As an automotive locksmith that has helped thousands of people regain access to their vehicles, we know this tends to happen in certain places more than others. Here are four places where you need to be especially thoughtful about your keys:

1. Home

Believe it or not, this is one of the most common places people lock keys in their cars. This is because we spend most of our lives leaving home, and coming back. Whether your mind is preoccupied with what went on during your day or your children are playing around with the car while it’s in the garage, it’s easier than you think for your doors to inadvertently lock while the keys are inside. Some ways to avoid this include making sure your keys are in the same spot of your home, or investing in a smart key fob that won’t let the vehicle doors lock while it’s inside.

2. Work

Next, the place most of us spend our second-greatest amount of time: work. Typically, people go to work five days a week and often take lunch breaks, so there are a lot of opportunities for this to happen. But one of the biggest reasons this happens is because we have work on our minds or are carrying things we need for work (e.g., briefcases, lunch). Adding a reminder to your phone or computer is one way to potentially mitigate the risk of locking keys in your car at work.

3. While Shopping

Shopping centers are another standard location for car lockouts. From grocery stores, and malls to big-box retailers, these places usually involve carrying bags back to your automobile. This leaves them prone to slipping—or you forgetting about them entirely. Or, if you have a trunk, you might put all your bags, and the keys inside the trunk and close it. Either way, having an auto locksmith you trust is invaluable to meet you at the store, and unlock your car.

4. On the Road

Finally, it’s not uncommon to lock keys in your car while on a road trip or if you’re having car troubles on the side of the road. These situations aren’t part of our routines, so our minds can get distracted, and we make a mistake with our keys. A-1 Locksmith has provided emergency, and mobile locksmith services time, and time again for situations like this.

Wherever you’ve locked your keys in your car in Dallas-Fort Worth, A-1 Locksmith is here to provide the best auto lockout services you’ll find. Contact us today if this ever happens to you.

Everyone is looking to save a little money these days.

This is why you’re seeing more, and more DIY projects emerge. If that sounds like you and you’ve been considering a car lockout kit, here are the advantages, and disadvantages to owning one.

What Is a Car Lockout Kit?

In case you aren’t familiar, a car lockout kit is for exactly what it sounds like—helping you when you’re locked out of your car. You can find car lockout kits at most major big-box retailers or online websites, and they’ll typically include a variety of items, such as trim removal tools, air wedge pumps, and fastener removers. You can often find these kits for $100 or less, which makes them seem like an affordable solution. But are they?

Pros of Car Lockout Kits

They’re affordable, and convenient, but car lockout kits also come with a few other benefits that make them appealing. These include:

• Effective: these kits usually include a wide variety of tools so you can try different reentry techniques.
• Convenient: you can use the kit immediately instead of waiting for emergency personnel or a professional locksmith. 
• Peace of mind: knowing you have a kit on hand will reduce stress, especially on long road trips.

Cons of Car Lockout Kits

What’s not to love about these kits? Well, there are some disadvantages to car lockout kits that most people don’t know about. These include:

• Damage: one of the biggest reasons to avoid a car lockout kit is the damage you could potentially do to your vehicle. You might break a window, locking mechanism or even the function of the door itself. (All of this can happen without unlocking the vehicle, too.)
• Limited: these kits don’t work on all vehicles, so it’s not guaranteed that you’ll be able to access the inside of your locked car again. Many people buy kits, don’t test them and then are frustrated that they don’t work in the moment of need.
• Safety: have you thought about where you’ll store the car lockout kit? It wouldn’t make sense to store in the vehicle, and keeping it on you is inconvenient. Another disadvantage that these kits create by their existence is the fact that criminals can buy them just like you. So, if they’re effective for you, they’re effective for them.

We hope this information helps you understand the pros, and cons of car lockout kits. If you have questions about automobile security or another security-related topic, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today!