Losing your car keys can make getting around frustrating, but if you don’t have a spare set it can be even worse. Fortunately, there are plenty of situations where you can still drive your car even if you don’t have your car keys, and if you don’t, there are plenty of ways to get help from an emergency locksmith. Below are some common situations when you may need the services of a locksmith for cars.
What Do Locksmiths Do?
In case you’re not familiar with them, locksmiths are professionals who specialize in improving your security. They do so by providing clients with solutions like installing new locks or doors, rekeying existing ones, and more. While it is certainly true that they provide services to people who lock themselves out of their homes (and cars), there are many other situations when you need them.
Here are some examples: when you have lost your car keys and can’t find them anywhere; if someone has stolen your car or home keys; if you have lost control of your vehicle because somebody took off with your keys; and when you find yourself locked out of your own home after locking yourself out in error! The above list only scratches the surface of situations where you might need a locksmith for cars. If you want to know more about such services, don’t hesitate to contact us.
If you lose your car key
If you’ve lost your car key, it will be much easier for you to get another key made for your car if you have an extra copy of your key. Most locksmiths will usually carry a duplicate or extra set of keys for most cars that they service, but if not then they’ll need to go ahead and cut one using the code on your ignition lock. However, if there is no way to access your car’s ignition lock because of physical damage, then even a professional won’t be able to create an extra set of keys without having access to an actual physical key.
In which case, hiring someone who can get into your vehicle in some other way (such as via their tools) may end up being necessary. If you’re locked out of your house: If you find yourself locked out of your house, either because you’ve lost your keys or accidentally locked them inside, then calling a local locksmith will almost always be quicker than trying to break in yourself. This is especially true if you live alone and don’t want to risk causing any damage to either yourself or your property.
Some home security companies also offer 24-hour emergency lockout services at reasonable rates. Just make sure that whatever company you choose offers free estimates over the phone before paying anything upfront. Or alternatively, see what special deals are offered by local locksmiths during holiday seasons like Christmas when many people tend to lose their keys.
If your key won’t turn
The first thing you should do if your key won’t turn is not panic. It’s probably just stuck in the lock. There are several ways to resolve that issue, but some of them can be costly, especially if you don’t know what you are doing and end up damaging your car or breaking its lock. A locksmith for cars can fix that for about $20-$30, depending on where you live.
The service will even come to your location and let you save time and hassle by taking care of everything on-site. If your key doesn’t turn but does break off inside of your car lock, it means that something might have been stuck there previously and broken off when you used force to try to remove it yourself. In such cases, getting a locksmith to open your door may cost you more than simply buying a new lock. However, most car owners agree that it’s still worth hiring one as they can often repair locks instead of replacing them entirely.
That way, they avoid having to pay for an entirely new set of keys and additional charges from their insurance company. Some people opt to replace their entire ignition system instead because they think it would be cheaper than hiring a professional locksmith for cars. This is rarely true though since most auto shops charge almost as much as mobile services do.
If your key breaks off in the lock
If you break your key off in your car’s ignition, call a locksmith to extract it. In most cases, your car dealership will not be able to replace it until you take your car in for repairs. If you try to remove it yourself, there is a risk that you might damage other parts of your vehicle and that can be costly if you have an older vehicle. With professional help, however, it should only take about 20 minutes for someone to extract your broken key from its lock.
If you are locked out of your car: If you find yourself locked out of your car, call a locksmith immediately. The longer you wait to get back into your vehicle, the more likely it is that someone will steal something from inside or vandalize it. A good locksmith service can come out quickly and unlock any door on any make or model of vehicle within 15 minutes or less. Most services also provide emergency services 24 hours a day so you won’t have to worry about getting locked out after hours either.
If you have an emergency lockout
The most common situation when you need a locksmith for cars is when you find yourself locked out of your car. If you lose your keys, break your key off in your ignition or lock yourself out, a good locksmith can get you back on track quickly and easily without forcing entry to your vehicle. Commonly, people call locksmiths because they’ve locked their keys in their car and can’t get back inside to grab their phone and wallet while they wait for help. A great way to avoid situations like these is to have an extra set of keys made up and leave them with someone trustworthy so that they can help you get into your vehicle if something ever goes wrong with your primary set of keys. Even if you don’t think it will happen to you, it could!
