Locked Out of Your Car?

Chances are you will find yourself locked out of your car at least once during your life, and the way that it normally works out is that you will be locked out when you least want it or need it to happen. While it is easy to panic in such situations, or at the very least find yourself getting seriously stressed out, don't let yourself do that. There are a few simple things that you can do to easily get this common situation fixed.

• Prevention. The easiest way to solve the problem of being locked out of your car is by taking a few steps to prevent it from ever happening in the first place. The simplest solution is to always ensure that you have your keys in your hand, but that isn't exactly something that you can guarantee to happen. The next simplest solution is to get a copy of the car key, and hide it somewhere on the outside of the car. This should be in a place that isn't easily accessible, or likely to be found, or knocked off too easily. A good place is on the inside of your wheel well that is on the backside of the wheel.
• Cops. Many towns and cities will allow the local police to help you get into your car if you are locked out. Simply call the nonemergency number, and ask to have a police officer come over to help you out. Be aware that you will be required to prove that the vehicle is yours, and that not all towns do allow this.
• Locksmith. You can also call a locksmith to come over and unlock your vehicle for you. As with the cops, you will need to be able to prove that the car is yours, but you will also be charged for the service. Depending on the amount of work that it can take to get your car door open, don't be surprised to pay up to $50 for the service.
• Tow truck. Another option for having someone come to help you out, though potentially more expensive, is to call a tow truck. If you happen to belong to a car club such as AAA, or your car came with road side service, or you have this offered to you by your car insurance, you can have a tow truck come out be charged at most the same that you will for a locksmith. However, if you don't have this service through one of those other services you can end up finding yourself paying around $100 or more.
• Break the window. As an extreme last resort, and if you can't get your car door unlocked any other way, you can always break the window. This is an extreme option, and will require you to replace the window, which can easily cost over a $100 in parts and labor, and as such needs to be held as the last possible resort.