Locked Out of a Car While On Vacation? Here’s What To Do.

A-1 — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:15:49 +0000

You’re finally on the vacation you’ve been waiting for all year long. You stocked up on PTO, set aside money in your savings, and even bought one of those fancy GoPro cameras to record your excursions. You’re a hero to your spouse, and kids. You walk to your car after the first night in the hotel, ready to get started. That’s when you realize… you locked your keys in your car.

Great. Now what?

This is a common problem. After all, four million Americans lock their keys in their car annually. But with summer coming up, chances are higher that you might get locked out of your car while on vacation in an unfamiliar area. If that happens, here are your options:

1. Get the spare key, if you have one.

If you have an extra key on hand now is the time to get it. Don’t have one? A local locksmith can cut and/or program extra keys so you don’t have to worry about this problem in the future. Better safe than sorry!

2. Evaluate your surroundings.

If you don’t have a spare key, your first step is to get familiar with your surroundings. If you need to call the police or your insurance company, you’ll need to give them as much relevant information as you can. So take note of nearby roads, landmarks, and where your vehicle is located. If there’s a gas station nearby, they may sell tools needed to unlock your vehicle.

3. Determine whether you need to call 911 or not.

If you’re in a threatening situation, such as an abandoned road or sketchy part of town, you may need to call the police. This is especially true if a child or pet is locked in the vehicle. If it’s a hot day, you may even want to consider breaking the side window of your vehicle to get them out. It’s partially a judgment call, but the 911 dispatch officer should be able to give you further instruction.

4. Call your insurance agency or warranty company.

If it’s not an emergency situation, you may have roadside assistance services with your insurance agency or the company that manages your vehicle’s warranty. Just keep in mind that this option will likely require a waiting period, and your vehicle might just end up having to be taken away by a tow truck.

5. Call a local locksmith.

Your best option might be to call a local locksmith. The right one will send an experienced, licensed team member to your location and provide emergency lockout services. Furthermore, the best locksmith companies can even work with your insurance company so that you don’t have to pay for the locksmith’s services. Either way, a locksmith is trained to deal with these situations.