How do you unlock a car door without a key?
Let’s Find Out How To Pick A Car Lock
Table Of Contents
Method 1: Picking and Jiggling
Method 2: Coat Hanger
Method 3: Slim Jim
Method 4: Screwdriver and Rod
Method 5: Wedge
Method 6: Shoestring
Method 7: Chunk Of Plastic
Final Thoughts
Method 1: Picking And Jiggling That Car Lock
For our first method on how to pick a car lock we explore the picking and jiggling method. This method first requires an automotive bump key tool in order to open a locked car door. These can be tricky for a couple of reasons. First, they vary widely from model to model and brand to brand. Often you will find manufacturer specific keys, which does not always mean that it won’t work for other makes as well. However, they can also be extremely effective in opening car doors if you get the correct ones.
The standard version of an auto jiggler is called a double wafer, although there are all kinds of these jigglers on the market. This method works well with most cars 2005 and older, however even on new models this method will work as long as it does not have a digital lock chip mechanism.
The technique of using these jiggler picks is similar to a rake in traditional lock picking. This will take some practice so be patient. Insert the jiggler all the way to the back of the lock and rock it up and down while putting on some tension in the direction of the cylinder turn. Keep trying the other car bump keys and repeat this process and with a little technique and a little luck, you will figure out how to unlock a car door.
Method 2: Coat Hanger Picking
Alright, so how to pick a car lock without using a jiggler bump key? Well, in this method we will be using a straight up metal coat hanger (yeah, like the one you hang your clothes with). So let’s learn how to unlock a car with a coat hanger. This will definitely take some time, like all lock picking, but with a little persistence you will unlock a car door without a key no problem. Plus with this method, all you need is a wire coat hanger to get inside your car. When a locksmith comes, you will often see them employ this method to get in. Sometimes it leaves you wondering “for real, that’s all it took?” The answer is yes. It is that simple.
Take a wire coat hanger, untwist it and create a hook at the end of it. The depth and angle of the hook will entirely depend on your car, but make it of decent size at a least a couple inches. Now, slowly insert the hanger in between the weather stripping of your window. You are looking for the mechanism inside the car that locks. You really have to feel for it, so take mental notes as the hanger hits different parts of the internal workings of your door. Keep moving the hanger around until viola! You hook the locking mechanism inside the door and you have successfully learned how to pick a car door lock. Be careful and gentle because you can seriously mess your car up, but that’s how to unlock a car with a coat hanger!
Method 3: Slim Jim
We like to call this the Hollywood method for picking a car door lock. You have seen this a million times I am sure, but it is one of the most effective ways for figuring out how to unlock a car door. This method also works best with older style locks, especially pre-2000 cars. A slim jim is a flat sheet of metal that needs to be at least 1.5-2ft long. Like the coat hanger, insert the slim jim in between the window and weather stripping. BE CAREFUL! There are tons of electronics inside your door. Work the slim jim gently in there, wiggle it around until you see the lock start to move. Move the slim jim around until you get up and under the door lock then lift up and boom! It’s open. This method ONLY works with the car door locks with upright style locks.
Method 4: Screwdriver & Rod
This is one of the most dangerous methods in terms of harming your car, so proceed with caution. You need two tools for this, 1 Phillips style screwdriver and 1 metal rod or something that looks and acts like one with a little hook on the end. So, how to pick a car lock with this method? Let’s do it. Put the screwdriver inside the gap between your door and your cars body. You are going to pry your door open with this, start pulling out on it. Now, slide your rod down in between the gap that we created with prying the door open with a screwdriver. Aim the rod towards your unlock button on the inside of the car. Hit that guy, and kaboom – in about 25 seconds you will have your car door open.
Method 5: Wedge
Method 5: WedgeThe best part about this method is that it has the least probability for damaging your car’s internal or external parts. The downside is that you need to have it handy well in advance of having your keys locked in car. Similar to the screwdriver method, you are going to insert the inflatable wedge in between the door and the body of your car. Simply inflate the wedge until it creates a gap. Now, you can insert a metal rod, coat hanger or other long object with a hook to hit the unlock button inside of the car. Patients again my friend, we will unlock the car door.
Method 6: Shoestring
Something that we always like to do as you may already know is go Mac Gyver on it! This makes for one of the most enjoyable methods for us in figuring out how to pick a car lock because it is simply badass. This method only works with car doors that have upright locking mechanisms just like many of the other methods that we have covered. No wonder you don’t see many of those in new cars these days. You might be thinking, can you really get into a locked car door with a shoe string?
The answer, hell yes. Start by tying a little slipknot directly in the middle of the shoelace – it’s important to know how to tie a slipknot because you will need this loop to tighten here in a second. Take the shoelace and slide it in from the upper corner of your door while holding on to one wide of the string with one hand and the other side with your other hand. Move the loop until you lace it around the upright style lock. Now, pull on both sides of the shoe string so the loop closes around the lock and pull up! Kaboom! That’s how you get into a locked car with a shoestring!
Method 7: Chunk of Plastic
Okay, we know that this sounds ghetto. But trust us, this is one of the most badass ways if pull it off. Plus, it never hurts to get your hands down and dirty. This method, like most, works the best with the upright style of pull up locks. It’s really simple. Because you only need one tool for this procedure, a long strip of thin plastic – that’s it! This method functions much like the shoestring method that we covered above. Fold the strip of plastic in half so it doubles over. Insert the bent end of the plastic strip into the corner of the door. Slide it in slowly, wrap it around the lock and pull up. Pop! This should help you get into a locked car. Good luck out there!
Final Thoughts on How To Pick A Car Lock
Can you believe it? It is really that easy to get back inside your car. We’ve all been there dude, googling locked keys in car with our heads in our hands wondering how much money this is going to set us back. However, if you are relatively crafty, you can figure out how to pick a car lock. However, if you have any doubts or are nervous to the point of freaking out – maybe it’s time to call a locksmith. Make sure as always that you are only learning how to break into your car and not anyone else’s alright, don’t be a douche.
That concludes our exhaustive list of methods for learning how to pick a car lock! This is one of the most commonly asked questions that we get. Now because of this article, you won’t have to call Triple A or pay a lot of money. Likewise, when the zombie apocalypse goes down you will be covered. Just kidding, kind of. Have any of these methods worked for you? Let us know and as always keep picking.
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