How Much Will a Locksmith Charge to Unlock a Car? 

If you’re locked out of your car, you’ll need the help of a locksmith. These handymen have a variety of services to offer, but their prices vary by the job. You may need a new key, ignition lock, or the installation of a keypad. A broken key will require extraction, but this is not always a costly process. 

The average locksmith will charge between $30 and $50 for the service. Some locksmiths will not charge more than $20 for the privilege. A reputable one should be able to quote a price after viewing the car. If the service is outside of their normal service area, they may add a premium to the bill. If they’re still around, they might be able to get you into your car in a fraction of the time it takes a police officer to do the same job. 

The cost of getting out of your car can be prohibitively expensive if you don’t have the right type of assistance. Most roadside assistance plans come with a predetermined list of approved locksmiths. However, some companies have their own mobile technicians. These will work for a fee within a certain radius. Those who have a premium credit card might have the best of both worlds, especially if they have access to a roadside emergency number. Regardless of the company you choose, there are a few things you should know about the cost of unlocking a car. 

While there’s no such thing as free roadside assistance, your insurer might cover the cost. If you don’t have a roadside plan, you might have to pay the full cost for the lockout, including the time it took to get the vehicle out of your driveway. This might sound like a lot of money, but it could be offset by the fact that you’ll be charged only for the mileage between your home and the service provider’s headquarters. The deductible for any claim is likely to be less than a couple hundred dollars. 

The cost of getting out of your vehicle can be as little as a few hundred dollars or as much as a couple thousand depending on the circumstances. The good news is that most of the major manufacturers have their own roadside assistance programs that allow you to call their representatives and receive assistance in the event of a lockout. Some even include a deductible. In the end, your only real decision is whether or not you want to have the hassle of trying to lock your keys in the trunk or not. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you have a spare set of keys to your car, it’s worth the cost to have a professional rekey your locks. 

A quick search online will turn up a number of car lockout companies, a few of which will be able to give you a more comprehensive estimate of the cost of unlocking your vehicle. The cost of an average automobile lockout will range from about $25 to about $150, depending on the car model and the state of the road. If you have a key, you can also use a keyless entry system to open the door without the need for a locksmith.