Retrieve Keys Locked Inside a Car with a Pull Up Lock

There are lots of ways to retrieve keys locked inside a car. If you have an older car model with a pull up lock knob, you can use or . You can also try an , such as a blood pressure cuff. Lastly, if your is still unlocked, you could push the seats down and enter through there.

Steps

Hanger

1. Use this method if you have an older vehicle and need a simple method for opening your door. This method works on both vertical locks and horizontal locks, or those that are close to the door handles. However, this method does not work well with newer or luxury vehicles as there are many electrical wires that can be damaged in the process.
2. Obtain a metal coat hanger. You will need a metal coat hanger to use for this method.
3. Bend the shape so that it is straight with a hook on the end. It may help to double up the metal so that it is stronger when pulling on the door handle mechanism.
4. Slide the hanger in between the window and weather stripping. Slide the hanger in between the rubber covering the bottom edge of the window (weather stripping). Push the hanger inside from the corner of the window where there is a small gap in the weather stripping.
   • Work carefully and deliberately when inserting the coat hanger, or you might scratch your car.
5. Jiggle the coat hanger hook until you can hook the door mechanism. Move the hanger around towards the rear edge of the door about 6 in (20 cm) from the edge. It may take a little while but keep trying until you figure it out.
6. Pull up to unlock the door. Once you have found the pin for the door mechanism and hooked it with the hanger, pull up. This will unlock the door and allow you to get inside the vehicle to retrieve your keys.

Shoelace

1. Use a shoelace to open your door only if your doors open by pulling up. Some doors have locks that stick up on the door panel while others have locking mechanisms on the side of the door near the door handle. A shoelace or string can only be used on door mechanisms that pull up.
   • This method is simple but might require some practice.
2. Tie a slipknot in the middle of the shoelace. Tie a slipknot that can be tightened in the middle of the shoelace.
   • Create a loop in the middle of the shoelace by taking one end of the shoelace and crossing it over the other end. Hold the meeting place of the strings with your left thumb and forefinger.
   • On the right side of the loop use your right hand to create a new loop in that side of the string. The loop will not cross this time but simply create a bump in the string.
   • With your right hand bring the second loop through the left loop.
   • Holding the loop in place with your right hand (so the loop does not close), tighten the knot by pulling on the free ends of the shoelace.
3. Work the string into the door. Starting from the top corner of the door work the string inside the car by moving back and forth while pulling down. You should be able to slide the string all the way inside the vehicle until the loop is close to the locking mechanism.
4. Pull the loop tight around the lock. Move the string back and forth until the loop falls around the door lock. Once it is around the lock then you can pull on the ends to tighten the loop around the locking mechanism.
5. Pull up to unlock the door. Now that the loop is tight around the door lock you can pull up to release the door lock. This should unlock your door and allow you to reach your keys inside.

Inflatable Door Opener

1. Use this method for a simple way to retrieve your car keys that will not damage your vehicle. Using an inflatable object to open the door slightly will work for many different vehicles and helps prevent scratches to your car.
2. Confirm that all doors of your car are locked. More than one person has broken in through the driver's side door to retrieve keys locked inside, only to find another door unlocked.
3. Pry apart the corner of the door slightly. Hook your fingers into the lip near the top, right-hand corner of your driver's side door. Pull until you have a gap that is 1/4 in (.64 cm) wide.
   • If you lack the finger strength to do this with your bare hands, you can use a plastic lever to create the gap you need. Do not use a metal lever, as it can scratch the paint of your car's door. If only a metal lever is available, wrap it in a t-shirt or towel to minimize damage.
4. Slide a blood pressure cuff inside the gap you've created. Push your blood pressure cuff inside the gap until it is firmly between the door and body of the vehicle. Release the door once the cuff is in place.
   • You can use any kind of easily inserting and inflatable object. Stores actually sell inflatables made specifically for the purpose of retrieving keys from a locked car. If this happens to you regularly you may consider purchasing one of these kits.
5. Squeeze the bladder bulb of the blood pressure cuff. As it expands, it should widen the gap at the corner of your door. Continue to squeeze until you have a 1/2- to 1-in (1.27 to 2.54 cm) gap.
   • Don't over-inflate the bladder. Over-inflating can bend the metal in your door, breaking your window or knocking it off track.
6. Untwist a wire coat hanger to create a long, thin probing tool. If you don't have a coat hanger, you can use a stick, rod or similar object. The shape of this rod depends on the type of locking mechanism your car has.
   • Most cars can use a rod that is able to push on the lock button or handle door lock.
   • Cars with older locking mechanisms will require a hook-shaped tool to pull up the door lock.
7. Slide your rod or coat hanger into the gap you made with the blood pressure cuff. Use it to hook the lock button, or use it to press the automatic lock to unlock your car. You could also try pushing the lock switch on your door handle if your car has this type of lock.
   • In some cases, it may be easier to hook and retrieve the keys you've locked in your car--or to depress the door lock button on your key fob. It all depends on the structure of your individual car.
8. Retrieve your keys and try not to lock them in again! Use the tool to unlock your car and retrieve your keys or simply retrieve your keys. Try not to lock your keys in the car again or even better make a spare key to keep at home for emergencies.

Trunk Access

1. Use this method if you have locked your keys in the car but your trunk is still open. This is an to use if you do have access to your trunk.
2. Find the emergency cord. Most car trunks have an emergency opening cord that will open the trunk to the inside of the car. Look in the trunk to find this tab or cord. It will often be on the roof of the trunk or in the trunk door.
3. Pull the car to unlock the back passenger seats. Pull on the emergency cord to allow the back passenger seats to fall forward. Many sedans allow this feature.
4. Crawl through the opening. Now that the seats are unlocked there will be a space to crawl through. Move through the space and retrieve your keys to unlock your car.
5. Have a spare key made. Having a spare key is the best way to prevent emergencies in the future. Keep your spare key in your bag or at home so that you will always have a backup if you lock your keys in the car again.

Tips

• If locking your keys in your car happens often you can also get a small magnetic box to attach to your car and keep a spare key in it for any accidents.
• The inflatable method is the one most often used by tow truck drivers who come to unlock your car.
• Membership in AAA and roadside assistance packages with your insurance or car loan can make this a free, professional service.

Warnings

• Be careful when going into doors on newer vehicles because these tend to have many electrical wires in them that could potentially be damaged.
• If your car has an alarm, this process might set it off.
• Be very careful about damaging your car’s exterior or interior by using these methods. If you are in doubt, call a professional locksmith.

Things You'll Need

• Blood pressure cuff
• Wire coat hanger
• Plastic lever

Related Articles

• Break Into a Car
• Keep Track of Your Keys
• Get Keys Copied
• Install a Remote Keyless Entry System in a Car
• Use a Coat Hanger to Break Into a Car

Sources and Citations

• Videos provided by IamRafe

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