Don't use an old trick – What the ADAC recommends if you have locked your car keys in the car

For many people, it is an absolute nightmare scenario: the car key is locked in the vehicle and seems unreachable. If you don't have the spare key ready immediately, it can actually be difficult to get into the car. This can not only be annoying, but if there are people or animals in the car, it can quickly become dangerous. But experts reveal what to do in such a case and, above all, what should be avoided at all costs.

Second car key in the wheel arch

To prevent such frustrating situations in advance, some drivers still use an old trick and leave a spare key in a plastic bag in the wheel arch of the car. But this is exactly what the General German Automobile Club (ADAC for short) strongly advises against.

Criminals are all too familiar with this supposedly safe hiding place. If your vehicle is stolen and you cannot present all the car keys, your car insurance may only pay out to a limited extent or, in the worst case, not at all.

Avoid self-experimentation

You should also avoid trying to open the car again on your own, as scratches in the paint or bent door frames are the rule rather than the exception.

The experts from the ADAC also write: “No matter what tricks and life hacks are circulating on the Internet – from bent wire to coat hangers to cut-up tennis balls – it is better to avoid such self-experiments and avoid the need for expensive repairs afterwards.”

With modern vehicles, professionals often have to help with the right tools to open a car door without causing damage. Therefore, if you have locked yourself out of the vehicle, it is always advisable to call a locksmith or breakdown service. They often only need a few minutes to open the doors.

Here you should act immediately

In most cases, the most important thing is to stay calm. But if children or animals are locked in the car, you should act immediately. Especially in summer, the interior of the vehicle can heat up quickly when exposed to sunlight. If there is an acute danger to life and limb, you should always call the police or fire department immediately.

That's why the ADAC issues a very special warning to parents: “Never give your children the car keys to play with. While you are just doing something outside the vehicle, even small children can press the lock button.”

Source: ADAC

By Véronique Fritsche