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Next to getting your teeth pulled, getting locked out of your car is right up there on the lists of terrible experience we’ve probably all had to endure at one time or another.

Luckily for us, there are a few ways on how you can safely break into your vehicle without damaging it.

So drop that screw driver and pay attention.

In the past two articles, we’ve seen how to unlock doors with manual locks and those with automatic locks. In this final part of the trio, we’ll discuss even more tried-and-true ways to unlock your car.

Unlocking A Locked Door Through A “Slim Jim”

Another way to unlock your car door is to make use of a tool that’s more commonly known as a “slim jim”. Although this kind of tool can work, it is a much more difficult task to do. There is a risk of damaging the weather stripping on the door. Additionally, there is also a risk of damaging the other wires on the door.

This method is not recommended for automatic locks or those that have automatic windows because of the presence of more wires. It’s not worth taking the risk of damaging the connections just to open the door.

Here are the steps on how to do that:

1. Find a suitable “Slim Jim” tool

The ideal material to create this tool is a long and slim piece of metal like a hanger. The end is bent to create a hook, this is the part that goes into the door. Sometimes, the metal from the hanger isn’t that sturdy. You can double it over to ensure the hook keeps its shape.

2. Insert into the door

Due to its thinness, you can insert it on the door in between the weatherstrip and the window of the passenger seat rather than the driver seat.

There are fewer wires on the passenger seat because most of the controls are found on the driver’s seat.

3. Use the hook to open the lock

The locking pin is what you are aiming for with the hook. Pool the hookup ones it grips the lock. To easily find the lock, you should find the bottom edge of the window then go two inches further down.

If it doesn’t work on the first try, you can try again. It may take a few tries and you can also try to use different movements.

Enter Through The Trunk

Another way to gain access through a car with manual locks it to go through the trunk. The trunk is usually unlocked even if the doors are locked. Here’s how to unlock your car through the trunk:

1. Open the trunk and find access to the interior

Once you’ve opened the trunk, touch the walls of the trunk and find an opening to gain access to the interior. There is usually an opening in the middle of the backseats. The seats can be folded or lowered by simply pulling on a cable.

2. Crawl through the interior and manually unlock the door

Now that there is enough space for you to go in, you can now crawl through the opening and manually open the door. Although this works well, it can also look weird and suspicious. Make sure you keep your id close so you can clear things out in case the police comes.

Call a Professional

In case you find these plus the two previous methods we discussed challenging or if you don’t want to risk getting arrested for being mistaken as a car thief, you can call on professionals for help.

Depending on who you call, a car-unlock service may cost an average of $50 to $200. The cost will depend on the work needed to successfully unlock the car. For those with a broken key, a spare key can also be created by the locksmith and this also adds to the total cost of the service.

Conditions When To Call A Locksmith

There are a few common situations when a locksmith is needed for a locked car. These would include having broken keys, keys locked in the trunk or inside the car, lost keys and, and transponder key errors.

Broken Keys

A broken key is unusable, but a locksmith can create a spare key for you to use. In case the key breaks as you try to unlock your vehicle and is now stuck in the keyhole, it is best not to try and tamper it. Just wait for the locksmith because you might damage the lock further while trying to unlock it with a broken key.

Locked Out

Another very common scenario is having the cars locked inside the vehicle. Some simply forget their keys inside the car. Sometimes locksmiths can try to gain entry by trying the trunk. Others will create a new key for you by using their mechanical key cutter.

Lost Key

A lost key can be replaced easily by an experienced locksmith even if you don’t have the original keys. The cost of key replacement varies and can increase when you are requesting for a replacement during night time, a holiday or during a weekend.

Faulty Transponder Key

There are several reasons why the transponder key becomes faulty. The easiest to solve is when it has a low or dead battery. Sometimes, it’s because the keys aren’t programmed properly.

Locksmiths can give you access to the vehicle but you still need to pay them an additional fee for programming your keys to make it compatible with the vehicle.