Getting locked out of a vehicle is never a fun experience, but knowing what to do can help to relieve your anxiety and get you back inside your car or truck. Here are some steps to take when you have locked yourself out of your car.

Check All The Doors

Before making any calls or trying to break into your vehicle, check all the doors to see if any are unlocked. This may sound like a logical step to take, but in the panic of locking your keys in the car, you might simply forget to do this. If all the doors are locked, you can begin to take further steps to get back into the vehicle.

Assess If It Is An Emergency

Emergency lockouts should be handled differently than other lockout situations. For example, if you've accidentally locked your child or pet in the vehicle, you'll want to take steps to ensure the child or pet's safety first. You can break the window of the vehicle to gain entry if you have access to the proper tools, or you can call 9-1-1 to get emergency assistance from the police. Remember that calling the police for help will get you back into the car more quickly than calling a tow truck, so don't be embarrassed to ask for help.

Check Your Roadside Assistance Plan

If you aren't facing a lockout emergency, check with your car insurance carrier or your auto dealership to determine if vehicle lockouts are covered under your roadside assistance plan. In some cases, your insurance agent or auto dealership can contact an emergency locksmith for you. The locksmith will come to your vehicle and help you to get the doors unlocked. If you don't have roadside assistance, contact your local locksmith for assistance.

Stay Safe

It's important that you keep your personal safety in mind while you are waiting for help. If your car is parked on a street, stay on the sidewalk away from oncoming traffic. Should you feel unsafe standing on the street to wait for help, look for a nearby business you can visit while you wait. Be sure to let your locksmith know where you are so you can be located once he or she arrives.

Your local locksmith can help you to unlock your vehicle, make spare keys, and even help with ignition problems on your vehicle, so make sure to keep his or her number stored in your phone in case you ever need assistance again.

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