Locked Your Keys in the Car? Do This First
- Rough cost
- $65 to $150 by day
- Time on site
- Often 5 to 15 minutes
- Bring
- ID, then registration
A lockout feels like an emergency. Most of the time it is a $0 to $150 problem that is over in a few minutes. Work down this list in order and stop when the door opens.
Child, pet or running engine in a hot car? Call 911 now. Do not wait on a locksmith. Kentucky summers turn a closed car into an oven fast.
Step 1. Check the Free Options
- Walk around the car. Try every door and the trunk or hatch. It sounds silly. It works more often than you would guess.
- Use your phone app. FordPass, myChevrolet, Toyota, HondaLink, MyHyundai, Uconnect and others can unlock many newer cars from your phone if you set up the account before.
- Call the roadside help you already pay for. AAA, your car insurance roadside add-on, and the maker's roadside plan on newer cars often cover a lockout. Check your insurance app. You may be covered and not know it.
- Ford or Lincoln with a keypad on the door? The five digit factory code opens it. The code is on a card that came with the car. A Ford or Lincoln dealer can also look it up with proof of ownership.
- Spare key at home? A rideshare there and back is sometimes cheaper than a night lockout. Do the math.
Step 2. If You Call a Locksmith
Ask for the all-in price on the phone. Say the year, make and model, and say it is a lockout, keys inside. A lockout does not need a new key, so the price should not include one. Then read our five question phone test. It takes one minute and it is how you avoid the classic bait and switch.
How a Pro Opens a Car
A trained tech uses an inflatable wedge to open a small gap at the top of the door, then a long reach tool to press the unlock button or pull the handle. On some cars they pick the door lock with a tool made for that lock. Neither should scratch paint or bend the frame. A slim jim down inside the door is old school and risky on modern cars with side airbags and wiring in the door.
Watch out if anyone says they must drill the lock or make a new key to get you in. On almost every car, a lockout is an opening job, not a key job.
What It Should Cost
| Situation | Rough range |
|---|---|
| Weekday daytime lockout | $65 to $150 |
| Night, weekend or holiday | Add roughly $30 to $75 |
| Keys locked in the trunk of a car with no trunk release | Can cost more, ask first |
| Roadside plan you already have | Often $0 |
These are rough planning ranges drawn from published national price guides in early 2026. They are not quotes and not Louisville prices from any one shop. Your make, model, year, time of day and how many keys you still have will move the number.
Lockouts That Are Not Really Lockouts
- The fob is dead and the doors will not open. Most fobs hide a metal key. Slide the release and pull it out. Some door handles hide the key slot under a small cap. Check the owner's manual on your phone.
- The key turns in the door but not the ignition. That is a worn key or ignition, not a lockout. See key replacement.
- The car is a rental. Call the rental company's roadside number first. A locksmith cannot make keys for a car you do not own.
Questions People Ask
Will police unlock my car in Louisville?
Do not count on it for an ordinary lockout. Police focus on emergencies. If a child or pet is inside, or the engine is running in a closed space, call 911 and say so.
Can a locksmith damage my car opening it?
A trained tech using a wedge and reach tool rarely leaves a mark. Damage usually comes from rushed slim jim work or pry bars. Ask how they plan to open it before they start.
Do I need to show ID for a lockout?
You should be asked for it. A good locksmith checks your ID and the registration once the door is open. That protects you as much as them.
How long does a car lockout take?
Once the tech is at your car, many lockouts take 5 to 15 minutes. The wait for them to arrive is usually the long part, so ask for an arrival time as well as a price.