It happens to everyone: the door shuts, and you see your keys sitting on the seat. Or the fob dies in a cold parking lot. A lockout feels urgent, but the most expensive part of a lockout is usually what people try before help arrives.
First: is anyone or anything inside?
If a child or a pet is locked inside the car, especially on a hot or very cold day, call 911 right away. That's an emergency, and emergency services will treat it as one.
What NOT to do
Don't use a coat hanger. Modern car doors are full of wiring, airbag sensors and plastic clips. A hanger can scratch the glass, tear the weather stripping and pull wires loose.
Don't buy a slim jim online and "figure it out." Many newer cars have side airbags and electronic locks inside the door. Poking around blind can damage them.
Don't break a window unless it's a true emergency. A broken window costs far more than a lockout call, and it leaves your car open until it's fixed.
Don't force the door or the trunk. Prying at the edge of a door bends the frame, which can lead to wind noise and water leaks for years.
Don't keep pressing a dead fob. If the fob doesn't work, the battery may be dead. Most fobs have a hidden metal key inside — check before you call.
What to do instead
- Check every door and the trunk. Sometimes one door is still unlocked.
- Look for a hidden key inside your fob.
- Think about a spare key: is someone at home who can bring it?
- Check your car's app if it has remote unlocking.
- Stay somewhere safe and warm while you wait.
- Call for help and tell us your car's year, make and model and where it's parked.
Special cases
Keys locked in the trunk. Some cars have a trunk release inside the cabin or a fold-down rear seat. Once the door is open, you may be able to reach the trunk from inside.
Car running and locked. It happens more often than you'd think. Keep an eye on the fuel level and call right away.
Lost keys, not locked-in keys. If the keys are gone completely, unlocking the door won't get you driving. You may need a new key programmed for your car. Tell us that up front so we can point you in the right direction.
Parking lot lockouts around Bridgeport
Most lockouts happen in parking lots: grocery stores, train stations, hospitals, workplaces. That's exactly where we can help. Joey Towing and Rental helps with lockouts on local streets, in driveways, garages and parking lots around Bridgeport. For safety, we don't work on highway shoulders.
Preventing the next lockout
- Keep a spare key with someone you trust nearby.
- Replace your fob battery every year or two.
- Make a habit of keeping your keys in your hand until the door is closed.
A lockout is just an inconvenience — as long as nothing gets damaged trying to fix it. Call us, stay safe, and we'll tell you right away how fast we can get there.
