What should you do first when you are locked out of your car?
The moment you hear the door close with the keys inside, the first job is to check who and what is in the vehicle. If a child or a pet is inside, call 911 before you call anyone else. Interior San Fernando Valley heat runs well above what you would feel on the Westside, and a closed car heats up faster than most people expect. A locksmith is a good second call in that situation, not the first.
If nobody is inside and you are safe, take a breath and do a quick check. Walk around the vehicle and try every door, including the rear doors and the hatch. It sounds obvious, but a surprising number of lockouts end because one door was never latched. Then check whether anyone has a spare key nearby, or whether your phone is still in your pocket, because a lot of modern vehicles can be unlocked through a manufacturer app if you set it up before the lockout.
If none of that works, move to a spot that is well lit and out of traffic, and call us at (213) 577-1366. Our line is answered 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Tell us the make, model, and approximate year of the car, whether the keys are in the cabin or the trunk, and where you are parked. That is usually enough for us to know what tools to bring and what to expect when we get there.
How do we unlock your car without damaging it?
Car lockout work is mostly patience and the right tools. The goal on every call is the same: open the vehicle so it closes, locks, and drives exactly as it did before. We do not pry doors, we do not drill locks, and we do not break glass as a shortcut. A car door is a tightly built assembly of weatherstripping, wiring, and linkage, and forcing it is how a simple lockout turns into a body shop visit.
Which method we use depends on the vehicle. Some doors respond to a protective wedge and a long-reach tool, others to a different approach through the door seal, and some vehicles simply call for a different technique entirely. We decide on site, after we have seen your car. If a particular vehicle cannot be opened safely by a non-destructive method, we will tell you that plainly and explain your options before anything else happens.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and describe the vehicle, your location, and where the keys are.
- We tell you what to expect and give you an honest arrival window based on where our van is and what the roads are doing.
- On arrival, we confirm the vehicle is yours by asking for ID and something that ties you to the car, such as registration or the title.
- We protect the door frame and paint at the contact points, then work the lock open with the method that suits that vehicle.
- You check the doors, windows, and seals with us, and we go over what happened so it is less likely to repeat.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What if your keys are locked in the trunk?
A trunk lockout is its own kind of problem, and it is not always the same as a cabin lockout. In many cars the trunk can be reached through the cabin once a door is open, either by a release inside the car or by folding a rear seat. In others the trunk is separated from the cabin by a solid panel, and the approach is different. A hatchback or SUV with a rear liftgate behaves differently again.
The first thing we do is open the cabin the same careful way we would for any car lockout, then look at how your trunk is released from inside. If there is no interior release and the keys are truly sealed in the trunk, we explain what that means for your specific vehicle before we start. Vehicles differ here, and we would rather confirm by VIN and by looking at the car in person than guess over the phone.
If your keys are stuck in the trunk and the car has an electronic release, tell us up front. It changes what we check first, and sometimes it means the trunk can be opened without touching the lock at all.
What affects the cost of a car lockout in Van Nuys?
We do not quote numbers on a web page, because a number on a web page tells you very little about your car and your situation. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost up or down, so that nothing on the phone or at your car surprises you. We would rather you ask about the price directly when you call, and we will explain how we get there.
Here is what typically shapes it:
- The vehicle itself. Some cars open easily, others take more time and care because of door construction, side airbags, or tight seals.
- Cabin or trunk. A trunk with no interior release can be more involved than a standard door lockout.
- The time of day. Late-night and holiday calls take someone away from their family, and the cost can reflect that.
- Where you are. We are based at our Westwood storefront and travel to Van Nuys in a mobile van, so distance from our base is part of the picture.
- Whether a key is also needed. If the lockout turns out to be a lost key or a failed fob, that is a different job with different parts and programming.
- Any extra work. If a lock is damaged from a previous attempt to force it open, that repair is separate from the lockout itself.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366When a lockout is really a lost key or a dead fob
Sometimes a call that starts as a car lockout is something else once we look at it. If your key is not locked inside the car, but lost somewhere between the grocery store and the parking lot, we are no longer opening a door for convenience. You need a replacement, and we cover that under lost car key replacement. If you are carrying a spare that is not working, the issue may be the battery or the programming rather than the lock. For that, see transponder key programming.
We want to be clear about what we know and what we do not. Whether a given vehicle needs a programmed chip, whether we can program it on site, and whether a particular model is dealer-only for key work varies by make, model, and year. We confirm that by VIN and in person. We will not promise you a same-visit new key over the phone for a car we have not seen. If the answer is that your vehicle needs the dealer, we will say so and you will not be charged for a job we cannot do.
The point of this page is the lockout. If you want to talk about a replacement key or a fob, those pages exist for a reason, and our automotive locksmith team can walk you through them.
Car lockouts around Van Nuys: Sepulveda, Van Nuys Boulevard, and the airport district
Van Nuys covers a lot of ground, from the 91401 and 91411 blocks near the civic center to 91405 and 91406 farther out, and lockouts here happen in very different settings. Along the Sepulveda Boulevard corridor and in the Kester Avenue area, the housing is largely garden apartments and multifamily buildings with a high renter share. Many residents park in shared lots or along the street, and a lockout there often happens at the end of a long day when someone is carrying groceries, a laundry basket, or a kid. If the apartment keys are in the car as well, you may be locked out of both. For the home side, see our apartment lockout service.
