Car lockout service in Portland, ME
Keys on the seat, in the ignition or in the trunk: we come to the car and get you back in.
Locked out of your car in Portland? Start here
Call 911 first, then call us. Do not wait for a lockout truck when someone inside cannot get out.
Start by making sure no one is shut inside. A closed car heats up fast in the sun and loses heat fast in the cold, and National Weather Service normals put Portland's January daily low at 15.6°F, so a child, a pet or anyone who cannot open the door comes first.
If everyone is safe, the rest is straightforward. Check every door, the hatch and the trunk first, since one of them may still be open. Then call Tow Truck Portland Maine with the car's location, and our car lockout service comes to open it, at any hour.
Lockouts are everyday work for a Portland, Maine towing company. Of the more than 29 million roadside calls AAA answered in 2014, 17 million were for a dead battery, a flat tire or keys locked in the car, and AAA's Independence Day 2024 forecast still named lockouts among the most common problems for stranded drivers. That is why the tools to open a car ride on every roadside truck we send.
How does a car lockout call work?
You call, we quote, we come to the car and open it, and you show us it is yours.
- The call. We ask where the car is, the year, make and model, and where the keys are: on a seat, in the ignition, in the trunk, or lost.
- The price. We give you the price on the call, before we drive out.
- The opening. We use tools made for opening car doors and work carefully around the door seal and the glass.
- The check. Once the door is open, we ask you to show us the car is yours before we leave.
We need you, or someone you have sent with proof, at the car when we open it; we do not open an unattended car. Door designs vary from car to car, which is why we ask for the model before we arrive.
During a declared Portland parking ban, cars left on the street after 10 p.m. can be ticketed and towed at the owner's expense. If you are locked out on a ban evening, call early so the car can be moved in time.
On the Maine Turnpike, the Turnpike's free Safety Patrol also helps with lockouts during its patrol hours; our page on Turnpike and I-295 breakdowns has more on stopping on either road.
What should you have ready when you're locked out of your car?
Four things: where the car is, what it is, where the keys are, and a way to show the car is yours.
- The exact location. A street and cross street, a lot and row, or a garage level.
- The car. Year, make, model and color, so we know which door we are working on.
- Where the keys are. In sight on a seat, in the ignition, in the trunk, or missing.
- Something that shows it is yours. We ask once the door is open, and the paperwork in the car usually settles it.
If the car belongs to someone else, such as an employer or a rental company, tell us when you call so the proof is sorted out before we get there. If your phone is running low, tell us where you will wait in case it dies.
Locked out with the engine running, or a fob that won't work?
Both are lockouts, and both come with something you can check or do before the truck arrives.
Keys locked in a running car
It happens on cold mornings, when a car is left to warm up and a door locks behind the driver. There is nothing to do about the engine until the door is open, and we open it the same way. If the car is running inside a closed garage, open the garage door and get everyone out, because exhaust builds up fast in an enclosed space.
A key fob that stopped working
A dead fob battery can leave you at a locked door with the key in your hand. Many fobs hide a metal key that opens the driver's door, so check yours before you call; the owner's manual shows where it is. Some push-button cars will also start with a weak fob held against a marked spot, and the manual says where.
Keys locked in the trunk?
That is usually still a lockout, not a tow. On many cars, once a door is open, an interior trunk release or a fold-down rear seat gets you to the keys, and on a hatchback, a wagon or an SUV the cargo area is part of the cabin, so the keys are within reach as soon as we are in.
Some cars disable those when they are locked or switched off. Tell us the year, make and model when you call and we will tell you what is likely to work before we come out. If there is no way through from the cabin, we talk through the options with you rather than forcing the lid.
Lost your car key? That's usually a tow, not a lockout
When the key is gone rather than locked inside, opening the door does not help: many newer keys and fobs have to be cut or programmed for that car before it will start.
That work is done by a dealer or by a locksmith who handles your make, so the usual answer is a tow truck to the dealer, quoted on the same call. If the dealer or the carmaker calls for a flatbed, we send a flatbed; Subaru of America, for one, recommends a flatbed tow truck for transporting its cars.
Before you book the tow, check whether someone can bring a spare key. It can save the trip to the dealer.
Other roadside help in Portland
Frequently asked questions
I locked my keys in the car. What should I do first?
Make sure no one is shut inside; if a child or a pet is, call 911 first. Then check every door and the trunk, and call us with the car's location, the year, make and model, and where the keys are. We give you the price on the call.
Is there a car lockout service near me that's open now?
Yes. Our lockout service runs 24/7 alongside our towing in Portland and the nearby towns, nights, weekends and holidays included. Call and we tell you the price before we send the truck.
How much does a car lockout cost in Portland, ME?
It depends on where the car is, the time of day and the car itself. We give you the price on the call before we drive out, so you know it before you agree to anything.
Do I have to prove the car is mine?
Yes. Once the door is open, we ask for something that shows the car is yours, and the paperwork inside usually settles it. If the car belongs to someone else, such as an employer, tell us when you call.
Can you get keys out of a locked trunk?
Often, yes, by opening a door and using the car's trunk release or fold-down rear seat. Some cars disable those when locked, so tell us the year, make and model and we will say on the call what is likely.
What if I lost my car keys?
Then the car usually needs a tow to a dealer or a locksmith who can make and program a new key, because opening the door will not start it. We quote the tow on the call and send a flatbed if the car calls for one.
Locked out in Portland right now?
Call with the car's location and we give you the price before we come.
- Where the car is - street, lot and row, or garage level
- The year, make, model and color
- Where the keys are - on the seat, in the trunk or lost
- Anyone inside the car? Call 911 first