Keys Locked in Car? How to Unlock It Safely (2026)

If your keys are locked in the car, check every door and the trunk, then try a spare key. If that fails, use a maker app or call roadside assistance or a locksmith. If a child or pet is inside, call 911 first. This guide covers the legitimate options in order, and explains why we do not give step-by-step break-in instructions.

Common Ways Keys End Up Locked Inside

Most lockouts are plain mistakes: keys set on the seat or in the trunk, a door closed with the lock button held down, or a fob left in a bag you just put in the back. Keyless-entry cars add a twist, because a dead fob battery or a car that has gone to sleep can leave you outside even with the key in your pocket. The fix depends on one thing first: is anyone, or any animal, still inside?

Whatever the cause, check every door handle and the trunk release first. One door left unlocked ends the problem for free.

Child or Pet Locked Inside: Call 911 First

Do not spend time on apps or calls to a locksmith if a child is alone in the car. NHTSA and the National Weather Service say to call 911 immediately, and that if a child is not responsive or appears to be in distress, you should try to get into the car to help, even if that means breaking a window. Many states have Good Samaritan laws, but they differ, and some require you to call 911 first.

Heat is the reason for the urgency. A joint NHTSA and National Weather Service page reports that in a heating study the temperature inside a car rose on average 19°F in 10 minutes and 34°F in 30 minutes, and that 80% of the total rise happens in the first 30 minutes. The same study found that cracking a window made less than a 3°F difference, so a window left slightly open is not a safe margin. Source: National Weather Service and NHTSA. Treat a pet locked inside as an emergency too and call 911 or your local emergency number.

What to Try First: Free Fixes

If nobody is inside and the car is not running, work through these in order. Each one costs nothing.

1. Check every door and the trunk. Rear doors and liftgates are often missed.
2. Get a spare key. A family member, a coworker or a spare in a safe place is the fastest fix, even if it means waiting.
3. Try your maker’s app or connected service. GM’s OnStar and Ford’s app are examples of services that can unlock doors remotely, but they depend on your model year, account and subscription, and you must have set them up before the lockout.
4. Check the coverage you already have. Roadside add-ons on an insurance policy, a credit card, a car warranty or a new-car roadside plan may include lockout help. Look at the policy or call the number on the card.
5. Call roadside assistance. Details on AAA below.

Does Your Car App Work When the Key Is Inside?

This is the myth that surprises people. Many drivers assume the app is a guaranteed backup. Ford’s own support page says otherwise: Ford is not able to remotely lock or unlock your doors if your keys are locked in the vehicle, and it directs completely locked-out owners to Roadside Assistance, which Ford says is included for certain owners and available to everyone for a per-service fee. Ford also lists basic troubleshooting for a failed command: make sure the vehicle is not in Deep Sleep mode, check that no door, tailgate, trunk or hood is open, restart your phone and try again, and test the key fob.

Other makers have their own rules, so read your maker’s support page now, while you are not locked out. Also remember that an app only helps if your phone has signal and charge and your subscription is active.

Why We Do Not Teach Coat Hanger and Shoelace Tricks

You will find videos that show how to open a car with a coat hanger, a shoelace or a wedge. We have removed those steps from this page. Tools pushed down inside a door can scratch the window seal and damage the wiring and linkage in the door, and a method that opens your car for you also opens it for someone else. Ford makes a similar point on its support page, saying it does not encourage locking keys in the vehicle because of safety and theft concerns. Newer cars are built to resist these tricks, so you can spend an hour and still end up calling for help.

If you want a hands-on technique, a licensed locksmith or roadside technician has the right tools and the training to use them. Never use force on a door or window unless a person or animal inside is in danger.

Locksmith vs. AAA: Which Should You Call?

If you belong to AAA, call them first. AAA says lockout service is part of its roadside benefits: it will send a technician to unlock your vehicle at no additional charge beyond your membership. If the technician cannot get in on site, AAA says it will tow the vehicle under your membership’s towing terms. If you use your own locksmith instead, AAA says it reimburses up to $50 for Classic members and up to $100 for Plus and Premier members. These figures come from a regional AAA page as of October 2026, and amounts and call limits vary by club, so check your own plan.

Option	What it costs	Best for	Watch out for
Spare key or friend	Free	Anyone with a spare nearby	Travel time
Maker app or connected service	Depends on your account and subscription	Cars already set up before the lockout	Ford says it cannot unlock remotely with the key inside
AAA roadside	Included with membership; reimbursement up to $50 (Classic) or $100 (Plus/Premier) if you hire your own locksmith, as of Oct 2026	Existing members	Plan terms differ by club
Locksmith	Quote varies by area and time, so ask for the total first	Non-members, keyless cars	Hidden service call fees; verify the business before work starts
Police	Usually free if they help	Child or pet inside (call 911)	Many departments do not handle routine lockouts

Before a locksmith starts, ask for the full price including any service call fee, confirm the company name matches the one you called, and ask to see ID. For more on picking who to ring, see our guide on who to call when locked out of your car, and our explainers on whether police will unlock your car and why a car can lock with the keys inside.

Preventing Future Lockouts

Keep a spare key with someone you trust, and lock the car with the key or fob, not the interior button. Make a habit of checking your pocket before you close the door. If you do store a spare key on the vehicle, use a code-locked box rather than a bare magnet case and avoid the obvious spots like the wheel well, which are the first places anyone would check. Our roundup of spare car key storage options compares more choices. Set up your maker’s app now and read what it can and cannot do with the key inside.

If your key is lost rather than locked inside, see how to find a lost key fob inside your car, how to unlock a car door without a key and what a new car key costs.

Keep reading

• Does AAA Unlock Cars With Keys Inside?
• What to Do If You Locked Keys Inside the Car
• How to Unlock a Car Door: Dead Fob, Frozen Lock, Weak Battery

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to unlock a car?

There is no single national price, because it depends on your area, the time of day and who you call. Roadside plans can cover it: AAA says lockout service is included with membership, and it reimburses up to $50 for Classic and $100 for Plus or Premier members if you use your own locksmith (as of October 2026, varies by AAA club). For a locksmith, ask for the total price, including any service call fee, before they start.

Will police unlock your car for free?

Sometimes, but it varies by city and department. If a child or pet is locked inside, call 911 first. Otherwise call your local non-emergency number and ask whether they help with lockouts.

Does AAA unlock your car for free?

AAA says lockout service is included in its roadside benefits, with a technician sent to unlock your vehicle at no additional charge beyond your membership. If on-site entry is not possible, AAA says it will tow the vehicle under your plan’s towing terms. Terms vary by club and plan, so check yours.

Can your car app unlock the car if the key is inside?

Not always. Ford states that it cannot remotely lock or unlock your doors if your keys are locked in the vehicle, and recommends Roadside Assistance if you are completely locked out. Other makers set their own rules, so check your maker’s support page before you count on the app.

What if the keys are locked inside a running car?

Call roadside assistance or a locksmith and do not try to force the door. If a child or pet is inside, or anyone is in distress, call 911 immediately.

Keys locked in the car is a common, fixable problem. Check every door, try a spare or your maker’s app, and call roadside help or a locksmith if nothing works. Never leave a child or pet to wait: call 911 first.