Locked out of your car? Here is who to call and what to expect.
A clear guide to your options, what it will cost, and the uncomfortable truth about how easy your car is to open for someone who knows what they are doing.
There are three main ways to get back into your car.
Which one makes sense depends on your situation, how quickly you need access, and what has happened to your keys.
Mobile car locksmith
A qualified locksmith can reach you within one to three hours in most UK areas and open your vehicle without damage. Expect to pay roughly £60 to £120 during normal hours, more for evenings and weekends. Look for MLA-registered locksmiths at masterlocksmith.co.uk.
Breakdown service
AA, RAC, and Green Flag all include car unlock as part of their roadside assistance cover. If you are already a member, this is often the most cost-effective route and response times are generally reliable.
Your car dealer
Dealers can help with vehicle access and key replacement but typically require you to bring the car in or arrange recovery. This option works best for replacement keys rather than emergency access.
Your insurer
Some comprehensive policies include emergency key and lockout cover. Check your policy documents. Response times vary but this can cover the cost if other options are expensive.
If your keys are inside the car and you are in a safe location, a mobile locksmith is your quickest route. Always verify credentials before letting anyone work on your vehicle. MLA membership is the clearest sign of a legitimate professional in the UK.
Car unlock prices in the UK. What is fair and what is not.
The locksmith industry is largely unregulated in the UK, which means prices vary enormously. Some mobile locksmiths charge fair rates. Others exploit the urgency of the situation. Knowing a rough range helps you avoid being overcharged.
As a rough guide for 2026, a straightforward car unlock with a professional locksmith should cost between £60 and £150 during normal business hours. Evening and weekend call-outs typically carry a surcharge of £20 to £50 on top. If you are being quoted significantly more than this before the locksmith has even seen the vehicle, it is worth calling another provider for comparison.
If your keys are lost rather than locked inside, you will also need a replacement key cut and possibly programmed. See our guide on lost car keys for a breakdown of those costs.
If a locksmith can open your car in under ten minutes, so can a thief.
This is not meant to alarm you. It is just honest. The tools and techniques used by legitimate locksmiths to access vehicles are not secret. Organised theft groups use the same methods, and they are often faster at it because they practice.
Being locked out of your own car is frustrating, but it is a temporary problem. The bigger question is what happens tonight when your car is parked on your driveway. If a thief decides to target it, how long would it take them to get in and drive away?
The answer for most modern vehicles is under 60 seconds, and often without any physical interference at all. The most common method is a relay attack: a device that amplifies your key fob signal from inside your house, tricks the car into thinking the key is present, and starts the engine silently. No broken windows. No triggered alarm. Just gone.
The only thing that reliably stops this is a physical immobiliser that works independently of your key. When the engine circuit is cut at the relay level, a relay attack has nothing to work with. The car will not start regardless of what signal is being broadcast.
We add the layer of protection your car does not come with.
Our relay-based immobilisers physically cut the engine circuit, completely separate from your key, your fob, and your car’s electronics. We design and build every device in the UK and come to your door to fit it. No middlemen, no subcontractors, one direct contact.
IC3ST, fitted
Standalone wireless immobiliser. Proximity TAG, app control, motion detection.
IS357, fitted
5m proximity detection, smartwatch support, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi app.
ONE Plus, fitted
4G remote, live camera, GPS, night auto-immobilise, Face ID.
Not sure which?
Take our quiz for a personalised recommendation based on your vehicle.
Things people ask when they find themselves locked out.
Can you unlock my car for me?
We are a vehicle security company, not a locksmith service. We do not offer vehicle access or key cutting. For emergency car unlock, contact an MLA-registered locksmith or your breakdown provider. Once you are back on the road, we can help you make sure the same situation does not lead to a bigger problem.
Will a locksmith damage my car to get in?
A qualified locksmith should be able to open most modern vehicles without any damage to the door, lock, or window. If a locksmith tells you damage is unavoidable before even attempting access, that is a warning sign. Always use MLA-registered professionals.
What if my keys are inside the car with a child or pet?
This is an emergency. Call 999 immediately. Do not wait for a locksmith. The police and fire service have the right tools and authority to access the vehicle quickly and safely.
How does a LockCar immobiliser work alongside my existing security?
Our system is completely independent of your car’s existing electronics. It does not connect to the CAN bus and does not interfere with alarms, trackers, or factory security. It adds a separate physical layer of protection that relay attacks and key cloning cannot bypass.
Back in your car? Now let’s make sure nobody else can get in it.
Take the 60-second quiz and find out which immobiliser is right for your vehicle. We come to you anywhere in the UK.