A resource for consumers, locksmiths, and security professionals
This information details how to break into your car. It is only intended as a resource for those who are locked out of their vehicle or for those who have been asked to assist someone who is locked out.
The article is also meant to raise awareness of the inherent weaknesses of car security that criminals already know. You will see how to break into your own car is quite simple, and will hopefully be inspired to apply some car security tips.
We will cover how to break into your own car:
How to break into your car fast with the least amount of experience is as simple as calling a car locksmith. Any other way of opening your locked car will require one or more tools and time for trial and error. Doing this type of work yourself also runs the risk of damaging the vehicle.
The credit card method used on buildings to open a door without a key does not work on car doors. How to break into your car with a credit card may not exist, but there are ways of opening a vehicle similar to the credit card method.
Improvised lock picks made from paper clips, safety pins, or bobby pins are not recommended for unlocking car doors. Picking car locks is often more complex than opening a standard door lock. Improvised lock picks pose a significant risk of damaging a lock, which is more likely if you do not know what you are doing.
If you are a member of AAA or similar roadside assistance clubs, you should be able to request a technician to open your car directly from the service number. Some memberships will also pay for locksmith services. The amount covered varies depending on your specific plan.
You should not contact law enforcement when locked out of your car unless it is an emergency where unlocking a car is required to stop a threat of imminent bodily harm. In smaller communities, police may assist in opening cars if contacted via a non-emergency line.
A vehicle with a deadlock feature, which disconnects all electrical unlocking protocols until the proper key is used, requires a professional car lockout service. With this security feature engaged, how to break into your car yourself is not a viable option.
Can Open: Cars with post/upright locks
Tools Required: Shoelace or small diameter rope
It is possible to open a car with a single shoelace. In terms of how to break into your car, this is going to be the method that requires the most accessible tool and presents the least amount of risk that the vehicle will be damaged. However, it requires that your car has post locks.
Post locks are upright locks that extend or retract when the car is unlocked or locked, respectively. These locks are visible from outside the vehicle, which makes it simple to assess if they are in the locked or unlocked position. They are a mainstay of classic car security and are used less on modern cars.
To open a post lock, you pull the post up. This is the basic principle of how to break into your car with a shoelace. But first, you are going to have to modify the cord by tying a slip knob.
If you don’t know how to make a slip knot, the process:
You can also watch a video on how to make a slip knot if you are more of a visual learner. But once you get the hang of it, you are going to tie a slip knot at the center of your shoelace. Now it is time to learn how to break into your car with a shoelace or any type of small diameter rope.
For a simple visual overview of this process, you can refer to this video. If you have locked your keys in the car, you can recover them and get back to driving. With no keys, you can still call a locksmith and have the technician handle the car key replacement.
Can Open: Any car that has not deadlocked
Tools Required: Wedge and long-reach tool
This method can open any car that does not have high-security locking features, such as deadlock. That is to say, if the buttons and lock switches inside the vehicle will still affect the locks, this method will work. Just be aware that this process can damage your car if done improperly.
With those disclaimers out of the way, the fastest and most reliable way to open a car door is by wedging and probing. There are expert tools to open a locked car in this way, but the wedge can be wood or plastic, as long as it is wedge-shaped. Even a hard plastic door stop will work.
The long reach tool can be anything as long as it has the correct dimensions to fit through the gap and length to manipulate the interior buttons. It is a good idea for this tool to be malleable, so it can be bent to fit around obstacles, though it should be sturdy enough to press without losing shape.
With your tools in hand how to break into your car with a wedge and probe follows these basic steps:
Though this process needs to be done quickly, it also needs to be done smoothly. You should not frantically jam in wedges or scratch up the inside door panel with wild misses from your reach tool. Be sure to weigh the cost of a locksmith against repair costs from amateur damage.
Can Open: Any car
Tools Required: Working phone or internet connection
If you are reading this article, you should be able to contact a locksmith. As long as you contact a reputable mobile locksmith, there will be no risk of damage to your vehicle.
When your car has deadlocked, you will need to call a locksmith. How to break into your own car after it has deadlocked can require lock picking, which is not going to be a feasible DIY task. With keys locked in the trunk of your vehicle during deadlock, drilling may be necessary.
There are very specific and rare circumstances where how to break into your car requires a drill. Before work begins, the locksmith will explain how the damage to the vehicle will be isolated to a minimal and coverable area. This controlled damage must be agreed to before service starts.
In most cases, a locksmith can open a vehicle in a matter of minutes with no signs that any tools were used. And with lost car keys and no spare, a locksmith can make new keys from scratch and get you back on the road after they figure out how to break into your car.
After learning how to break into your car, you are a little more aware of how insecure most automobiles are. But even with knowing how to break into your own car in these simple ways, it may be outside of your comfort zone, or you may not have the right tools.
If you can’t figure out how to tie a slip knot, your reach tool is too short, your wedge keeps slipping, or any other issue, call a locksmith. United Locksmith has many automotive technicians across the country, so feel free to check if we are in your neighborhood!
Category: Automotive, How To's, Safety & Security
