What should you do first when you're locked out of your car?
A car lockout means the doors are locked and the key or fob is on the wrong side of the glass. It happens in a parking lot after errands, at the curb outside your own house, or after a beach day when towels, gear and keys all get tossed in together. The first few decisions are the same every time, and making them calmly saves you trouble.
Start with safety. If a child or a pet is inside a locked car, call 911 before anyone else. If everyone is safe, check the basics: is the engine running, are you somewhere safe to wait, and do you know exactly where the keys are, on the seat, in the ignition, or in the trunk?
Then call (213) 577-1366. The line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the person who picks up can tell you whether this is a straightforward door opening or something that needs a different plan. If it is urgent, our emergency locksmith service runs on that same number.
Have these ready when you call:
- The make, model and approximate year of the car
- Where the keys are: on the seat, in the ignition, in the trunk, or somewhere you are not sure about
- Whether the problem is a door, the trunk, or both
- Exactly where you are, including the cross street, the lot, and how tight the parking is
- Whether the engine is running or the car is sitting somewhere it could block traffic
How does a car lockout service work, step by step?
We do not pry doors or smash windows. A lockout is a skilled, fairly quiet job, and the point is that you drive away with the car in the same condition it arrived in. Here is how a typical call goes.
- You call. We ask about the vehicle and the situation, explain what the job involves, and tell you plainly what affects the cost.
- A technician drives to you in one of our mobile locksmith vans. The work happens where the car is, so there is no tow and no trip to a shop.
- We confirm the car is yours. Expect to show ID and something that ties you to the vehicle, such as registration, an insurance card, or a phone photo of the paperwork. We will not open a car for someone who cannot show it belongs to them.
- We look at the door, the window seals and the lock design before touching anything. Doors hold wiring and side-impact components, so the approach matters.
- We open the car with professional non-marring tools: wedges, reach tools and lock-specific tools, chosen for that vehicle. If we see that a clean entry is not realistic on a particular car, we tell you before we start, not after.
- We test the locks and the door, make sure the weatherstripping and paint are fine, and hand you the keys.
- If we notice a worn key, a failing fob or a sticky lock cylinder, we mention it so the next lockout never happens.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What about keys locked in the trunk?
A trunk lockout is its own small puzzle. Often the doors are locked too, so there are two problems stacked: get into the cabin, then get into the trunk. How we do that depends on the vehicle. Some cars have a fold-down rear seat or an interior trunk release, and some do not. On others the trunk lock itself has to be worked from outside.
Some vehicles try to stop you from locking a key inside, and others do not. We never count on that safeguard, and it is no reason to assume your car is fine. Tell us on the phone that the keys are in the trunk, and we will plan the job around the car rather than guess at the door.
If your car has a push-button start and the fob is the thing locked in the trunk, say so. The method can differ, and we would rather work that out on the call than at the curb.
Is it really a lockout, or is something else going on?
Sometimes people call it a lockout when the real problem is different. Sorting that out early keeps you from paying for the wrong fix. A quick guide:
- Keys are locked inside and you have a spare at home: this is a lockout, and we open the car.
- The key is gone, not locked in the car: that is a lost car key replacement job, not a lockout. Opening the door does not solve it.
- The doors will not respond to the fob: the battery may be dead, or the fob may have failed. See key fob replacement for what that involves.
- The key goes in but will not turn, or the ignition feels rough: that points to the cylinder, covered under ignition repair.
How much does a car lockout cost in Manhattan Beach?
We do not publish a flat number because a fair price depends on the job. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost, so the quote you get on the phone makes sense.
The main factors are the time of day, since a call in the middle of the night or on a holiday is different from a weekday afternoon; how far the van has to travel; the type of vehicle and its lock design; whether it is a door, a trunk or both; and whether anything complicates the job, such as tight access, traffic or bad weather.
For most people, a lockout is the more economical route compared with the alternatives. Towing a car to a dealer, or replacing a key you did not actually need to replace, usually costs more than opening the door. If you have roadside assistance through your insurance, a membership or the car maker, it is worth checking that too. Ask them for an honest arrival window and compare it with what we tell you.
If something changes on site, we tell you before we continue, and you decide.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a car lockout?
We have been in business since 1987, working out of a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, with mobile vans that go to the customer. That mix matters. The storefront is a fixed address you can look up, and the vans bring the work to your car.
