Child or pet inside? Call 911 first
A closed car can get dangerously hot in a Toledo summer and dangerously cold in a Toledo winter. Treat any person or animal trapped inside as an emergency, whatever the weather.
What kind of lockout is it?
| Situation | What to ask for | Fixed on the spot? |
|---|---|---|
| Keys visible inside, doors locked | Lockout service | Usually |
| Keys locked in the trunk | Lockout service; say it’s the trunk | Sometimes; it depends on the car |
| Keys locked in a running car | Lockout service; say the engine is running | Usually |
| Keys lost | Key service, if the provider offers it, or a tow to a dealer | Only if the provider makes keys |
| Key broken off in the lock or ignition | Ask whether the provider can extract it | Sometimes |
| Smart key or fob not working | Check the owner’s manual for a backup entry or start method first | Depends on the car |
Say which one fits when you call. “Locked out” covers all of these, and they don’t all need the same person.
What a lockout tech can and can’t do
A lockout tech’s job is to get the door open. They typically use an inflatable wedge to open a small gap at the door frame and a long-reach tool to work the lock or handle from inside, the tools in the photo above.
What a lockout call usually doesn’t include, unless the provider says it does:
- cutting a replacement key or programming a smart key or fob;
- repairing a broken lock, door handle or window;
- starting a car whose key is lost.
If you need any of those, ask before the provider comes, so you know whether you need a locksmith, a dealer or a tow.
Call for towing help(419) 329-4502Lockouts around Toledo: lots, garages and driveways
Most lockouts happen somewhere a provider has to find you in a sea of parked cars. Be specific:
- Big lots, such as Franklin Park Mall on Monroe Street or a shopping center in Maumee: the store entrance you parked near, the row, and the car’s color.
- Parking garages, downtown or at a hospital or office: the garage name, level and space number. Garages can have low clearance, so mention it if a tow might follow.
- Driveways and side streets in Sylvania or Ottawa Hills: the house number and where a truck can park.
- Campus lots at the University of Toledo: the lot name or nearest building.
If the battery also died while you were locked out, for example because the lights were left on, ask for a jump start on the same call.
When a lockout turns into a tow
If the keys are lost and the provider can’t make one, the car may have to go to a dealer or locksmith. Tell the dispatcher you don’t have the key, because that affects how the car can be loaded and whether it will roll. Ask for an emergency tow if it is somewhere unsafe, or see roadside assistance for the other problems that can be fixed in place.
What to have ready when you call
- Your exact location: lot, entrance, row, garage level or street address.
- Year, make, model and color.
- Where the keys are: on the seat, in the trunk, in the ignition with the engine running, or lost.
- Photo ID, and where the registration or insurance card is.
- Whether a child, a vulnerable person or a pet is inside. If so, call 911 first.
Then call (419) 329-4502 or send a request. When the provider calls you back, ask the price before anyone is sent. The dispatcher checklist lists what else helps.