- Available
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Estimate
- Free on the phone: the price for your job before we drive out
- Where
- Driveways, streets, parking ramps and lots across the metro
- Bring
- ID and the registration or title, or we check it once the door is open
Locked out of your car in Minneapolis? Here is what to do
- Check every door and the trunk. It sounds obvious, but one unlocked rear door has saved many people a call.
- Look for the key. Is it in the ignition, on the seat, in the trunk, or truly lost? That changes the job.
- If a child or pet is inside, call 911 first. Then call us. Emergency services can act faster in that situation.
- Call 763-600-3529 with the address or parking ramp level, and the year, make and model.
What we do when we get there
We confirm the car is yours, then open it with professional entry tools. Modern cars have side airbags, wiring and door sensors packed inside the door, which is why a coat hanger or a slim jim from a video can do real damage. Our tools work around those parts.
Most cars open in minutes. Luxury models, older cars with worn lock cylinders and vehicles with deadlocks can take longer, and we will tell you on the phone if yours is one of them.
Car lockouts in a Minnesota winter
Cold changes the job. Door seals freeze, lock cylinders ice up and a key fob battery that was weak in October can quit completely in January. If the door is frozen rather than locked, you may not need a locksmith at all: our guide on frozen car doors and locks walks through what to try first and what makes it worse.
When you are locked out in the cold, wait somewhere warm. A store, a lobby or a friend's car is better than standing in a parking lot. We call when we are a few minutes away.
Lost the key completely?
If the key is gone, opening the door does not get you home. We can make a new key on site, including transponder keys, and program it to your car. See car key replacement for how that works and what to have ready.
Where we open cars
Parking ramps downtown, driveways in Crystal and Robbinsdale, grocery store lots in Maple Grove, campus lots in Minneapolis, street parking in St. Paul. We are a mobile locksmith based in Crystal, so we come to the car wherever it is in our service area.
How a car lockout call works
Call with the location
Tell us where the car is and its year, make and model. We give you a price and a time.
Stay somewhere safe
In winter or late at night, wait somewhere warm and lit. We call when we are close.
We confirm ownership
ID plus registration or title. If they are inside the car, we check them right after it opens.
Door open, keys back
We open the car with entry tools made for the job. Lost the key? We can cut and program a new one.
Car lockout questions
Can you unlock a car without damaging it?
In most cases, yes. We use inflatable wedges, long-reach tools and lock tools made for car doors, which open the door without forcing the window or lock. Older cars with worn locks and some high-security systems take longer, and we tell you that up front.
My car is running and locked. What should I do?
Call us right away and stay near the car. Do not try to break a window to get in: side glass is expensive to replace and the shards end up inside the car. Tell us it is running so we can prioritize it.
What if my keys are lost, not locked inside?
Then opening the door is only half the job. We can cut and program a new key where the car is parked, so you can drive away instead of paying for a tow.
Do you open trunks too?
Yes. If the keys are in the trunk, we open the trunk directly or through the cabin, depending on the car.
Can my roadside assistance cover this?
Some auto insurance and roadside plans pay for lockouts. Check yours. You can still call us for a price to compare, and we give you an itemized receipt for any reimbursement.