Locked Out? Here’s How I Got Into This Van Without a Key

By: Northcap – Rustyautos Roadside

Got a call early one morning. Member had locked the keys in his van and was already late for work. His first words?

“Should I just call in sick or will this take long?”

Love a bit of pressure with my coffee.

Now, if you drive something fancy—like a Mercedes, Lexus, or BMW—there’s usually a digital workaround. A tap on the app and the car unlocks itself like magic.

But for the rest of us? It’s not so elegant. And yes, people do still store the spare key in the glovebox. (You know who you are.)

A Van That Likes to Lock Itself

This member wasn’t at fault, really. He told me the van self-locked the day before, but he’d shrugged it off because the windows were down. Today, not so lucky. Windows were up, keys in the ignition, and a locked van staring back at him.

Lesson? Don’t ignore the warning signs. If your vehicle locks itself once, it’ll likely do it again.

Do I Carry Lock Picks? I Wish.

A lot of folks think we show up with James Bond gear and a laptop. The truth is a bit more old school.

Here’s how we roll:

• Step 1: Slide in a plastic wedge to open the top of the door slightly.
• Step 2: Insert inflatable air bags to carefully widen the gap.
• Step 3: In goes the rod—and here’s where we get creative.

Depending on what’s easiest, we’ll try to:

• Press the key fob unlock button
• Hit the door or dash unlock button
• Fish out the keys through the gap
• Pull the inside handle (if the vehicle isn’t deadlocked)
• Or crank a manual window winder, if it has one

Risky Business – But You’re In Charge

Before we go fishing, I always explain the risks. They’re low—but real:

• Deadlocks can disable interior handles.
• Vehicle “sleep” mode can block unlock buttons.
• There’s a tiny risk of paint scuffs, door strain, or even glass cracking.

So I lay it out straight:

“There’s a chance this won’t work. A locksmith will do it clean—no damage—but it’ll cost a few hundred.”
Most folks take the gamble. This member did.

Textbook Entry (Doesn’t Happen Often)

Slipped the wedge in, inflated the airbags, took a peek—and boom: keys in the ignition, unlock button practically glowing. Dropped the rod in, gave the button a tap, and click—unlocked.

Textbook.

But to be honest, it rarely goes this smoothly. More often, you’re dealing with buttons just out of reach, cars that have gone to sleep, or keys tucked in places no rod can reach. It’s not uncommon to spend an hour or more tickling the locks. This one gave up in under 5 minutes. Nice!

Quick Advice: Locked Keys in Car? Here’s What You Should Do

1. Don’t panic. Happens to the best of us.
2. Check for spare keys. But not in the glovebox, please.
3. If you call roadside, understand the risks.
   We’re good—but we don’t carry fairy dust.
4. If you’re unsure, call a locksmith. It’ll cost more but guarantees a clean entry.
5. If your car self-locks, get the central locking looked at ASAP. You’ll thank yourself.

Tool Tip: Basic Lockout Kit

If you’re the DIY type (and confident), there are basic lockout kits online with wedges and rods. Not a bad idea if you’re always on the road or in remote areas.
Use with care—and remember, modern cars are smarter than they look.

This one ended well. No damage, no delay. Member made it to work (just) and got a reminder that spare keys belong at home, not in the glovebox.

Tools down, van open – Northcap

👇 Don’t miss this.
Grab Breakdown-Proof Your Car — free tips from 20 years on the roadside.
No fluff. Just the stuff that keeps you out of trouble.