Especially when you are in a hurry or you just easily forget about things, there are times that you would run out of your car without bringing your car keys with you. Situations like this either irk you or turn on your panic mode, particularly when it is an emergency.
However, there is no need to worry as long as you have your phone to call someone for help. In this article, I will show you the answer when you ask yourself, “locked my keys in the car, who do I call?”
Table of Contents
Who Do I Call if I Lock My Keys in the Car?
1. Friend or Family
Immediately call your close friends/roommates and family members who can get the spare keys for you.
2. Emergency Roadside Assistance
You might want to call emergency roadside assistance for help. When your car insurance already includes emergency roadside assistance, it might be faster than contacting the police.
Many refer to emergency roadside assistance as who to call for a cheap service, as it costs around $50 – $160 for a registered member, less expensive than calling a locksmith that might charge you from $150 to more than $600 to change a key fob.
Besides, roadside assistance can immediately dispatch the needed professional, depending on the situation or emergency.
3. Dealership
The dealership or company where you bought your car might be the people you want to reach out to. The vehicle warranty that came with your car will prompt the dealership to contact a locksmith to unlock the car, or they can open your door if they have remote access to it, depending on the car company.
4. Locksmith
If you do not have the proper insurance to get your car started after locking your keys inside, the best option might be to ring a locksmith for the car.
Search nearby locksmiths online, and it will only take them a maximum of 10 minutes before you are back on the road. But the fee might be pretty high if you intend to reprogram the key fob.
5. Police
If you feel that you are unsafe after having your keys left in car, you might want to call the police. This is because they are more concerned about your safety than your keys locked in car.
Also, you can try these methods if you want to get in your car without a key.
- How to unlock a car door with a bobby pin?
- How to unlock a car lock with a paperclip?
- How to unlock a car trunk lock?
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the police unlock your car for free?
Police will only come in emergencies, such as if a child or animal is locked inside the car. If you are in cases like these, immediately call 911 and provide the necessary information, like your location and car model.
If the police cannot unlock your door with some metal contraption, they may break your window. In this case, the police will not be paying for the damages to the broken window.
Needless to say, only call the police for dire and emergency situations.
How much does it cost to unlock a car?
There are different prices for unlocking a car, depending on the make, model, and time it can take to unlock it. Generally, the cost for locksmith can be from $50 to about $250 for unlocking, an extra $50 if you want your key duplicated, and even more to reprogram the key fob.
It also costs a lot to avail of car dealership assistance and towing service, as it can charge from $2.5 – $7 per mile.
It might be wise to avail of roadside assistance through your insurance to lessen the cost when your keys are locked in your car.
Does roadside assistance cover locked keys in the car?
If you have roadside assistance included in your insurance, you can sigh relief. Most of the time, insurance companies or car dealerships make this available in your insurance coverage.
Roadside assistance would also have additional services, such as towing services if your car cannot start by itself. It is always good to update yourself on the insurance coverage that you have with your vehicle.
How to prevent future lockouts?
Lockouts are a hassle, costing you a lot of money and wasting your precious time. Preventing future lockouts will give you the peace of mind that you deserve.
You might ask yourself, “what do I do?”. Here are the following practices to prevent future lockouts and save you money and time:
- Always bring a spare key. Put it in a convenient but safe place, such as underneath your car or on the tire. Duplicate one if you are currently without a spare key, it only costs from $30.
- Check your car keys when you leave the vehicle. Often tap your pockets to secure your car key before leaving.
- Give someone you trust a spare key. Be it a friend or family, secure a spare key to a trusted friend and call them when you lock your keys inside your car.
- Get a roadside assistance plane. If you have not included a roadside assistance plan in your car insurance, you might want to reconsider getting one.
Conclusion
Panicking and worrying should not be your first reactions when your keys are locked inside your car. Keep calm and draw your phone from your pocket.
Knowing the answer to the question “locked my keys in the car, who do I call?” should be common knowledge. When you lock your keys next time, call someone from the abovementioned people and say “I have my keys locked inside my car.”
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