Problem guide
Locked your keys in the car? Here's what to do
Short answer
Check every door and the trunk first, then try a spare key or your manufacturer's phone app, which can unlock many recent vehicles remotely. If none of that works, request lockout assistance and have your ID and proof of authorisation ready. If a child or pet is inside, call 911 immediately.
Emergencies come first. If there is a crash, injury, fire, or you are stopped somewhere unsafe in live traffic, call 911 before requesting roadside assistance.
Work through this order
- Try every door handle and the trunk — one is often unlocked.
- Check whether anyone else on your trip has the spare key.
- Open the manufacturer's app: many vehicles support remote unlock if the account is active.
- For a rental, call the rental company — the agreement may require it, and they may hold a spare.
- Otherwise request roadside lockout assistance.
The one situation that is an emergency
If a child, a vulnerable adult, or a pet is locked inside the vehicle, call 911 straight away. Do not wait for a roadside provider. The interior of a closed car in Florida heat reaches dangerous temperatures within minutes, and emergency services are equipped and authorised to act immediately.
What you will be asked for
- Photo ID.
- Registration, insurance, a rental agreement, or a digital ownership record.
- Vehicle year, make, model, and colour.
- The precise parking location, including garage level or lot section.
- Whether the vehicle has an alarm or aftermarket security system.
Lockout assistance is not key replacement
If the key is lost, broken, or its electronics have failed, getting the door open does not solve the problem — the car still will not start. Replacing a modern key means cutting it and programming it to the vehicle's immobiliser, which is automotive locksmith or dealer work.
Once you are back in, buy a spare. A duplicate key stored somewhere sensible costs far less than repeated lockout call-outs.
Frequently asked questions
Locked out right now?
Request lockout assistance in Orlando with your proof of authorisation ready.