Keys come out of a locked car with automatic locks through an unlatched door or the boot, the spare key, the car app, or a locksmith pick in the door lock, since a deadlock disables the inside buttons.
Automatic locks are central locking systems that lock every door from one signal. Auto relock, deadlocking, keyless locking and slam locks are the four features that leave keys locked in a car. Five faults and habits trigger those features, and four steps get the keys out without damage. The way in depends on the lock system, so cords, hangers and wedges fail on most cars with automatic locks. An auto locksmith opens the door lock in 5 to 25 minutes, and an emergency car lockout costs £80 to £150 across the UK. A settings change, a door latch repair or a new fob battery stops automatic locks trapping the keys again.
Key fobs left inside, a car that locked itself, electric locks, cords, broken windows, a flat car battery, a running engine, locksmith cost, entry time, the boot, the first step, locksmith tools and cars that open without a locksmith raise thirteen further questions.
The list below gives four key takeaways on keys locked in a car with automatic locks.
- A door that failed to latch, the boot, the spare key and the car app come before any call.
- A deadlock switches off the inside handles and buttons, so reaching in opens nothing.
- An auto locksmith picks the door lock, which releases automatic locks without damage.
- A weak fob battery and a failed door latch switch cause most cars to lock themselves.
Which steps free keys behind automatic locks?
Four steps free keys behind automatic locks, and each step works from outside the car without force. The list below gives the four steps in order.
- Pull every door handle and press the boot release, since one door that failed to latch stays outside the automatic locks.
- Use the spare key, or ask the person who holds the spare key to bring it.
- Open the app from the car maker and press unlock, where the app was set up before the lockout.
- Call the breakdown cover provider or an auto locksmith, who opens the car through the door lock.
Steps one to three cost nothing and take minutes. Step four ends every other case of keys locked in a car, since no inside button answers once the deadlock is set.
Why do automatic locks trap keys inside?
Automatic locks trap keys inside because the car locks itself on a timer or a signal, with no check on where the keys are. The list below gives five causes.
- The auto relock timer locks the doors again 30 to 45 seconds after an unlock press where no door opens.
- A failed door latch switch hides an opened door from the car, so the timer runs with the driver outside.
- A weak fob battery stops a keyless car sensing the fob in the cabin.
- A boot lid closed on a bag or a coat locks the fob inside the boot.
- A lock button pressed on the fob or the door card locks the car as the door swings shut.
The first two causes need no mistake by the driver. A car that locks itself more than once has a fault in the door latch or the wiring, and the automatic locks repeat the lockout until that fault is repaired.
Which automatic locks need which way in?
Each type of automatic locks needs its own way in, and the deadlock decides whether a tool reaches the unlock button or the lock is picked. The table below compares five lock systems.
| Lock system | How the keys get locked in | How the keys come out |
|---|---|---|
| Central locking with a remote fob | A lock press before the door shuts | Spare key, or an air wedge and a long reach tool on the unlock button |
| Auto relock | The timer locks the doors after an unlock with no door opened | Spare key or car app, then a latch switch check |
| Deadlocking | A second press of the lock button disconnects the inside handles and buttons | A lock pick and decoder in the door lock |
| Keyless entry | The car fails to sense a fob with a weak battery or a fob in the boot | Car app, spare fob or a lock pick in the hidden door lock |
| Slam lock on a van | The door locks as it closes | A lock pick at the slam lock |
Deadlocking is fitted to most cars sold in the UK in the last fifteen years, and keyless entry to a growing share. On many cars a second press of the lock button within three seconds sets the deadlock. A wedge and a reach tool open automatic locks only where no deadlock is active.
Why do DIY tricks fail on automatic locks?
DIY tricks fail on automatic locks because the tricks were made for pull up lock buttons and open lock rods, and modern doors have neither. The list below gives four tricks and the reason each one fails.
- A cord or a shoelace has no pull up button to grip on a door with automatic locks.
- A coat hanger or a slim jim meets shielded lock rods and airbag wiring behind the door skin.
- A wedge and a rod on the unlock button do nothing once the deadlock has disconnected that button.
- A broken window leaves a deadlocked door shut, since the deadlock disables the inside release levers, and adds the price of new glass.
Each failed trick leaves a torn seal, a bent frame or a scratched pane, and the keys stay locked in the car.
How does a locksmith open automatic locks?
A locksmith opens automatic locks by picking the door lock with a lock pick and decoder, which turns the lock as the key does and releases the central locking and the deadlock together.