We are one company, not a dispatch middleman. The person who answers is part of the same business that sends the technician, so you are not handed to a stranger who bids out your call. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees how we work. We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and our automotive locksmith work covers lockouts as well as keys and related car jobs.
What are car lockouts like around Manhattan Beach?
Manhattan Beach is about 17 miles from our Westwood storefront, and ZIP code 90266 covers a tight mix of parking situations. Cars get locked in the Sand Section, where the walk-streets make parking and access tight. If you are parked on or near one, tell us exactly where, and whether the car can be moved without risk to anyone. The more precisely we know the spot, the less time goes into finding it. The same goes for El Porto near Highland Avenue, where apartment and duplex residents often park wherever there is room.
Then there is the beach itself. Visits to the Manhattan Beach Pier, The Strand or Sand Dune Park often mean keys in a wet pocket, a tote, or a bag thrown in the back. Downtown Manhattan Beach near Metlox Plaza, and the Manhattan Village Shopping Center in Manhattan Village, are classic places to shut the door with keys inside. Polliwog Park and Mira Costa High School are common stops where someone steps out of the car for a moment and the door locks behind them.
Salt air is hard on exterior lock hardware along The Strand and in the Sand Section. A car that lives near the beach is exposed to the same air, so if a door lock or trunk lock feels gritty, mention it. It can affect how we approach the job.
One more thing: if your house keys are on the same ring as the car keys, you may have two lockouts at once. Our house lockout service can cover the home door too.
How do you know a locksmith is legitimate?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, issued through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Ask any locksmith for it before they start, whether you call us or someone else. A legitimate company will give you the number without hesitation.
A few other signs are worth checking. They should give a straight explanation of the job and what affects the cost, ask for proof the car is yours, and have a real business address. Be wary of anyone who will not say where they are based, or who quotes a low number on the phone and changes it at the curb.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How can you avoid the next car lockout?
The simplest fix is a habit: before the door closes, check for keys in your hand. If you carry a fob, keep it in the same pocket every time, and zip that pocket at the beach, where sand and salt water are everywhere.
Keep a spare key somewhere that is not the car. A trusted person or your home works better than a hidden box on the vehicle. If you do not have a spare, having one cut or programmed ahead of time is far less stressful than doing it in an emergency, and our team can talk through your options.
Finally, if a key or fob has started to act up, deal with it before it strands you. A worn key or weak fob battery is an easy fix compared to a night in a parking lot.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can you get to Manhattan Beach?
We answer the phone 24 hours a day and give you an honest arrival window based on where our vans are, the time of day and traffic. Manhattan Beach is about 17 miles from our Westwood storefront, but the vans move around, so the distance is not the whole answer. Call (213) 577-1366 and ask.
Will unlocking my car damage it?
We use professional non-marring tools and look at the door and lock design before we start, with the goal of opening it without damage. If a particular vehicle makes a clean entry unrealistic, we tell you before we begin.
What do I need to show to prove the car is mine?
ID plus something that ties you to the vehicle: registration, an insurance card, or a photo of the paperwork on your phone. We will not open a car for anyone who cannot show it is theirs.
Can you get my keys out of a locked trunk?
Yes, in most cases. The method depends on the vehicle, since some cars have a rear seat or interior release that helps and others do not. Tell us the make, model and year on the call and we will plan the job.
Do you work at night, on weekends and on holidays?
Yes. The line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. After-hours calls can affect the cost, and we explain how on the phone.
What if my car is parked on a tight walk-street or in a busy lot?
Tell us exactly where it is, including the cross street or the lot level. Tight access is common in places like the Sand Section, and the technician will plan parking and tool access. If it is safe to move the car, mention that, and if the car is blocking traffic, tell us at once.
Is a locksmith or my roadside plan the better call?
If you have roadside assistance through your insurance, a membership or the car maker, check it. Ask for an honest arrival window and compare it with ours. A locksmith lockout is usually a more economical route than towing the car or replacing a key you still have.
Does a push-button start car make a lockout harder?
The method can differ by make and year, so we ask about the vehicle on the call. If a particular car needs something beyond what we can do at the curb, we say so plainly.
What if my key is lost, not locked in the car?
Then opening the door is only part of the job. You need a replacement key, and many modern keys must be programmed to the car. See our page on transponder key programming and call us so we can sort out the right path for your vehicle.
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Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.