How to Unlock a Car Door Without Your Keys

Use string

Here’s a tip: Keep a roll of string around, and you’ll never have to cash out for a locksmith again. The life-changing video below shows you how to unlock a car door without your keys. Just tie a knot in the string per the video’s instructions, creating a loop the size of your index finger at the end. Then, wiggle the string around the right side of the driver’s window. Now, holding the string with both hands, move it in a back-and-forth motion (like you’re flossing a giant tooth). Doing so will shift the string further down the window and toward the inside lock.

This is where things can get a bit tricky. Carefully maneuver the loop over the lock, pulling the ends of the string to tighten the loop at the same time. When you think you have a solid grip around the lock, gently pull up on it to unlock the car door. You’re back in action—and back on the road.

The coat hanger trick is a classic; you’ve probably seen it used in a few movies. All you will need is a coat hanger and pliers. “Use the pliers to unravel the coat hanger so you have one side hooked and one that’s straight,” says Laura Gonzales, Marketing Manager at Audi Bellevue. “You’re going to slide the coat hanger between the window and the weather stripping. Once the hook is below the window, you can start fishing around for the control arm. Once you find it, pull onto it and your door will open.”