Locked Your Keys in the Car in Norfolk? What to Do Right Now
If you locked your keys in the car in Norfolk, first make sure no child or pet is trapped inside, then check every door and look for a spare key before calling a car lockout service. If you still can’t get in, call All Wide Towing & Recovery at (757) 796-4622 and we’ll help you get back into your vehicle.
Quick answer
- If a child or pet is locked inside, call emergency services or the police right now. Don’t wait for a tow company.
- Walk around the car and try every door, including the hatch or tailgate.
- Look for a spare key at home, with a family member, or in a magnetic key box.
- Check whether your car insurance, dealership or auto club includes lockout help.
- If your car has a smart key, the fob battery may be dead, not the car.
- Still locked out? Call a car lockout service like All Wide Towing & Recovery at (757) 796-4622.
What should I do right now if I locked my keys in the car?
Stay calm, stay safe, and work through a few simple steps before you call anyone. Most lockouts are a hassle, not an emergency, and a clear head saves time.
- Step 1: Look inside. Is anyone in the car, a child, an older adult or a pet? If so, skip everything else and call emergency services.
- Step 2: Confirm the keys are really inside. Check your pockets, bag and the ground around the car.
- Step 3: Try every door handle, the trunk and the rear hatch. One may not have locked.
- Step 4: Think about a spare key and who could bring it to you.
- Step 5: Note your exact location: the parking lot name, the row or section, and a nearby store or building.
- Step 6: Call a lockout service and tell them the year, make and model of your car.
While you wait, find shade or a safe spot away from moving cars, especially in a busy shopping center or Oceanfront lot.
Is a child or pet locked inside? Call emergency services first
If a child, a vulnerable adult or a pet is locked in a car, call emergency services or the police immediately. This is not a job to hand off to a tow company, and you should not wait for one.
Virginia summers are hot and humid, and the inside of a parked car heats up much faster than most people expect. Even with the windows cracked, a car sitting in the sun at a Virginia Beach Oceanfront lot or a Norfolk shopping center can become dangerous in a short time. Cooler days can still be risky when the sun is strong.
Tell the dispatcher where you are and that someone is trapped inside. Stay by the car, keep talking to the child if they can hear you, and follow the instructions you’re given. Once everyone is safe, you can sort out the keys.
Check these before you call a lockout service
A few quick checks can get you back in the car without a service call at all.
- A spare key. Is there one at home, at work, or with a partner, roommate or parent nearby? If you live in Norfolk and you’re locked out across town, someone may be able to drive it over.
- Your roadside membership. Many insurance policies, auto clubs and new-car warranties include lockout help. Look at your insurance app or card.
- Your dealership. If your car is fairly new, the dealer may offer roadside help or be able to tell you about key options.
- Every door. Try each handle, the trunk and the hatch. Some cars only lock the doors you touched.
- Your car’s app. Some newer vehicles can be unlocked from a phone app if you’ve already set it up.
- The fob battery. If your keys are in your hand but the car won’t respond, the battery in the fob may be dead. More on that below.
Locked out at the beach, the mall or your apartment complex
Where you get locked out changes what you should do while you wait. Give the lockout company clear landmarks, because big parking lots all look alike.
At the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and other beach lots, keys often get left on the seat while people grab towels and coolers. Note the lot name, the nearest street and the block. Find shade if you can, and keep drinking water.
At shopping centers in Norfolk, Chesapeake or Hampton, tell the dispatcher the store you’re parked near and the row letter or number if the lot has one.
At an apartment complex, give the building number and the gate code or the name of the leasing office, so the technician can reach your car.
On or near base parking, follow the installation’s rules. Access to secured areas is controlled, so you may need to meet the technician at a gate or have the car in a lot where outside vehicles are allowed. Ask security if you’re unsure.
What happens when a lockout technician arrives?
When a car lockout technician arrives, the first job is making sure the vehicle belongs to you. It’s a general practice in this business, and it protects you as much as anyone.
