It happens to everyone: the door shuts, you reach for your pocket and the keys are sitting on the driver's seat. Nick's Towing San Jacinto provides 24/7 car lockout service in San Jacinto, Hemet and nearby communities, using professional tools designed to open your vehicle without scratching paint or damaging seals.
Whether you are stuck in a grocery store lot on Sanderson Ave, outside your house or in the parking area at Soboba Casino Resort late at night, call (951) 355-4290 and we will come to you.
If a Child or Pet Is Locked Inside, Call 911
This comes first for a reason. If a child, a vulnerable adult or a pet is locked in a vehicle, especially in the sun, call 911 right away. Inside a closed car, temperatures climb dangerously fast, and that is true even on mild days in the San Jacinto Valley, not just in the middle of summer.
Emergency responders can get there quickly and are equipped to act immediately. After they have handled it, we are happy to help with anything else the vehicle needs.
How We Open Your Car Without Damage
Old-school slim jims can tangle wiring and airbag components inside modern doors, so we do not use them. Our drivers use professional lockout kits: an inflatable wedge to create a small gap at the top of the door, and a long-reach tool to press the unlock button or pull the handle from inside.
This method works on most cars, SUVs and pickups, and it does not leave marks when done carefully. Some luxury and high-security vehicles take more time, and in rare cases a locksmith or dealer is the better answer. If that is the case for your vehicle, we will tell you before we start.
Before we arrive, double-check every door and the hatch or trunk. It sounds obvious, but sometimes one rear door or the tailgate was left unlocked, and that solves the problem in seconds. If you have a vehicle app that can unlock remotely, try that too.
What’s included
- 24/7 lockout service at home, work or on the road
- Damage-free entry with professional wedge and reach tools
- Cars, SUVs, minivans and pickups
- Keys locked in the trunk (on many models)
- Push-button start and smart key vehicles
- Jump start on the same visit if needed
- Tow to a dealer or locksmith for lost keys
- Ownership check for your protection
Common Car Lockout Situations We Handle
We see a lot of the same scenarios around the valley:
- Keys locked inside while loading groceries or kids
- Keys locked in the trunk, with no interior trunk release
- Push-button start cars that locked with the fob still inside
- A key fob with a dead battery that will not unlock the doors
- Doors locked at a gas station while the engine is still running
Smart key systems are supposed to prevent lockouts, but they do not always recognize a fob sitting in a cup holder or a bag. If your fob battery died, a fresh coin cell will often solve it once we get you inside.
Rental cars are no problem either. Just have the rental agreement handy once the door is open.
Proof of Ownership
To protect you and every other driver, we only open a vehicle for its owner or an authorized driver. Once the door is open, we will ask to see a photo ID and the registration or another document that ties you to the car. If the paperwork is inside the car, that is fine; we will check it once it is open.
It takes a minute, and it is the same thing you would want if someone else were trying to get into your car.
How to Avoid Your Next Lockout
Once you have been locked out once, you usually want to make sure it does not happen again. A few habits that help:
- Keep a spare key with a family member or trusted neighbor nearby, not hidden on the car itself where a thief could find it.
- Replace your key fob battery every couple of years, or as soon as the range starts dropping.
- Never leave the engine running with the doors unlocked while you step away, even for a second at a gas pump.
- Check whether your vehicle has a phone app that can unlock the doors remotely, and set it up before you need it.
- Get in the habit of touching your keys before you close the door.
If it still happens, save our number in your phone so the fix is one call away.
Lost Keys Are a Different Problem
A lockout means the keys are in the car. If your keys are lost entirely, opening the door does not get you home, because modern keys and fobs need to be cut and programmed for your specific vehicle. That is a job for an automotive locksmith or your dealer.
We can still help: we can tow the vehicle to the dealer or locksmith so you are not stuck. Lockouts are part of our full roadside assistance, and if you are also dealing with a dead battery from leaving a door ajar, our driver can handle that on the same visit.
If you are not sure whether the keys are inside or lost, take a careful look through the windows before calling. Knowing what you are dealing with helps us send the right help.
Where we provide car lockout service
Every day in San Jacinto, and on request in Hemet, Valle Vista, East Hemet, Winchester, Homeland, Nuevo, Menifee, Perris, Moreno Valley, Beaumont, Banning, Idyllwild.
