Locked out of your home or car? What to do next.

What should you do in the first few minutes?

• Emergencies first. A child or pet in a hot car, or someone inside who needs help, is a 911 call, not a locksmith call.
• Check every entry. Back door, garage, basement, and first-floor windows you can reach safely.
• Think spare keys. A family member, neighbor, or, if you rent, your landlord or property manager.
• Car lockout? Check whether your auto insurance, roadside assistance plan, or vehicle manufacturer covers lockouts.

Why not just force the door or window?

A broken window, a split door frame, or a damaged car door almost always costs more than a lockout call, and it can mean a trip to urgent care. On cars, wedges and coat hangers can tear weatherstripping, scratch paint, and damage the wiring inside the door. Professional lockout tools are designed to open the lock without that damage, and non-destructive entry should be the first approach.

How do you choose a locksmith and avoid a scam?

Lockout scams usually follow the same pattern: a very low price on the phone, an unmarked vehicle, and a much larger bill once the door is "harder than expected," often after drilling a lock that did not need drilling. Protect yourself:

• Ask for the business name and address, and be wary of a phone answered with only "locksmith."
• Ask for the Maryland license number. Maryland licenses locksmiths, and you can verify it on the state license lookup.
• Get the price before they arrive, and confirm it before any work starts.
• Question drilling. Most standard residential locks can be opened without destroying them.

What should you have ready when the locksmith arrives?

Expect to show photo ID with the address, or other proof you live there, such as a lease or utility bill. For a car, the registration or title. This protects you: a locksmith who opens doors without checking would open yours for someone else.

If your keys are lost rather than locked inside, you will also need a new key. For a car, that usually means cutting and programming one on site. See how car key replacement works.

How do you avoid the next lockout?

• Leave a spare key with someone you trust, not under the mat.
• Consider a keypad or smart lock on one entry door.
• If your keys were lost, not just locked inside, rekey the locks so the lost set stops working.
• For a car, get a spare key made now. Adding a key while you still have one is simpler than replacing every key after the last one is gone.