Locked Out of Your Car in Fort Collins? What to Do First

Author : Choice City Locksmith | Published On : 22 Sep 2026

Keys on the seat, doors locked, engine off. It happens in grocery store lots, at trailheads above Horsetooth and in driveways at seven in the morning. The first few minutes decide whether this costs you nothing or costs you a window.

Check every door before anything else

It sounds obvious, but a rear door or the tailgate is often still unlocked. Some cars only lock the driver's door when you use the key fob button on the handle. Walk all the way around and try each one, including the hatch.

Don't use a coat hanger on a modern car

The wire trick worked on cars with upright lock posts. Most cars built in the last twenty years have side-impact airbags, wiring and plastic trim inside the door. Pushing metal down past the window seal can scratch the glass, tear the seal or unclip wiring, and the repair can cost more than the lockout.

Is anyone or anything inside?

If a child or a pet is in the car, especially on a warm Colorado afternoon, call 911 first. Temperatures inside a closed car climb fast, even with the windows cracked.

Your options

A spare key at home is the cheapest fix if someone can bring it. Some roadside plans and newer cars with connected apps can unlock the doors remotely, so check your insurance card and your phone. Otherwise, a locksmith can open the door with purpose-made tools that slide between the seal and the frame without damaging either.

If the key itself is lost rather than locked inside, that is a different job: a new key or fob has to be cut and programmed to the car, which a mobile Fort Collins locksmith can do at the vehicle instead of towing it to a dealer.

Choice City Locksmith opens cars, homes and businesses across Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley and Windsor, and quotes the job before setting off. Call (970) 803-1100.