inside a hot car changes everything, and you should call 911 immediately. Florida law also protects bystanders who break a window to rescue a child or pet in danger, but that is an emergency measure, not a plan.
What a locksmith lockout call actually costs
A straightforward car lockout in Florida typically runs somewhere between 60 and 150 dollars depending on the city, the hour, and how far the technician drives. After midnight or in a remote area it costs more. That number opens the door without damage; compare it against 200 to 400 dollars for a replacement window plus the glass shop visit.
Be careful with too-good-to-be-true quotes. The classic bait is a 19 dollar service call advertised online that becomes 200 dollars of "labor" on site. A legitimate company quotes you a realistic range on the phone, including the service call fee, before anyone drives to you. Our car locksmith page explains what a real quote should include, and our Florida locksmith pricing guide lists typical ranges for every common job.
Response is fastest in metro areas. In a city like West Palm Beach, lockout calls are routine at all hours; in rural areas expect a longer drive time and a higher trip fee.
Locked keys in the trunk, or a dead key fob
Keys in the trunk: most cars let a locksmith open the driver door normally, then release the trunk with the cabin button. Cars with a valet lockout on the trunk can be trickier, but still solvable without damage.
If the fob battery died, the car is not actually locked against you: there is a hidden mechanical key inside almost every fob, and a hidden keyhole behind the driver door handle cap on most keyless cars. Check the owner manual before assuming a lockout.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to call a locksmith or break a window?
A locksmith. A typical Florida car lockout costs 60 to 150 dollars with zero damage. A replacement window usually costs 200 to 400 dollars, plus your time at the glass shop, plus vacuuming glass out of the seats for weeks.
How long does a car lockout take?
The unlock itself usually takes under five minutes for an experienced technician. The wait is the drive time, which depends on your location and time of day.
Will unlocking the car damage it?
Not when done professionally. Wedge-and-reach tools are designed to open the door without marking paint or bending the frame. Improvised coat-hanger attempts are where damage happens.