Electric Vehicle Lockout in Washington, DC

EV lockouts are different, and we handle them

Electric cars rely on phone keys, key cards and fobs instead of a metal key, and their doors and locks run on a small 12-volt battery that is separate from the main drive battery. When the phone dies, the card is locked inside, or that 12-volt battery goes flat, the car can become impossible to open the usual way.

What we do

• Open the cabin without damage when the key card, fob or phone is locked inside
• Get into cars whose doors and handles are dead because the 12-volt battery is flat, and supply power so the car wakes up
• Open front trunks and rear hatches to reach belongings or charging cables
• Work in garages and at public chargers, where many of these lockouts happen

Makes we open

Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X, Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan Leaf, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq, Kia EV6, Rivian, Volkswagen ID.4 and other electric models.

What we cannot do

Phone keys and key cards for some brands, Tesla included, are paired through the manufacturer and your account, not by a locksmith. We get you back into the car; pairing a new card is done through the brand. For Tesla, the steps for phone keys, key cards and key fobs are on Tesla’s vehicle keys support page.

How an electric vehicle lockout job goes

The technician confirms the car is yours, then checks whether the car still has 12-volt power. If it does, a door is opened with a soft wedge and a long-reach tool, taking care with frameless glass and flush handles. If the car is completely dead, the technician gains access to the manual release or the external power points the manufacturer provides, supplies power so the doors and screen wake up, and then opens the car normally.

What affects how long it takes

• Whether the 12-volt battery is alive or flat
• The door and handle design, especially flush or electronic handles
• Where the car is parked: on the street, in a garage or at a public charger

5% off for electric cars

We support drivers who have gone electric. Mention code EV5 for 5% off any EV lockout. See all coupons.