What should I do if I locked my keys in the car?
If a child or a pet is inside, especially on a hot or very cold day, call 911 now. Don't wait for a locksmith. Otherwise, try these first:
- Walk around and try every door and the trunk. On some cars one door doesn't lock with the others.
- Use the car's app if you set one up. Many newer Ford, GM, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Kia models can be unlocked from a phone.
- If the spare is at home and someone can bring it sooner than we'd arrive, do that.
- Check whether you have roadside assistance through CAA, your insurer or your car's warranty (see the comparison below).
Skip the coat hanger. Modern car doors have wiring, airbag sensors and anti-theft shields inside, and poking around in there can cost more to fix than the lockout itself.
How does a locksmith unlock a car door without damage?
We use two main methods, chosen for the car in front of us:
- Air wedge and long-reach tool. A soft inflatable wedge opens a small gap at the top corner of the door, just wide enough for a coated rod to press the unlock button or pull the inside handle. We protect the paint and the weatherstripping as we go.
- Picking or decoding the door lock. Most cars still have a key cylinder on the driver's door, sometimes hidden under a cap on the handle. We open it with a pick or decoder, the same way the key would.
Some cars need extra care, like frameless windows on certain coupes and convertibles. If yours is one of them, we'll say so on the phone. And if the alarm goes off when the door opens, that's normal. Using the fob or starting the car usually stops it.
Need car lockout now? A real person answers 24/7.
Call (647) 367-8113What if my keys are in the trunk or the fob is locked inside a push-start car?
| Situation | Why it happens | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|
| Keys locked in the trunk | You set them down while loading groceries or a stroller and the lid closed | We open a door, then you use the trunk release or fold the rear seat. If the release is locked out, we pick the trunk lock if the car has one. |
| Push-start car locked with the fob inside | Most cars won't lock with the fob inside, but a weak fob battery, a second fob or the app can lock it anyway | We open the door. The fob inside starts the car as normal. |
| Doors locked with the engine running | Auto-lock, a child pressing the button, or locking out of habit | Same damage-free entry. Stay with the car until we get there. |
| Key snapped off in the door lock | An old or worn key broke in the cylinder | We pull out the piece with broken key extraction tools, then open the door. |
Most fobs have a small metal key hidden inside for the driver's door. A plain copy of that blade, with no chip, opens the door but won't start the car, so it's safe to keep in your wallet. We can cut one through our key services.
Roadside assistance or a locksmith: which should I call?
Both can open a locked car. Here's a fair comparison:
| Question | Roadside assistance (CAA, insurer, dealer) | Mobile locksmith |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to you | Often included in your membership or policy, within its limits | You pay for the call, priced before we start |
| Wait time | Depends on demand. Snowy mornings and long weekends can mean long waits | Typical arrival about 15-30 minutes |
| Keys lost, not locked in | Usually a tow to the dealer | New key cut and programmed at the car |
| Key broken in the lock | Usually a tow | Broken piece removed and door opened on site |
If you already have roadside coverage and you're not in a rush, call them first. It may cost you nothing. If the wait is long, you're somewhere you don't feel safe, or the keys are gone rather than locked inside, a locksmith is usually the faster fix.
What if I lost my car keys instead of locking them in?
Then opening the door only gets you halfway, because you still can't start the car. You need a new key cut and programmed to the car's immobilizer, which we do on site for most makes. See car key replacement for how it works and what to have ready.
Lost them on the TTC or in a mall? Check lost and found first. If you think someone else has them and could know where you park, get a new key and have the missing one erased from the car's memory.
How much does a car lockout cost in Toronto?
We confirm the price on the phone and again at the car before we start, and there's no call-out fee. What changes it:
- The make and model, and how the door and lock are built
- Whether the keys are locked inside or lost, since lost keys means a new key, not just a lockout
- Night, weekend and holiday calls, which can cost more
What happens when you call?
Tell us the car and the spot
Year, make, model and exactly where it's parked: the street, the garage level, or the laneway behind your place.
Have proof ready
Photo ID, plus the vehicle permit or insurance card if they aren't locked in the car.
Damage-free entry
The technician opens the door with an air wedge and reach tool, or by picking the door lock.
Check papers, check the car
If your documents were inside, you show them now. We make sure the locks and windows work before we leave.
Page reviewed October 2026 by the LocksmithGT team.