If you have accidentally locked your keys inside your car or another vehicle, you will need to consider five things:

  • What is the current situation? Is it raining, sunny, etc.?
  • Where did it occur? Are you in an unsafe location, at your home or in a brightly lit safe parking lot?
  • What time is it?
  • Do you own the vehicle or is it someone else’s vehicle?
  • Should I call a locksmith in Houston?

These four questions will help you determine what you should do next. For instance, if you have accidentally locked your keys in your car at night, far from home and in a dangerous location, you should contact the police. If, on the other hand, you have accidentally locked your keys in your car at home, you have several different options.

Step One – Do you have a spare key?

If you do, call someone and ask them to retrieve the key and bring it to you. If you do not have a cell phone, find someone and ask if you can use their phone to make a quick call.

Step Two – Do you own the vehicle or is it some else’s vehicle?

If someone else owns the vehicle, you will need to contact the owner and let them know what is going on. Then, ask what they want you to do. Typically, you should contact the police and see if they will help get the vehicle unlocked. The police may require that the owner of the vehicle to sign a waiver form that states the police will not be held responsible for any damage caused while trying to unlock the vehicle. If the owner cannot come to the site, the police may ask you to sign the waiver once they have spoken with the owner on the phone.

If you are the owner of the vehicle, you can contact the police or a service provider like AAA or Onstar to assist you. Another option is to try to unlock the vehicle yourself.

Step Three – Try to Unlock the Vehicle Yourself

There are several different methods that you can do to try to unlock your vehicle. The first is to use a wedge-like device, often referred to as a slim to pry your window open. You can also take a clothes hanger, straighten it out and bend a small hook on one end. Then, slide the clothes hanger through the opening created by the wedge and slide it down to the lock and attempt to unlock the door. This may take several attempts and you will need to make sure that the hook is strong enough so that it does not bend when you are trying to unlock your vehicle.

Another option is to create a small hole in a tennis ball and place the hole that you created over the key latch. Hold the tennis ball firmly against the car door and push on the tennis ball. This method uses air force to unlock the door. The air that is pushed through the lock creates air pressure that may help to trigger the door to unlock.

If you have tried these methods and nothing is working, it may be time to contact the police. Or, you can contact a locksmith to help you. A locksmith will come to your area and has the tools and knowledge to open your vehicle. However, locksmiths do charge for this service and you may be required to sign a release form that is similar to the one that the police ask you to sign.

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