Guide
Keys Locked in the Car: What to Do Next
If your keys are locked in the car, check every door and the boot, then your breakdown cover, then call an auto locksmith. A car lockout opened by an auto locksmith costs about £65 to £95, from the MLA and Bark. If a child or an animal is inside on a hot day, call 999 first.
What should you do first if your keys are locked in the car?
Check that someone is not at risk, then check the obvious. If a child, a vulnerable adult or an animal is shut inside, especially in heat, call 999 first. The police can decide whether to break a window, and nobody should wait for a locksmith in that situation.
If nobody is at risk:
- Try every door and the boot. One is sometimes left unlocked. - Think about a spare key. Someone at home may be able to bring it, and that is often the cheapest answer. - Look at the app. Some cars can be unlocked from the maker's phone app if it was set up before. - Read your breakdown cover. Some policies include help when keys are locked in the car.
Should you call breakdown cover or a locksmith?
Check the breakdown policy first, because if it covers lockouts you have already paid for it. The policy wording says whether locked-in keys are included and whether there is a limit on call-outs.
Call an auto locksmith if you have no cover, if the policy excludes it, or if the wait is long and you are somewhere unsafe. An auto locksmith is a locksmith who works on vehicles: the job needs different tools and training from a house lockout, so ask for an auto locksmith by name when you ring. Tell them the make, model and year, where the car is, and whether the key is visible inside. If the key is lost rather than locked in, that is a different job and a different price; the lost car keys guide covers it.
How much does it cost to get keys out of a locked car?
A car lockout opened by an auto locksmith costs about £65 to £95. The MLA's locked-keys page puts it from £85, and Bark's price guide gives £65 to £95 for an auto locksmith.
The figure can rise for:
- Evenings, nights and weekends. MyJobQuote puts locksmith out-of-hours surcharges at £50 to £100. - Distance, if the car is a long way from the locksmith's base. - Some models that take longer to open without damage.
Agree the total on the phone before the locksmith sets off, including any call-out, VAT and the out-of-hours rate if it applies. A locksmith based near the car can usually give a firm figure for a plain lockout.
Will the locksmith damage the car?
Opening the car without damage is the normal aim of an auto locksmith, using tools made for the job. Ask on the phone how they intend to open it and whether there is any risk to the paint, seals or glass. If anyone suggests breaking a window when nobody is in danger, ask why, and ask what the replacement costs, before they start.
Be wary of a coat hanger, a wedge or advice you have seen online. Modern doors hold airbags, wiring and side-impact sensors, and a botched attempt can cost far more than a locksmith would have charged.
What will the locksmith ask you for?
Proof that the car is yours. Expect to be asked for photo ID and the V5C logbook, or another document with the registered keeper's name. Often those documents are inside the car, so a careful locksmith opens it, then checks them before handing anything over. That is a good sign: a locksmith who opens cars for anyone who asks is helping car thieves, not you.
If the car belongs to an employer or a lease company, have the company's name ready and expect the locksmith to ask more questions.
Common questions
Will the AA or RAC open my car if I lock my keys in?
It depends on the policy you hold. Read the breakdown cover's terms or ring the provider; some policies include locked-in keys and some do not. If the wait is long, an auto locksmith may be quicker.
How long does it take a locksmith to open a car?
Once the locksmith arrives, a plain lockout is usually a short job. Getting there is the variable, so ask for a realistic time on the phone, and be wary of anyone who promises a fixed number of minutes before they know where you are.
Can a locksmith open a car without the logbook?
Many will open the car first if the documents are inside it, then check them before handing anything over. Have photo ID ready, and say on the phone where the logbook is.