Van Nuys Boulevard and Victory Boulevard carry steady traffic and a lot of small businesses, which means people park in lots and on side streets they do not usually use. The Civic Center and the Valley Municipal Building area has its own pattern, with people running into a government office for something short and stepping out to find the door locked behind them. Wherever you are in these areas, if you can tell us the nearest cross street, we can usually find you.
Then there is the airport district. Van Nuys Airport, the FlyAway bus terminal, and the Amtrak/Metrolink station bring travelers who park, leave, and return at odd hours, sometimes with an unfamiliar car or a rental. A traveler who comes back to a car with the keys inside, or one who has misplaced a key after a long trip, is an ordinary lockout call for us, and it can happen at 3 a.m. as easily as 3 p.m. The same goes for the Raymer Street industrial district near the airport, where workers park on long shifts and a locked door can mean a late and expensive evening. Valley Presbyterian Hospital is another place where people are focused on something far more important than their keys, and a lockout in the parking area is the last thing anyone needs.
Our storefront is in Westwood, about 12 miles from Van Nuys, so we reach you by mobile van, not from a shop around the corner. We tell you honestly when you call how that looks for your location.
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. That is a long time to have been unlocking cars, and it means we have seen the odd cases, the older vehicles, and the newer ones that make you scratch your head. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. You are not calling a national call center that hands your job to whoever is nearest.
That last point matters. When you call (213) 577-1366, you are calling Wilshire Lock & Key, not a dispatch service that sells your job to a subcontractor. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd and mobile service vans that come to you. The company that answers the phone is the company that arrives. We think that is easier to trust and easier to hold accountable.
We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and our line is answered around the clock. If you are curious how we handle after-hours work more broadly, our 24-hour locksmith page explains it. If you want to understand how our vans work, see our mobile locksmith page.
We will not overpromise. We will tell you what we can do, what we cannot, and what it depends on. If your car is one that needs the dealer, we say so. That is how we have kept customers for decades.
How can you check a locksmith before they touch your car?
Car lockouts attract bad operators because people are stressed and in a hurry. A few simple checks protect you. California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, known as a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith for that license number before work begins. A real company will give it without fuss. If someone dodges the question, that tells you something.
Other things worth watching for:
- A vague company name on the phone, such as just locksmith service, with no address you can verify.
- A technician who arrives in an unmarked vehicle and cannot show who they work for.
- A quote that changes the moment they see your car. A fair quote can adjust when conditions are different, but the reasons should be explained.
- Anyone who wants to drill or break the lock on a car that could be opened non-destructively.
- Pressure to authorize extra work you did not ask for.
How do you avoid the next car lockout?
Most lockouts are not bad luck. They are habits. The most reliable fix is a spare key that lives somewhere other than the car, such as at home or with someone you trust. A spare made through key duplication is far lighter in cost than being locked out repeatedly, and it saves you a phone call at the worst moment. If your car uses a remote fob, ask us whether a spare is something we can cut and program, or whether that needs the dealer for your model.
A few other habits help. Put your keys in the same pocket every time, and check that pocket before you shut the door. If your car has a keypad or a manufacturer app, set it up while things are calm. If you hand off a vehicle to a valet or a family member, confirm where the spare is. And in a Valley summer, never leave a child or a pet in a parked car, even for a moment.
If you do get locked out again, you know the number. We are here every day, all day, and every night.
Frequently asked questions
Can you unlock my car at night or on a holiday in Van Nuys?
Yes. Our phone line at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year, including holidays. Late-night and holiday calls can affect the cost, and we explain how when you call.
Will unlocking my car damage the door or paint?
Our aim on every lockout is to open the car without damaging the door, paint, or seals, and we use protective tools to do that. We do not pry or drill as a shortcut. If your vehicle cannot be opened safely by a non-destructive method, we tell you before we start.
What do I need to show you to prove the car is mine?
We ask for a photo ID and something that connects you to the vehicle, such as registration, the title, or an insurance card with the vehicle listed. We do this on every call. It protects you as much as it protects us.
My keys are locked in the trunk. Is that harder to fix?
It can be, depending on the vehicle. Many trunks can be released from inside the cabin once a door is open, but some have no interior release. We confirm by looking at your car in person, and we explain your options before any work begins.
How much does a car lockout cost?
We do not publish numbers on the website. The cost depends on the vehicle, whether it is the cabin or the trunk, the time of day, and how far our van has to travel. Ask us when you call, and we will explain how we arrive at the figure before we come out.
Should I call roadside assistance or a locksmith?
Either can work. If you have a roadside membership or an auto policy with lockout coverage, it is worth checking. A locksmith is often the faster call, especially at night, and you do not have to wait for a third-party dispatcher. If you are not sure, call us and we will tell you honestly what makes sense.
Do you come to the airport or the FlyAway terminal area?
Yes. We serve the Van Nuys Airport district, the FlyAway terminal area, and the Amtrak/Metrolink station area by mobile van. Tell us the exact lot or street when you call so we can find you without a long search.
What if I lost my keys instead of locking them in the car?
That is a different job. A replacement key may need cutting and programming, and whether we can do it on site depends on the make, model, and year. We confirm by VIN and in person. You can read about our approach to key fob replacement as well.
Is a child or pet locked in the car an emergency?
Yes, and the first call should be 911. Valley summer heat can make a closed car dangerous quickly. Call 911 first, and if we can help afterward or alongside emergency responders, we will.
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Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.