Manolis M. Key Service

I locked my keys in the car: what to do and what not to do

What to do first, what to avoid and how the car can be opened without damage.

By Michalis Manoli, Manolis M. Key Services, Aglantzia · 1 November 2026

Quick answer: If you have locked your keys in the car, do not break the window and do not try to open the door with a coat hanger or wire. Check whether there is a spare key or whether your insurance includes roadside assistance; otherwise call an auto locksmith. In Nicosia, Manolis M. Key Services comes to wherever you are, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and opens the car without damage. If a child or an animal has been left inside, call 112 immediately.

It happens more often than you think: you load the shopping, put the keys down on the seat, close the door and the car locks. Here is what to do, in the right order. See also the page Car keys and car opening.

First: is anyone still inside the car?

If a baby, child or pet has been left inside, every minute counts, especially in the Cyprus heat, where the inside of a closed car heats up very quickly. Call the emergency services straight away on 112. In this case, breaking a window is the right decision if there is no other way.

Step 1: Is there a spare key?

If the second key is at home or with someone close to you nearby, this is the cheapest solution. If you do not have a second key, it is worth having one made once the problem is solved; see what you need to know about immobiliser keys.

Step 2: Do you have roadside assistance?

Many car insurance policies in Cyprus include roadside assistance. Have a look at your policy or your insurer's app. If roadside assistance is slow to arrive or does not cover opening the car, an auto locksmith is usually the quickest solution.

What NOT to do

  • Do not break the window, unless a person or an animal is in danger. The cost and hassle are far greater than having a locksmith open it.
  • Do not use a coat hanger or wire. On modern cars you can damage the rubber seals, the door mechanism or the wiring inside the door.
  • Do not prise the door open with a screwdriver; the paintwork and door frame bend easily.

How a locksmith opens a car without damage

An auto locksmith uses specialist tools that open the lock or door without leaving marks, for cars, vans and motorbikes. The alarm may go off when the door opens; it stops as soon as you put the key in or press the remote.

What the locksmith will ask you for

A reputable professional will want to make sure the car is yours. Have your ID card and vehicle registration document ready; if they are inside the car, you show them as soon as it is opened.

What if the key is lost, not locked inside?

Then opening the car is not enough. You need a new key, cut and programmed to the car's immobiliser. We make new keys for all makes, even without a spare.

Locked your keys inside?

Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For emergencies, phone us on 99 69 79 86.

How to stop it happening again

  • Have a second key made and keep it in a fixed place at home or at work.
  • Do not leave your keys on the seat or in the boot while you are loading.
  • On cars with a smart key, replace the key battery when it starts to run low.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Keys Locked in the Car

The questions we hear most often when keys get locked inside a car.

Yes. We open cars of all makes, as well as vans and motorbikes, without damaging the door or the lock.

Yes. Manolis M. Key Services comes to wherever you are in Nicosia and the surrounding district. When you call us on 99 69 79 86, we tell you straight away when we will be there.

It may go off when the door opens. It stops as soon as you put the key in or press the remote.

Yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays.