How to Unlock a Locked Car Door Without a Key – 6 Useful Techniques

It’s a significant pain to find that you can’t get into your automobile. Especially if you are in a hurry and have no clue how to unlock a locked car door without a key, it may make the situation seem much more stressful. There is no use in making an effort to open the car door if you are not familiar with the necessary technical know-how.

You may avoid being in such a predicament by familiarizing yourself with the locking mechanism through this article. In it, you will learn about how to unlock a car door without a key and numerous approaches you can take to open the door of your locked vehicle with ease.

How to Open Your Locked Car Door?

First and foremost, you have to be aware that the locking mechanisms used in automobiles come in a wide variety of configurations. There are some modern automobiles that have a locking knob that is located on the inside of the top of the door just below the window. There are also some automobiles that have power locks that are designed to be operated by remote control, which is a feature that is very common in contemporary automobiles. Therefore, a strategy that works for one may not work for the other.

In any case, you shouldn’t let your mind dwell on all of it. In this detailed guide, we will walk you through the numerous options available to unlock the door of your locked automobile. But before you start utilizing any of these ways, make sure you are acquainted with the mechanism that unlocks your vehicle. This will help you choose which approach is the most effective for your vehicle out of all of these options.

Note that if your vehicle is equipped with a security system, the car alarm will sound if you attempt to open the door of your vehicle without the key. Keeping your identification close at hand in the event that the police approach you is a prudent move.

6 Highly Effective Methods to Unlock a Locked Car

1. Use the Spare Key

This is the simplest method for opening the door of your locked automobile. You may save yourself a lot of hassle as well as money by attaching a magnetic key box to the frame of your vehicle.

Make sure that your key box is fixed securely so that it does not come loose when you are driving in tough conditions. In addition to this, put the box in a safe and secure position so that no one can easily get their hands on it.

There is also the option of storing your extra key at home or in your wallet. Both of these are sensible choices. You can simply contact someone to assist you to retrieve it, and then you can use it to open your car’s door without breaking a sweat. This makes it so that even if you lock your keys in the vehicle, you won’t have any trouble figuring out how to unlock the door.

2. Use a Screwdriver and a Rod

This approach may be complicated and risky, particularly for those who are just starting out but considering that the vast majority of people are already familiar with how to open a vehicle door with a screwdriver, it is rather common. You simply need a screwdriver and a steel rod to implement this approach correctly and get the desired results.

It is important to notice that the rod must be very long and very thin. You may also use any other instrument that is solid that you have; the kind of instrument that you use is relevant as long as it is thin and long.

Pry your door open using the screwdriver in a careful manner until it is open enough for you to insert the rod. When you have sufficient room, place the rod into your car while maintaining your grip on one of its edges. However, before you insert the rod into the hole, you must first bend the other end of the rod to create a hook. This will make the job much simpler.

Be aware that trying to pry open the doors of your automobile with metal items might result in several damages, therefore you need to exercise great caution while doing so. If you feel uneasy about using the steel rod, you could visit a hardware shop in the area to look for an alternative instrument that better suits your needs.

Do not remove the screwdriver; it is serving the purpose of a wedge to allow you to move the rod. After that, make use of your rod to either pull the handle or hit the button that unlocks the door; this should allow you to get into your car.

You run the risk of slightly denting your door, but this damage is readily repairable. However, if you find this way to be handy, by all means, do it; just be sure you take all of the appropriate safety measures.

3. Use a Wire Hanger

For this procedure, you will need to get a wire coat hanger, untwist it, and then fashion one of the edges into a hook. Put it in your weatherstripping and wiggle it around until you find the locking mechanism. You will eventually succeed at this, even if it may take some time.

You may look up the locking mechanism for your car in the handbook so that you can find it in good time and know where to point your wire hanger, which will make the operation go much more quickly. Since you will be working with lock mechanisms rather than the button on your car’s door lock, this procedure may be used for horizontal locks.

There is no question that a shoestring can be utilized to unlock a vehicle door. It’s possible that this fact has caught you off guard, but it’s real. Although you may only utilize this method on automobiles that were manufactured with vertical-post door locks, the operation itself is quite straightforward.

