What to Do When You Are Locked Out of Your Car

If you are locked out of your car, stay with it and call a locksmith on 07988 388514. Tell them where the car is in Leicester, Leicestershire and what has happened. If this is happening now, call 07988 388514 — Auto Locksmith Leicester is fully mobile and open 24 hours.

First, stop and check the obvious

A lockout is frustrating, and the first minute is the one where a calm check saves the most trouble. Ask yourself three quick questions before you do anything else. Do you have a spare key at home that someone can bring to you? Does anyone else in the household hold a key for this car? And are you quite sure every key is out of reach — is one, perhaps, in a coat pocket or a bag you have not checked yet?

If a spare can be brought to you, that is the simplest answer of all, and it costs you nothing but a wait. If no spare exists or nobody can bring one, do not spend long searching the street for a solution — the next step is a phone call, not a search. Stay with the car while you think it through, keep your phone charged, and note exactly where the car is parked: the street, the car park name, or the workplace.

Then call a locksmith

Call Auto Locksmith Leicester on 07988 388514. We are fully mobile in Leicester, Leicestershire, East Midlands (LE1) and open 24 hours, so a lockout at night is handled the same way as one in the middle of the day. Tell us where the car is, that you are locked out, and whether the key is inside the car, in the boot, or lost altogether. That short account is enough for us to talk through the next step with you on the phone.

We will ask what has happened and where the car is, and we will be honest about what we can do once we understand the situation. If a visit is the answer, we come to the car — at home, at work, or in a car park — and open it for you there, wherever we can. You can read more about the service itself on the car lockout page, and the other guides are listed on the guides page.

If a child or a pet is locked in the car

Ring 999 before you ring anyone else. A child or a pet shut in a locked car needs the emergency services straight away — stay at the car and wait for them. A car heats up quickly, and a child or an animal inside cannot wait for a locksmith — the emergency services are the right first call, every time, with no exception.

When you call 999, tell the operator where the car is, what is locked inside, and how long it has been there. Stay with the car and follow their instructions. Once the emergency services are on their way, phone 07988 388514 with the car's location and a description of what is locked inside, so the locksmith knows the situation too. Never leave a child or a pet alone in a locked car while you wait for help.

What to have ready

Three things help the call go smoothly. First, the exact place where the car is — a street, a car park name, or a workplace — so we can find you without a long search. Second, a short account of what has happened: the key is inside, the key is in the boot, the key is lost, or the lock will not answer the key. Third, proof that the car is yours, ready to show when we arrive.

If you know the make, say so, and the model and year as well when you know them — those details help us understand the lock and the key before we travel. If you are unsure, say so rather than guessing. We will ask the questions that matter, and we will explain what we need from you before we set off.

If the key is lost rather than locked inside

A lockout and a lost key look alike from the pavement — either way you cannot get into the car — but they are different jobs once the call is made. If the key is inside the car, the answer is opening the car and handing you the key. If the key is lost altogether, there is nothing to hand back, and a replacement has to be made at the car instead. Say which one it is on the call, because the visit is planned differently for each.

If the key is lost, retrace your steps first while you still can: the shop, the workplace, the coat you were wearing. If it does not turn up, call 07988 388514 and say every key is gone, then tell us where the car is. A replacement key is cut and programmed at the car, and you can read more about that job on the lost car keys page. Bring proof that the car is yours when we arrive.

While you wait

Stay with the car if you can, and keep your phone with you and charged so we can reach you. If the car is in a busy place, stand somewhere safe nearby rather than in the road. Do not try to force a door or a window yourself — a bent frame, a broken window, or a damaged lock turns a lockout into a repair as well, and it rarely works.

If somebody offers to help by forcing the car open, say no and wait for the locksmith. If you are waiting somewhere unfamiliar after dark, stay in a lit place near the car and keep your phone in your hand. When we arrive, we will confirm what has happened, ask for proof that the car is yours, and then open the car for you, wherever we can.

If this is happening now, call 07988 388514. If you have questions about lockouts in general, the answers on the frequently asked questions page cover the common ones, and the car lockout service explains what happens on a visit.