LOCKSMITH & SECURITY ADVICE · REVIEWED 13 NOVEMBER 2026
Keys locked in your car
Keep people and animals safe, then check cover and choose help for your exact vehicle.
Danger comes first
Call 999 if a child or any person is trapped and in immediate danger. Do not wait for an auto locksmith. Tell the operator your exact location and vehicle details.
- For a dog in a hot car showing heatstroke signs, such as heavy panting, breathing difficulty, weakness or collapse, call 999 and ask for police first. Stay nearby safely and follow instructions.
- If a dog appears well, ask nearby staff to locate the owner and keep watching; call 999 if its condition worsens. For another animal trapped in a vehicle and in immediate danger, call 999 and describe what is happening. For welfare concerns without immediate danger, seek veterinary or RSPCA advice.
- Do not assume you have legal permission to damage a vehicle.
Arrange the right help
If everyone is safe, see whether a trusted person can bring a spare. Contact your breakdown or key-cover provider before paying privately: what they arrange and pay for depends on your cover.
- Give an auto locksmith the make, model, year and whether keys are in the cabin or boot.
- Confirm capability for that vehicle, proof required, estimated arrival, call-out cost and work estimate.
- Avoid improvised entry attempts. Entry without damage cannot be promised for every vehicle.
Sources & review
Original directory guidance based on the sources below, checked13November2026. It is general information; confirm your own equipment, policy, access rights and circumstances.