Shimmy down the edges of the string until you reach the post. This is the first step. After you have maneuvered the loop of the slipknot so that it is positioned over the post, you will need to pull on both ends of the string in order to grip the post and raise it to the unlocking position. If you are looking for a straightforward method that will allow you to open a vehicle door from the inside, this is the one.

This strategy, as we have already said, is only applicable to older models of automobiles. Keep it in mind at all times. You also need to take off the location of your knot, and if you do it incorrectly, your lock might get damaged or your lock post could flex. The degree of difficulty of using this strategy is somewhat determined by the kind of vertical post that is present on your vehicle.

4. Slim Jim Method

 Slim Jim is a  tool designed to manipulate both vertical and horizontal manual locks. This device was created to be used on older automobiles, specifically for the purpose of unlocking closed car doors.

Using the hook on the end of the tool, insert the flat metal piece in between the window weatherstripping and the glass of the window. Turn your tool so that the hook is pointing in the direction of you. Utilize it to methodically scan the inside of your vehicle for the lock pin, and then use it to raise it.

There are a number of wires that are located within a car door; thus, you need to exercise extreme caution so that you do not damage any of these wires or, even worse, the whole door locking mechanism of your vehicle. If you do the latter, you will incur significant repair costs.

Therefore, before pulling up, it is essential to check that you still have your locking pin in your possession.

Because there are many more wires inside the door of a vehicle that is manufactured with a power lock system, it is not possible to utilize the slim Jim to unlock one of those types of doors. If there is no other way to open the automobile door, the Slim Jim should be used on the door that leads to the passenger compartment.

Why? Because the passenger door has a lot fewer things that may get in the way than the driver’s door does, the chance of causing damage is far lower. If you do decide to use this approach, you must, however, be aware of the risks that are associated with it. Even if you use the Slim Jim properly, there is still a chance that you may break your window. For this reason, the vast majority of locksmiths advise against using this approach.

If you have to use this approach, please make sure that you only apply it to older automobiles that were not manufactured with power locks. Always make an effort to be as careful and considerate as you can so that you may minimize the amount of harm done.

5. Get the Assistance of a Locksmith

Calling a locksmith to help you open the door of your vehicle is the most secure method, but it will also set you back some money. You may save yourself the stress of attempting numerous methods on how to unlock your locked vehicle door by calling your local locksmith, who will assist you in effortlessly opening the door. This will save you time and energy.

They are able to rapidly open a car door using the power locks even if your vehicle has a system that automatically locks and unlocks the doors. Locksmiths have extensive training to enable them to access the locks of any car, regardless of its model, in a competent way that causes little or no harm to the vehicle while using a number of specialized instruments.

6. Smashing Your Car Window

This should only be used in an urgent situation. If you have to break the car window, you should make sure that you use a hammer or a glass breaker and that you don’t aim at the center of your car’s window. Instead, you should aim at the outer edge of the window, which is the part of the window that is the most fragile, and then aim at the center of the window, which is the part of the window that is the most sturdy.

Destroying the window of your car is an extreme measure that should only be used in extreme circumstances, such as when an infant is being secured and you can’t get in. Due to the fact that you will be working with glass, you should also be concerned about the possibility of injuring yourself.

But if all goes according to plan, the only issue you’ll have to deal with is acquiring a new window. It is important that you remember to put your car within a garage in order to protect it from the weather while you wait for your window to be fixed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to open a locked car using a flathead screwdriver?

 Step 1: Identify the location of the unlock key

This is the most crucial one. If you are acquainted with your car, finding the unlock key should not be difficult for you. If you aren’t sure, you may consult the handbook that came with your automobile; it should tell you where the to unlock key can be located.
Step 2: Use a screwdriver to pry open the door.

Utilizing your screwdriver, carefully pry open your door, and then use it as a wedge to get in between your door and the frame of your door. When you wedge a door open with a screwdriver, you exert a great deal of pressure on both the door and the lock mechanism, which increases the likelihood that you will either bend the door or cause damage to the lock mechanism. Therefore, you have to do things as gently as you can.

Now you need to be able to get the screwdriver in the center of the door and frame, and then you need to be able to push it in until the tip of the screwdriver is inside your car. Make sure you maintain a safe distance from the hinges so that you have adequate room to work.

Step 3: Insert the tool to press the unlock button.