We may ask for ID and check that it matches the vehicle registration or the name on the account. If your ID or registration is locked inside the car, let the dispatcher know when you call so we can talk through it.
Then the technician uses tools made for opening vehicles, with the goal of getting you in without damage. Once the door is open, check that your keys are there and that the car starts before the technician leaves.
Ask for the price on the phone before the technician is sent, so you know what to expect.
Why you shouldn’t use a coat hanger or a slim jim
Prying at a car door with a coat hanger, a screwdriver or a slim jim can cost you more than a lockout call. Modern car doors aren’t the simple rods and latches they used to be.
- Doors often hold wiring for power locks, windows, mirrors and speakers that can be scratched or pulled loose.
- Many cars have side airbags or airbag sensors in or near the doors.
- Weather stripping and window seals can tear, which can lead to leaks and wind noise.
- Paint and window tint scratch easily.
Breaking a window is a last resort for real emergencies, such as a child or pet in danger, and even then the police or emergency services should be your first call.
What if my keys are locked in the trunk?
Keys locked in the trunk are a common problem, and they’re often trickier than keys on the front seat. Many cars don’t let you open the trunk once the doors are locked.
Some vehicles have a trunk release button inside the cabin or a fold-down rear seat that lets you reach into the trunk. If a technician can open a door, that may be all it takes. Tell the dispatcher the keys are in the trunk so the technician comes prepared.
If your car has no inside access to the trunk, the job may take longer, and in some cases the car may need to go to a dealer or locksmith.
Push-button cars and smart keys with a dead fob battery
Push-button and keyless cars are designed to avoid lockouts, but they still happen. Some will lock with the fob inside, especially if the fob battery is weak, the car is set to auto-lock, or the fob was sitting in a spot the car can’t read.
If the keys are in your hand and nothing happens, the fob battery is the likely culprit. Most smart keys hide a small metal key inside the fob. Slide or press the release, pull out the key, and look for a keyhole on the driver’s door handle. It’s sometimes under a small cap.
Once you’re inside, many push-button cars will still start if you hold the fob right against the start button or put it in a marked slot. Your owner’s manual shows the exact spot. Replace the fob battery soon, since it’s a simple fix that prevents the next lockout.
When does a lockout become a tow?
A lockout turns into a tow when you can’t get a working key for the car. Opening the door is only half the problem if you have nothing to start it with.
- Your keys are lost or stolen, not just locked inside.
- Your key or fob is broken and the car won’t recognize it.
- Your car needs a new key programmed at the dealer.
In those cases, we can tow your car to the dealership or a locksmith who can cut and program a new key. Ask your dealer whether they need the car on site, and what paperwork to bring. See our towing service page for more on how we move cars, SUVs, pickups and vans.
Frequently asked questions about car lockouts
Can a tow company unlock my car? Yes. Many tow companies, including All Wide Towing & Recovery, offer car lockout service as part of roadside assistance.
Will you need to see my ID? We may ask for ID and check that it matches the registration or the name on the account. It’s a general practice that helps make sure we’re opening the right person’s car.
Can you unlock a car with a push-button start? In many cases, yes. Keyless cars still have doors that can be opened with the right tools, and the hidden key inside your fob may get you in on its own.
What if my child or pet is locked inside? Call emergency services or the police immediately. Don’t wait for a tow or lockout company.
How much does a car lockout cost? It depends on your vehicle and where you are. Call (757) 796-4622 and ask for the price before we send anyone.
Do you help with lockouts outside Norfolk? Yes. We serve drivers across Hampton Roads. Check our FAQ page for more common questions.
Locked out of your car in Hampton Roads? Call All Wide Towing & Recovery
If you’re locked out of your car in Norfolk or nearby, All Wide Towing & Recovery is a phone call away at (757) 796-4622. We help drivers from our base at 2151 Maude B. Davis St in Norfolk, and we’re open every day, day and night.
We help with car lockouts and towing in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News. Call us, or reach us through our contact page.
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