And Where Are My Keys? Locked Inside. . . .Taunting Me

We have all been there. The hair on the back of your neck goes up.  You get that chill up your spine. The sweat starts on your scalp and your upper lip.  Locked inside. . my keys. .taunting me from my seat.    How could I be so careless? How could I do this to my poor raspberry cafe mocha still in the cup holder? So I ask myself, what window do I break in my car?

A tragic story, but we are here to help you out. Every car owner has locked themselves out of their car at least once, especially with older models that don’t auto-unlock if the keys are in the ignition.

Typically, this isn’t a major issue as you just have to call a tow truck or locksmith to help you out, it’s just a matter of waiting. However, since you left you coffee in the cup holder under the beating heat, time is of the essence!!

Breaking Windows

What window do I break in my car?

Ideally, we don’t want you to break any glass, but given the dire situation, we understand it to be necessary. So, if you must, we recommend breaking your driver or passenger side window.

Why not the windshield?

Good luck ripping out your windshield from the outside, but if you can, then go for it. Just remember it is laminated glass.

Why not the smallest window?

Logically this would make sense. The small glass should be the cheapest, right? WRONG! Supply and demand have determined that the smaller windows in your vehicle, like back passenger windows, vents, and back glass are all much more expensive than the front driver or passenger window to replace.

So please, for the sake of your wallet, DO NOT break the smallest window in your vehicle unless your glass insurance covers the costs completely.

Hurray! You’ve rescued your ice coffee and you can now get your keys. Glass is all over your car, but a shop vac can take care of that (the beauty of safety glass!). All you have to do now is call your local Auto Glass company to have it replaced!

Prevention

Maybe iced coffee isn’t as important to you as it is others. You might not want to break any glass in your car if you can help it. Totally understandable!

What can you do to prevent having to break your window if you’ve locked yourself out?

Spare Keys

Always have at least one if not two spare keys available to you in case of an emergency. If needed, phone a friend or Uber to fetch the spare. Keep them at home, with a neighbor, or generally anywhere you can readily access.

Hide-A-Key

I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t that for a house? Well, yes, but also no. There are hide-a-keys designed specifically for your vehicle.

They are usually small metal boxed that attach using extremely strong magnets; slip your spare key inside and stick the box somewhere inconspicuous underneath your car. Place it somewhere that’s not too easy to reach but you could get to if you needed too. I would recommend getting a box that also locks for added security.

Be mindful of doing this if you live in an area with a higher rate of crime. Car thieves are not oblivious to these key boxes, so depending on where you live or drive to, a hide-a-key box may not be the best solution.

The BEST Solution

When it comes down to it, the best thing that you can do to prevent having to break a window is to not lock yourself out. Easier said if you actively have this problem but try making a routine with your keys so you get locked out less.

For example, place your keys in your pocket before you open your car door. Alternatively, keep them on a lanyard and put that around your neck or wrist before you get out of your vehicle. This may take a while and some determination to fully adapt to the habit, but it will be worth not having to wait for a locksmith or breaking your window.

Good luck out there and happy adventures!