Don't try to break in yourself. Call a mobile locksmith. We open cars without damage in 15-30 minutes for $95-$150. If you have roadside assistance, they'll send a locksmith too, but expect a 45-60 minute wait. Never break a window unless there's a child or pet trapped inside.
How Does a Car Lockout Happen?
You're not alone. It happens to 4.2 million Americans every year. According to AAA's 2025 roadside assistance report, car lockouts are the #2 most common roadside emergency after flat tires. Push-to-start vehicles actually made it worse because people leave the fob in the car more often when they don't need to insert a key.
The most common scenarios we see: keys left on the seat while unloading groceries, fob left in the center console at a gas station, keys in the trunk after loading beach gear, and the classic pocket-pat-too-late after the door shuts. We handle 15-20 of these per week just in Boca Raton alone.
What Should You Do First?
Check all doors and the trunk before calling anyone. Sounds obvious, but about 1 in 10 people who call us for a lockout discover they left the trunk or a rear door unlocked. Takes 30 seconds to check and saves you a service call.
Next, check if you have a spare key somewhere accessible. At home? With a family member nearby? Some people keep a magnetic key box under the vehicle frame. If any of those options get you a key in under 30 minutes, that's your fastest path.
If no spare is available, call a locksmith. Not a tow truck. A tow truck takes your car to a shop and charges you for the tow plus the lockout. A mobile locksmith comes to you and opens the car where it sits. Cheaper and faster every time.
What Should You NOT Try?
Don't try to break in yourself. Seriously. We've seen the aftermath of hundreds of DIY car break-in attempts. Here's what goes wrong:
- Coat hanger through the door seal: Scratches paint, bends the door frame, and rarely works on modern cars with electronic locks.
- Slim jim: Modern car doors have wiring harnesses, airbag sensors, and side impact bars right behind the panel. A slim jim can damage thousands of dollars in components.
- Tennis ball trick: Doesn't work. That viral video was debunked by the Mythbusters team and every locksmith on the planet.
- Breaking a window: Costs $200-$500 to replace auto glass. Plus you still need to start the car. Only justified if a child or pet is trapped in a hot vehicle.
How Does a Locksmith Open Your Car?
Air wedge and long-reach tool. That's the standard method for 90% of modern vehicles. We slide a small air bladder into the door frame gap (doesn't damage the weatherstripping), inflate it gently to create a half-inch opening, then use a thin metal rod to reach the unlock button or door handle inside.
For older vehicles or certain European models, we use Lishi 2-in-1 picks that decode and open the door lock cylinder directly. This is a precision tool that only a trained locksmith can use effectively. It opens the lock through the keyhole without any force or damage.
The whole process takes 5-15 minutes once we're at your car. The 20-minute response time is the part that takes longest.
How Much Does a Car Lockout Cost?
$95-$150 from a reputable mobile locksmith in South Florida. That's our price and it's consistent with what other legitimate locksmiths in Broward and Palm Beach charge. If someone quotes you under $50, be suspicious. If they quote over $200 for a standard lockout, shop around.
AAA and other roadside assistance programs cover lockouts, but with caveats. The wait is typically 45-60 minutes (vs our 20-minute average). And AAA's locksmith coverage has a dollar cap. If the locksmith they send charges more than the cap, you pay the difference. According to AAA's 2025 membership terms, the lockout benefit cap is $100 for Plus members.
How Do You Prevent Future Lockouts?
Get a spare key made. A spare car key costs $75-$250 depending on your vehicle. That's less than one emergency lockout. Keep the spare in your wallet, give one to a family member, or use a magnetic key box under the vehicle.
For push-to-start vehicles, make sure you always have the fob on your body. Don't set it down in the car. Some newer vehicles beep if the fob is inside when you try to lock the doors. But older push-to-start models don't have that feature.