Car lockouts
Locked Out of Your Car? 5 Questions to Ask Before Help Arrives
Keys on the seat, doors locked. It happens to everyone. Call, and a local partner comes to get you back in. Here's what to ask first.
Child or pet inside?
Call 911 right now. Don't wait for us. A closed car heats up fast, even on a mild day.
Before the door opens
5 Car Lockout Questions to Ask
These keep you safe, keep your car in one piece, and keep the bill honest.
1. Is anyone locked inside?
A child or a pet inside turns a lockout into an emergency. Call 911 first. Everything else can wait.
2. Where are the keys?
If they're inside the car or the trunk, a lockout visit gets you back in. If they're lost or broken, opening the door won't help. You need a new key made. We don't cut or program keys, but we can tow the car to a dealer or locksmith who does.
3. How will you open it?
Ask this out loud. The answer should be "with tools made for car doors," not a bent coat hanger. Partners use proper lockout tools. Every partner also carries insurance.
4. How will you know it's my car?
Expect your driver to ask for your ID and to see the registration once the door is open. It protects you. Someone who opens a car door with no questions asked would do it for anyone.
5. What will it cost?
Get the number before anyone drives out. With Sentinel, your price comes by text before dispatch. If the bill is higher, you pay the texted price.
Smart keys and fobs
Push-Button Cars Lock Themselves Too
A smart key inside the car doesn't always stop the doors from locking. A weak fob battery can make the car miss it. Tell us if your car has a push-button start. It helps your driver come ready.
Before you call, check your fob. Many have a small metal key tucked inside. If yours does, it may open the driver's door, even with a dead fob.
Keys Locked in the Trunk?
That counts as a lockout too. Say so on the call. Some cars only open the trunk from a button inside, so your driver may start at a door.
What a lockout visit covers
- Getting you back into your car or trunk
- Your price by text before dispatch
- Your driver's name, photo and truck
- Check-ins until your driver arrives
What it doesn't
- Cutting or programming new keys
- Fixing a broken lock or ignition
The Stay-With-You Promise
Locked Out, Not Left Out
Standing in a parking lot at night is no fun. So you get check-ins by text and a driver card, the same as any tow. Details are on the promise page.
We stay with you. From your call until the truck arrives, we check on you by text.
See your driver before they arrive. You get their name, photo and truck by text, and you can track your truck on a map.
Your family knows too. Give us one number, and we text them your location and arrival time.
Photo-protected tow. Before hookup, your driver photographs all 4 sides of your vehicle. We text you the photos.
Price locked by text. You get your price by text before we dispatch. That price is the most you pay for the job. If the job changes, we text a new price first and you decide.
Never stranded after. Ride along in the truck when it's safe and allowed, or we help you get a ride. We also point you to a good repair shop.
Free Sentinel Circle. After your first job, your vehicle is on file. Next time, just text "TOW" for priority dispatch.
Questions
Car Lockout Questions
My key fob died. Is that a lockout?
Maybe not. Check for a metal key hidden inside the fob first. If there isn't one, or it won't open the door, call us and we'll send lockout help.
Do you make new car keys?
No. We get you back into your car when the keys are inside. If they're lost, a dealer or an auto locksmith can make a new one. We can tow the car there.
Can I get help if the car isn't in my name?
Tell us on the call. Your driver will still need to see that you're allowed to use the car, like a rental agreement or the owner on the phone. If they can't confirm it, they may not open it.
Car opened but won't start? You may need a jump start. Browse all roadside services.
Car lockout help
Locked Out? Call and Get Back In.
Our line answers 24/7. You'll get your price by text and your driver's name and photo before they arrive.