(901) 557-8700
Car Lockout

Car lockout service in Memphis. No locksmith needed.

If your keys are locked in the car, you don't necessarily need a locksmith - and you almost certainly don't want to pay locksmith prices. The drivers we dispatch carry professional automotive lockout tools (long-reach kits, air wedges, lever sets) and unlock most non-electronic car doors in 5-10 minutes. For modern push-button-start vehicles where the key is locked inside and the car cannot detect it, the driver can still get the door open - and from there, you can usually drive away. This is what tow companies do every day; for the simple lockout, we're the right call, whether it's a weekend night on Beale Street or a Tuesday afternoon at Oak Court Mall.

(901) 557-8700 Request a quote
Quick Tow Memphis technician using a long-reach lockout tool to unlock a sedan in an East Memphis shopping center parking lot

What's included in car lockout service?

  • Professional long-reach lockout kits for all major vehicle makes
  • Air-wedge and lever entry for tight or damaged door frames
  • Push-button-start vehicle lockouts (the door gets opened, you grab the key)
  • Trunk-only lockouts and rear-hatch entry on SUVs and crossovers
  • Lockouts at home, in parking lots, on Beale Street, on the highway shoulder
  • If the key is broken in the ignition or door, a tow to a locksmith
  • If a window is broken or the lock is damaged, we coordinate with a glass company
  • Discretion and verification - ownership is confirmed before any door opens

When do you need car lockout service?

  • Keys locked inside the car at home, work, store, or restaurant
  • Keys locked in the trunk and the rear seat does not fold down
  • Push-button-start car with the key fob locked inside
  • Toddler or pet locked in the car (call 911 first, then us)
  • After a night out on Beale Street or in Overton Square, keys locked in the car near a restaurant or bar
  • Key fob battery is dead and the manual key inside the fob is locked in the car
  • Working AAA card but the wait time is over an hour and you need to get home
  • Locked out at Graceland or another visitor attraction with a rental car

What do drivers ask about car lockout service?

How much does a car lockout cost in Memphis?

A standard lockout is priced as a single service call, with the total confirmed before we dispatch. Locksmiths in the Memphis area often charge more for the same job, and many add an after-hours upcharge, so it is worth asking both.

Are tow companies allowed to unlock cars?

Yes - it is a routine roadside service in Tennessee. The driver verifies ownership (driver license and registration or a clear vehicle-to-driver match) before opening any door. No lock picking, no key duplication, and no work on cars where ownership is unclear. For an abandoned-vehicle situation, the standard local recovery procedure applies.

What if I have a push-button-start car?

We can still open the door. Push-button-start vehicles use a key fob that has to be inside the car for the car to start, but the door lock itself is mechanical or uses a passive entry sensor. Either way, the long-reach tools open the door. Once the door is open, you grab the fob and start the car normally.

Can you make me a new key?

No - doors get opened, keys do not get programmed. If your key is lost, broken, or stolen, the right call is an automotive locksmith or your dealer. The driver can open the door so you can reach your spare, but if there is no spare, you need a locksmith next.

What if a child or pet is locked in the car?

Call 911 first. Local police and fire will break a window if a child or pet is in danger from heat or distress, and Memphis's long, hot summers make that danger real fast. Once first responders are on scene, call us as a non-destructive backup; a driver may arrive in time to open the door without breaking a window. Never wait on us if a child is in immediate danger.

Will you damage my car?

The tools are professional automotive lockout kits designed not to damage paint, weatherstripping, or door electronics. In rare cases an air-wedge can leave a faint mark on weatherstripping that wipes off. Damage is rare when the job is done with the right tools.

Service area

Where do we offer Car Lockout in the Memphis metro?

We provide car lockout in every city and community across the Memphis metro. Pick your city for local details and service specifics.

Memphis Core Car Lockout in Memphis Every interstate and the FedEx Superhub's overnight sort converge here, so breakdowns run around the clock, and winter ice storms strand cars on the river bridges most years.
East & Cordova Car Lockout in Cordova Wolfchase Galleria's retail traffic and Hope Presbyterian's 7,500-plus weekly attendance both generate event-day parking-lot tows on top of steady I-40 and Germantown Pkwy commuter congestion.
South & Whitehaven Car Lockout in Whitehaven Graceland's tourist traffic and rental-car breakdowns run steady year-round and spike hard during Elvis Week each August, layered on top of Whitehaven's own commuter traffic toward the Mississippi state line.
Shelby Suburbs Car Lockout in Bartlett Shelby County's largest suburb after Memphis itself runs steady HOA and residential private-property tow demand, plus commuter-corridor volume feeding into the city every weekday.
Shelby Suburbs Car Lockout in Germantown The metro's wealthiest suburb by a wide margin runs a flatbed-first, white-glove standard, with newer vehicles and an HOA enforcement culture that keeps non-emergency tow requests steady.
DeSoto County MS Car Lockout in Southaven DeSoto County's largest city pulls Memphis-area shoppers south across the state line for Tanger Outlets and Landers Center events, and Mississippi runs its own towing and impound law here, different from Tennessee's.
West Memphis AR Car Lockout in West Memphis Known in the trucking industry as the crossroads of America, West Memphis sits at the literal point where I-40 and I-55 physically cross the Mississippi River, and Arkansas runs its own towing law here, separate from Tennessee's.
See car lockout in all 29 cities
Car Lockout in Airport DistrictCar Lockout in ArlingtonCar Lockout in AtokaCar Lockout in BartlettCar Lockout in BerclairCar Lockout in ColliervilleCar Lockout in CordovaCar Lockout in DowntownCar Lockout in East MemphisCar Lockout in FrayserCar Lockout in GermantownCar Lockout in HernandoCar Lockout in Hickory HillCar Lockout in Horn LakeCar Lockout in LakelandCar Lockout in MarionCar Lockout in MemphisCar Lockout in MidtownCar Lockout in MillingtonCar Lockout in North MemphisCar Lockout in Olive BranchCar Lockout in Parkway VillageCar Lockout in PipertonCar Lockout in RaleighCar Lockout in South MemphisCar Lockout in SouthavenCar Lockout in West MemphisCar Lockout in WestwoodCar Lockout in Whitehaven
Keep reading

Car Lockout guides and tips

Local towing

Car broke down in Bartlett: what to do

A Bartlett breakdown on Stage Road, Bartlett Boulevard, or US-70 needs a clear location, the symptoms, access notes, and a full tow quote before dispatch.

Explainers

Can a tow truck move a car without keys?

Yes, a locked or keyless car can often be towed in Memphis. What changes is the truck type, drivetrain, parking spot, and proof you control the vehicle.

Local towing

When a jump start works in Memphis, and when you need a tow instead

A jump start only fixes one problem: a battery that's drained but still healthy. Here's how Memphis drivers can tell a dead battery from a dead alternator or starter, and why weekends and overnight hours change the answer.

Serving the Memphis metro

Need car lockout in the Memphis metro?

The line takes calls around the clock. Ask for the total before you agree, mileage included.

(901) 557-8700 Request a quote