7 Lockout Prevention Habits That Actually Work

Practical car lockout prevention: spare key placement, key-finder tags, exit routines — habits from a Brooklyn locksmith.

We open locked-out cars for a living, and we would happily do it less. These are the habits that separate people who never need us from people who know our number.

The habits

1. One spare, one place. A duplicated spare that lives in one defined spot at home — not in a drawer that moves.
2. Never set keys on the roof while loading the car. A closed trunk is a time machine: keys go in, doors lock, day changes.
3. Listen for the lock chirp before you walk away — a car that did not chirp may still be open, or worse, locked itself with the engine running.
4. Key-finder tag. The $25 bluetooth tag beats the $150 lockout call.
5. Replace weak fob batteries the week buttons get lazy — see fob battery service.
6. Second key in the wallet for older metal-blade cars: flat and thin beats fashionable.
7. Teach the routine to everyone who drives the car. Most family lockouts are two people each assuming the other has the key.

If it happens anyway

Stay calm and call the mobile lockout service — we cover all of Brooklyn, usually within 20-40 minutes.