Finding yourself locked out of your car is never on the top of anyone’s to-do list. But, if it happens anywhere near home, you’ve likely got friends or family and a spare set of keys at your house. No big deal, right?
Well, finding yourself locked out of your rental car in a strange city is an entirely different ordeal. Hopefully you will never have to deal with this situation. If you do, it is important to know what steps to take.
First, Don’t Panic
It is so easy to panic when you have your keys locked in your rental car while on vacation. You may not know anyone and you may be completely unfamiliar with your surroundings. However, it is going to be ok. First, you need to calm yourself down and take a few deep breaths.
Once you are able to think clearly, determine who you can call for help. Is it the rental car company? Do you have roadside assistance on any credit cards or programs you belong to? Should you just make it easy and call a local locksmith?
Contact Your Rental Car Company
You sign a lot of paperwork when you rent a car and perhaps you have coverage you are not aware of. Though roadside assistance coverage is one that will add additional fees to your rental car cost and you may or may not have taken advantage of the offer.
While the roadside assistance likely promises to get you the help you need when you are stranded while traveling, there is no guarantee on how quickly they will arrive. And, there is likely to be limits on the assistance — especially if it is something the driver may have caused. For instance, the rental company may see a big difference between having a dead battery and locking your key in the car. The latter may not be covered.
Contact a Local Locksmith
Many locksmiths offer emergency services, getting to you quickly so that you can get back in your rental car and enjoy the rest of your vacation without fail. Locksmiths will come to you where you are and they have everything they need with them to unlock the car. It is a painless process without wasting too much time.
Although a locksmith will require you to pay for their services, you may find that with the fast response and professional service, the benefits greatly outweigh the cost.
What Not To Do
Now that you know the steps you should take when you are locked out of your rental car, we felt it is important to go over a few things that you should not do.
Do not try to unlock the car door yourself. A quick online search will give you all sorts of results on successfully unlocking doors when you are locked out. Unfortunately, you may find yourself causing damage to the car that could cost you big time when you return the rental. Don’t try to stick anything under the rubber seal or put anything in the lock.
Do not make the decision to break the window. You may feel like you are in a desperate situation at the moment, but that could lead to some hefty expenses in the future.
In case of an emergency, absolutely 100% break the window. If you have a child or pet that is locked in the car — and the car is turned off or has no air conditioning running — break the window. Glass can be replaced, but life cannot.
Get Back In Your Car with Texas Premier Locksmith
At Texas Premier Locksmith, we know how scary it can be to find yourself locked out of a rental car — especially in an unknown area. Our professional, skilled locksmiths will have you back in your car with ease.
With locations in Austin, College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, Killeen, Longview, San Marcos, Temple, Tyler, Waco, and their surrounding areas — we are able to offer fast response time any time day or night.
Contact the professionals at Texas Premier Locksmith at (866) 948-8188. Emergency service is available, too.