A car lockout is the single most common call we get in Spokane, and almost everyone asks the same three things: how long will it take, will you damage my car, and what do you need from me. Here is the honest walk-through.
Minute zero: the phone call
A real person answers. We ask where you are (a cross street or business name is enough — "the Winco lot on Sprague" works), the year and make of the vehicle, and whether anyone or any pet is inside. Then we give you a firm price in writing by text before the van moves. If a child or animal is locked in, tell us first — that call jumps the queue and we may tell you to call 911 as well.
Minutes 1–20: the drive
Typical arrival across Spokane and Spokane Valley is about twenty minutes. The technician texts you when they are a few minutes out so you are not standing in the cold watching every van that passes. If you are somewhere awkward — a parking garage downtown, a trailhead at Dishman Hills — say so and we will find you.
Minutes 20–25: opening the door
On most vehicles we use an air wedge and a long-reach tool: the wedge creates a small gap at the top of the door, the reach tool presses the unlock button or lifts the handle from the inside. It looks alarming for about ten seconds and leaves no mark. On vehicles where that is not appropriate — some older frameless-window cars, some with sensitive door seals — we pick the door lock directly with a Lishi decoder instead. Either way, no drilling, no broken glass, no scratched paint.
- Most cars: 2–10 minutes once we are at the door
- We check for a spare in the trunk or glovebox only if you ask us to
- If your key is locked inside, you are done the moment the door opens
- If the key is lost, we can cut and program a new one right there — see below
What we need from you
Proof that the car is yours: registration in the glovebox, an insurance card on your phone, or a licence that matches the registered address. Washington requires us to check, and it is also how you know you called a real locksmith and not a lead-gen call centre. If your ID is inside the car, we open it first and check second.
If the key is gone, not just locked in
Lost keys are handled in the same visit. The van carries a key-cutting machine and a programmer, so we cut a new blade from your VIN and pair the transponder or fob to the car on the spot. Read what to do when you have lost your only car key for the details.
Questions people ask while we work
Will this set off my alarm?
Often, yes, for a few seconds — the car thinks a door opened without a key. It stops the moment the key is turned or the fob is inside. Newer cars with a dead key inside sometimes chirp until the key is pressed; it is noise, not damage.
Can you open a car with the keys running inside?
Yes, and it is one of the calls we prioritise. An idling car with a locked door is a fuel problem and, in summer, a heat problem for anyone inside.
Do you open trunks?
If the keys are in the trunk and the cabin is locked, we open the cabin and use the interior release or fold the seats. On cars with a valet-locked trunk we decode the trunk lock itself.
What if I am not the registered owner?
A rental agreement, a spouse's registration with your shared address, or the owner on the phone confirming with their ID all work. We are careful about this because it is the only thing standing between a locksmith and a car thief with a good story.
Where this happens most in Spokane
Downtown garages off Main and Riverside, the Northtown and Spokane Valley Mall lots, the Costco lots on both sides of town, trailheads at Riverside State Park and Dishman Hills, and the Northern Quest garage after midnight. Wherever you are, a cross street or business name gets us there.
