Emergency Car Lockout
Car lockouts are very common throughout the USA and it can be a very distressing time if this happens to you.
What You Should Do
Trying to perform DIY lockout services on your vehicle is likely to result in further damage to your car, so we highly recommend giving us a call and letting
and letting us assist during the lockout.
Our customer service team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you require assistance call us on (888) 979-7923 and one of our emergency locksmith pros will reach you within 30 minutes!
What You Shouldn’t Do
Our expert locksmiths have provided detailed examples of things that the vehicle owner should not do following a car lockout. These examples are highlighted below:
- Use of excessive force– lockouts can be very stressful. Wanting to get back into your car as quickly as possible can cause people to try and force their way back in. If you do not have the expert knowledge and professional tools on hand, then a number of problems can arise. You could break the window, scratch the paintwork and even damage the electronics within the car door itself. Each mistake causing increased and unwanted expenditure to fix the mistake.
- Lock picking – trying to pick the lock yourself could result in damage to the internal cylinders of the lock. To rectify this damage, a new cylinder will have to be installed.
- Use of incorrect equipment – the use of equipment that is not supported by professional locksmiths can cause many problems. If you use a stick as a Slim Jim and it snaps inside the door panel, the electronics could be damaged. A hairpin will not act as a lock picking tool, as it is not strong enough to manipulate the lock and could snap inside.
How Will The Locksmith Open Your Car?
There are a number of ways to get back into your vehicle, and we will detail a few of them in this article. This will allow you to gain a brief understanding of the processes carried out by our professional locksmiths when they are on site.
Each of our locksmiths has the necessary skills and expertise to gain entry into your vehicle quickly and without causing any damage. We have professional tools onboard each vehicle across the US that will get into your car, whichever make or model you own.
The highest-rated method is using air wedges and specialist probe tools. The air wedge consists of an inflatable bag with a hand pump attached to it. The locksmith will place the bag between the door and weather stripping. They will then inflate the bag using the hand pump which will form an opening. Once the opening has been created, the locksmith will use a specialist probe tool that is used to release the door lock. There are many different locks thanks to the number of car manufacturers and the models they make. If your vehicle has a press button lock (most common), then the locksmith will use a rod to unlock the door. If a sliding lock or side door push-button lock is used in that vehicle, then a rod with a hook at the end is required to gain entry.
There are other methods available to the locksmith, which include:
- Slim Jim – this professional tool is utilized by sliding it down in-between the window glass and weather stripping. Sliding the Slim Jim across an upright lock will move the lock allowing the locksmith to pull the Slim Jim up gently releasing the door lock.
- Lock Picks – these tools are best suited for older vehicles. The locksmith will use these tools and pick the lock on your door by manipulating the components within the lock itself. It is not widely used across the US, due to the constant upgrades on newer vehicles to reduce the risk of your car being stolen. However, each locksmith has a toolset on their vehicle in case this method is required.
How Long Does It Take For The Locksmith To Arrive?
As soon as our call center receives your call, we aim to have one of our car locksmiths on site within 30 minutes, to help you through this stressful time.
We are a nationwide company covering all areas of the United States. So, wherever you are, simply call us on (888) 979-7923.
We have expert locksmiths on call 24/7, every day of the year so if you require an emergency lockout service in the early hours of the morning or during National Holidays - we are always here to help.
After a Lockout - Key Replacement Services
Key replacement services are important if your car key has been lost or stolen. You will need a new car key cut if you are to use the vehicle following the unlocking of the car by the locksmith.
Here at Ontimelocksmiths, our professional locksmiths carry all the necessary equipment to cut car keys in no time. We can program transponder chips inside the new key fob, which is required for the majority of vehicles manufactured post-2005. We also have the latest laser key cutting equipment that will allow our locksmiths to cut a new physical key for any vehicle. These types of equipment are not used by your local locksmith or hardware store, and with our excellent prices, we are more affordable than having your car towed to the nearest dealership.
We have articles regarding most vehicle manufacturers and the key replacement services that we offer for them.
Please head to https://www.ontimelocksmiths.com/car-locksmith to find out more.
Ontimelocksmiths are on standby at any given moment, so please call us on (888) 979-7923 today, and we promise to get you back into your vehicle quickly and hassle-free.
What Customers Say About Us

Dave is great! He was punctual and professional. And after installing the new locks on all of our doors, he cleaned up after himself! The same cannot be said for the last service I hired… would definitely recommend and use again!


We live not too far from Chicago and I spend about a hour and a half to get to my office. Mornings are always in a hurry for me and a broken door would be the worst I could expect. However, this was exactly what happened. I had no time to lose and so I called 247 Ontime Locksmiths. The expert guy from Locksmiths could fix the problem and I could go to work.


My car door didn’t open at all. Just a phone call to 24/7 Local Locksmiths and in less than 15 minutes I could drive my car again! Good job!
