Many newer cars have a deadlocking system that means once the doors are locked, only the remote will unlock them. ‘Deadlocking’ is if you can lock your car with your remote, and, even if you were inside the vehicle, you cannot unlock the doors without the remote key. In these cases, unless the remote is visible, i.e. not locked in the boot, we are unfortunately unable to help. We do not cut car keys,(and cannot help with alarms or immobilisers) so, if your keys are completely lost you would need a specialist auto locksmith.

Where we come in, is in cases of keys being locked inside cars – something that happens surprisingly often!  We are always happy to take your calls and discuss with you what we are and are not able to do, however, there are ways to avoid the rather expensive vehicle locksmith emergencies:-  

•  Firstly, check, check, and check again, that you have your car keys on you, or in your hand before you close the car door. (Sounds daft – but believe me – worth checking.)
• Always use the key, or remote fob, to lock the car from the outside, never the door handle lock as you are exiting. – If you keep your car keys in your pocket, have a weighty key ring so you will notice if the keys fall out or are stolen – especially with very light “keyless” cards. – If you keep your keys in a bag, make sure they have their own pocket, preferably a zip up compartment. The routine of putting them in the same place will help ensure you do not leave them in the car.(And make it more difficult to lift from a bag.)
• Remember to check you have your keys in your hand before closing the car door.
• Shopping is the most common time for locking keys in the boot. Do not put your keys in the boot or on the parcel shelf thinking you will pick them up when the shopping is out of the trolley. Take those few seconds to put your keys back in your pocket or bag. – If you do not have a spare key, take the time to shop around for someone who can cut keys for your car, and get one cut. It will save you money over having one cut in an emergency.
• If you have a spare key, do not keep it in the car – yes, this does happen. It is much easier to get a friend or family member to bring you the spare, than have a locksmith break into your car.
• Did I say check you have your keys in your hand as you exit your car?

Now, one last thing;-  We see, all too often in homes, many cases of keys being left, either on tables or hooks near doors, where anyone with a bit of determination (and the right tools) can get to them. Keeping your keys near the door is obviously needed so you can get out in an emergency, but please make sure there is some sort of barrier between them and your letter box.
A good idea is to sit with your back to your door, with your eyes at letter box height. If you can see your keys from here, in most cases they can be stolen, and if your car keys are visible, your car can be stolen from your drive. If your door keys are visible, then your door might as well be unlocked. This is also true if you keep your keys in the lock on the inside of the door, if it has a letterbox it is easy to get access to the key.
If you keep a spare key somewhere outside the property, the place you think of to put it will probably be obvious to the burglar too. A better idea may be to invest in a digital key safe.

We hope that all who read this already implement all these procedures, but if you don’t already, making sure you do, will save you money and stress in the long term. 

Did I mention – check you have your car keys in your hand when you exit your vehicle!!