Locked out: what to do next.

First, get safe

If it is late, cold, or you are somewhere that feels wrong, move to a lit, public place or back into a friend’s car before anything else. If a child or pet is locked inside a car, or the car is running in a closed space, call 911 first.

Locked out of the house

Walk the house before you call anyone. Check every door, including the back, basement, and garage entry, and any window you can reach safely at ground level.

• Ask anyone else who has a key: family, a roommate, a neighbor you trust, your landlord or property manager
• Renting? Many property managers can let you in during office hours
• Do not climb to a second-story window or break glass; a locksmith costs less than a hospital visit or a new window
• Call a licensed locksmith. Ours is License #474, and we open most house locks without damaging them

Locked out of the car

Check every door and the trunk release first. Some cars also unlock through the manufacturer’s app or roadside program, which is worth a look if you have one.

• Do not use a coat hanger or slim jim: modern doors hide airbag wiring, lock rods, and window seals right where a hanger goes
• If the keys are in the ignition with the engine running, say so when you call
• Have your ID and, if possible, the registration ready; any honest locksmith will ask
• Lost the key completely rather than locked it inside? A locksmith can cut and program a new one at the car for most makes

Avoid the lockout scam

Some "locksmith" ads are call centers that quote a low number, then send someone who drills your lock and triples the bill. Protect yourself with three questions on the phone.

• What is the company’s legal name and Maryland locksmith license number?
• What is the total price, including the service call?
• Will you try to open it without drilling first?

Make it the last lockout

Most lockouts come from the same few habits. A few small changes stop almost all of them.

• Keep a spare with someone you trust rather than under a mat, rock, or planter, the first places a burglar checks
• Consider a keypad deadbolt: no key to forget, and codes you can change
• Make a spare car key before you lose the last one; it costs far less than an all-keys-lost job
• Get in the habit of touching your keys before you pull a door shut
• Replace a weak car fob battery before it dies and leaves you stranded