How to Unlock Your Car Door Without A Key

How to Unlock Your Car Door Without The Key

Modern vehicles often come equipped with fancy key fobs, touchpads, and remote-unlock sensors that virtually ensure you won’t lock yourself out. But what about the millions of poor souls who still manually lock and unlock their vehicles? Are prybars and shattered car windows in their future?

It is entirely possible to get your keys out of a locked car with a little bit of time, experience, and even more patience—and you probably won’t need to go to an auto body shop nearby to get your window fixed afterward. So how can you unlock your car door without a key?

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Utilize String or Fishing Line to Unlock Manual locks

Do you drive an old car with manual locks? Become MacGyver and grab a few feet of twine, fishing line, or shoestring. Create a loop in the middle of the string, and then work it through the doorway. Pull up and secure the loop to the locking device.

Try a Coat Hanger

You have certainly seen the coat-hanging technique in several films. It is a classic. A coat hanger and pliers are all that are required. Use the pliers to unravel the coat hanger so you have one side hooked and one that’s straight. You’ll place the coat hanger between the weather stripping and the window. You can start looking for the control arm after the hook is below the glass. When you find it, grab onto it to unlock your door.

Make Use of a String

Please watch the video to best understand this method:

As seen in the video, simply tie a slip knot in the string to make a loop the size of your index finger. Then, wiggle the looped thread into the driver’s window’s upper right corner. Now, while holding the thread in both hands, carefully move it back and forth (as if flossing a huge tooth).

By doing this, the string will move down the window and in the direction of the inside lock. This is when things might become challenging. Move the loop over the lock with caution while simultaneously tightening it by pulling the ends of the string. To open the automobile door, carefully pull up on the lock once you believe you have a firm grip on it. Voilà. You’re back in action and driving again.

Try Using an App

Using the mobile app from your car manufacturer, you can also remotely unlock newer vehicles. Prior to your lockout, you’ll need to register and connect the vehicle with your account, but doing so as soon as you buy your car will protect you from future lockouts. Here is a quick list of lockout applications for well-known car brands:

  • To lock or unlock your GM vehicle, start or stop the engine, sound the horn, and even locate the vehicle, among other things, myChevrolet functions as a remote key fob.
  • You can unlock, lock, start, stop, turn on the headlights, and activate the horn of your Hyundai using the Hyundai Blue Link® system.
  • Lock/unlock, Vehicle Health Reports, Maintenance Alerts, and connectivity to Alexa and Google Assistant are just a few of the services offered by NissanConnect®.
  • You can lock and unlock the doors, locate your Toyota, get recall notifications, and access maintenance information using the Toyota App.
  • The MySubaru app uses STARLINK to lock and unlock cars, start and stop them remotely, and even immobilize them when they are stolen.

Unlock your car with a Wire Clothes Hanger

Hollywood makes this approach seem simple, but we can guarantee you that it is not. A wire hanger, however, can open a car door using the power lock/unlock button. Just above the unlock button, straighten your hanger out, place it inside the door frame’s seal, and slowly pry it open until the hanger slides in. Point it in the direction of the unlock button.

Unlock with a Strip of Sturdy Plastic

Many amateur auto body workers may manufacture their own door wedges out of leftover plastic strips. Most manual locks can be activated by bending and sliding them through the car door’s crevices.

How to Unlock Your Car Door Without The Key

Use an Inflatable Pump Wedge

Buying an inflatable wedge kit can be a good option if you frequently lock yourself out of your car. You can prevent damaging the paint of the vehicle, which can occasionally happen when using metal tools, by utilizing these “auto entry tools.” The wedge separates the door from the jamb so that you can insert access tools or rods to release the lock.

Contact a Locksmith or AAA

It’s time to follow in the footsteps of Robin Hood and call the locksmith if your shoestring, wire hanger, or wedges aren’t working. Additionally, service companies like AAA are a fantastic choice because they offer lockout tool sets designed specifically for this situation. The drawback is that you’ll have to spend money on car-unlocking services.

Consider Calling the Police

Officers used to assist with vehicle lockouts while operating a slim jim. However, if your car is a modern model, some police officers today are unable to help. It’s a good idea to get in touch with the authorities if your situation is very dire. We advise calling a non-emergency line rather than dialing 9-1-1 unless you’ve locked a baby or animal inside a hot car and require assistance right away.

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