A long, narrow, and sturdy coat hanger is the most effective instrument that you might utilize for this purpose. You will need to position your wedge so that it creates the necessary angle for you to enter your tool.

If you are able to reach the electronic unlock key of the car, all you need to do to open the vehicle door is press the button down. However, if you are unable to reach your electronic key, you may still open your car’s door by utilizing the hook to pull the door’s handle.

Step 4: Take out the tool

Before opening your door, you must confirm that your tool and wedge have been removed. This is of the utmost importance. If you open your door while the wedge and tool are still in place, the lock mechanism on your car might be damaged, which would be a very expensive repair.

First, carefully remove your tool from its location, then pull the screwdriver out of its slot, and only then will you be able to unlock the door to your vehicle. If your vehicle has features that allow for remote door unlocking, there is no need for you to go through this process. Instead, you may look for instructions on how to unlock a locked car door without a key using a mobile phone and have your door unlocked.

What to do if my key is locked in the car?

Everyone despises the feeling of being unable to access their own vehicle, particularly if they have left their backup keys inside. Nevertheless, there are a number of successful approaches that you may attempt to open the door of your vehicle, including the following:

• Coat hanger method
• Use your shoestring
• Using a screwdriver and rod
• Use a Slim Jim
• Use a tennis ball
• An inflatable wedge
• Calling a locksmith

You may learn how to open the door of your vehicle by using any one of these ways.

What is the cost of popping a car lock?

In order to calculate the cost of picking a vehicle lock, you will need to take into consideration the fee for calling a locksmith, the kind of lockout you are experiencing, and a few other aspects of the situation. Because of this, the vast majority of individuals choose to educate themselves on how to pick their own auto locks.

The price of having a locksmith unlock your vehicle begins at $15, while the starting price for a car lockout is often $35. However, this price may vary based on the degree of difficulty of the task as well as other considerations. This comes out to a total of fifty dollars.

If you don’t have access to the spare keys or if the key that you currently have is damaged, the cost of having a new key made is often close to 160 dollars. You are not obligated to quickly manufacture a key for your automobile if you are unable to pay for the service.

Do cops help in unlocking the cars?

If you find yourself locked out of your car and are looking for assistance, calling the police is an option to consider, but it shouldn’t be your first choice. On the other hand, if they are unable to do it themselves, they may be able to assist you by calling a tow truck; however, you will be responsible for paying for this service.

Your vehicle will not be unlocked for free by the authorities, that much is obvious. In the event that police officers arrive at the scene, there is a possibility that they may break your car window in order to gain entrance to your vehicle since they do not have the equipment necessary to unlock automobile doors.

If you find yourself locked out of your car, it is in your best interest to contact a locksmith for assistance. You may have the option of calling a locksmith who specializes in emergency situations.

What is the cost of fixing a locked car door?

The price of fixing a vehicle door is determined by a number of different criteria, some of which include the components that will need to be replaced and the many things that might have caused the lockout. Therefore, it might be challenging to provide an accurate estimate of the cost to replace a vehicle door that has been locked. The price range is also determined by the kind of automobile, since the cost of spare components may vary greatly from vehicle to vehicle.

When a locksmith is called for the work, the cost of repair accounts for both the cost of the repair itself and the cost of the locksmith’s service. The difficulty of the task is taken into consideration when calculating the cost of labor. If you hire a locksmith to do the task, it will cost you between $75 and $220. Although this may seem pricey, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that your vehicle door will be safely and gently repaired.

The most costly option is to have your car towed to the dealership where you have service done. To begin, you will be required to pay the tow charge and negotiate the price that the dealership has established.

With the dealership, you may be certain that the problem with your locked vehicle door will be resolved, however, it is possible that the repair of your door will take longer than it would if you had used an auto locksmith. We estimate that going to a dealership to repair your locked vehicle door would set you back anywhere between $200 and $650.

Final Words

Since unlocking a vehicle door is much more technical than it sounds, you need to know the correct ways how to open your locked car door. This article has provided you with information on how to unlock a locked car door without a key. If you want to be successful in unlocking the door to your vehicle, it is imperative that you read each of the ways all the way through before beginning.

It is crucial to be aware that none of these techniques should be utilized in order to break into other people’s automobiles, since doing so is considered a criminal offense, and committing such an offense may result in detention.