The same tool reads the key cuts, so a lost key is replaced from the reading. An air wedge and a long reach tool suit cars with no active deadlock. Entry takes 5 to 25 minutes, and the locksmith checks photo ID and proof of ownership first. An emergency car lockout in Liverpool with ADC Locksmith Liverpool starts from £85 with no call out fee and no VAT, and Craig Evans reaches most Liverpool addresses in about 30 minutes for keys locked in a car.
What stops automatic locks trapping keys again?
A settings change, a latch switch repair and a fresh fob battery stop automatic locks trapping keys again, and a spare key kept outside the car covers every case left. The list below gives five fixes.
- Switch off auto relock in the vehicle settings menu, where the handbook lists the option.
- Test each door latch switch, since an interior light that stays off as a door opens marks the failed switch.
- Replace the fob coin cell every two to three years, before the car stops sensing the fob.
- Keep the fob in a pocket while loading the boot.
- Store a spare key at home or with a neighbour, and never in the glovebox.
A repaired latch switch ends repeat lockouts on a car that locks itself, and the other four fixes guard against keys locked in a car by habit.
What else do drivers ask about automatic locks?
Key fobs left inside, a car that locked itself, electric locks, cords, broken windows, a flat car battery, a running engine, locksmith cost, entry time, the boot, the first step, locksmith tools and cars that open without a locksmith raise thirteen further questions about keys and automatic locks. The thirteen questions below answer each topic.
Frequently asked questions
Do automatic locks lock a car with the key fob inside?
Yes, automatic locks lock a car with the key fob inside where the car fails to sense the fob.
A weak fob battery, a fob in the boot and radio interference are the three usual reasons.
Why did the car lock itself with the keys inside?
The car locked itself with the keys inside because the auto relock timer ran out or a door latch switch failed.
The timer locks the doors 30 to 45 seconds after an unlock where the car sees no door open.
How does a car door with electric locks unlock from outside?
A car door with electric locks unlocks from outside with the spare key, the car app or a locksmith pick in the door lock.
The inside unlock button stays dead where the deadlock is set.
Does a cord or a shoelace open automatic locks?
No, a cord or a shoelace does not open automatic locks, since the doors have no pull up button to grip.
The trick dates from older cars with a lock post on the door top.
Does breaking a window release automatic locks?
No, breaking a window does not release automatic locks, because a deadlocked door ignores the inside handle.
The broken glass costs more than a locksmith visit, and the car stays open to rain and theft.
Does a flat car battery release automatic locks?
No, a flat car battery does not release automatic locks, since the doors stay in the last locked state.
The steps to unlock a car with a dead battery start at the hidden keyhole under the driver door handle cap.
What if automatic locks shut with the engine running?
Automatic locks that shut with the engine running make the call urgent, and an auto locksmith puts it ahead of routine jobs.
Exhaust builds up around a running engine in a shut garage, so the garage door comes first.
How much does a locksmith charge to open automatic locks?
A locksmith charges £80 to £150 in the UK to open automatic locks, with deadlocked and keyless cars at the upper end.
ADC Locksmith Liverpool starts from £85 with no call out fee.
How long does opening automatic locks take?
Opening automatic locks takes 5 to 25 minutes at the car for an auto locksmith.
The journey adds about 30 minutes across Liverpool, so most cars are open within an hour of the call.
Do automatic locks lock the boot with the keys inside?
Yes, automatic locks lock the boot with the keys inside on many cars, since the boot relocks as the lid closes.
A locksmith opens a door first and releases the boot from the cabin.
What is the first step with keys locked in a car?
The first step with keys locked in a car is a pull on every door handle and the boot release.
The guide to locked keys in a car sets five steps in order and compares six routes on cost.
Which tools open automatic locks without damage?
A lock pick and decoder, an air wedge and a long reach tool open automatic locks without damage.
The guide on how locksmiths open car doors without a key lists five tools and the lock each one suits.
Does every car with automatic locks need a locksmith?
No, a car with automatic locks opens without a locksmith where a door, the boot, the spare key or the app works.
The steps to open a car when the keys are stuck inside list those four checks.
Based in Liverpool and still stuck?
ADC Locksmith Liverpool repairs, programs and replaces car keys at the roadside across Liverpool and Merseyside, usually on the same day. Craig Evans holds SERMI approval and a 5.0 rating from 341 Google reviews. A call to 07731 544220 brings a fixed price before Craig travels.
Call 07731 544220