What to do if you can't afford a locksmith

Free options, in order

1. Call 911 if someone is in danger: a child or pet in a car, someone inside who can't open the door, something on the stove. On a hot day this is urgent. Hot-car lockouts.
2. Find a spare. A roommate or a neighbor, or a coworker who can drive yours over.
3. Call the landlord or leasing office. Many Raleigh-area complexes keep a spare or have maintenance on call. There may be a fee, usually less than a locksmith.
4. Check roadside coverage for a car. Auto insurance, a roadside club, many credit cards, and the warranty on a newer car often include a free lockout. The phone number is usually on the insurance card or the app.
5. Use the car's app. Many newer cars can open their doors remotely if the account is set up.

What Raleigh people in this spot have asked

A Raleigh worker posted from a break room with the keys locked in the car and no money for a locksmith. Another, near downtown, asked whether anyone could open a car with a coat hanger after being told police wouldn't help. Someone else had locked the keys in the car after a night out and wanted the cheapest Sunday option. The list above is the first answer to each of them, and roadside coverage is the easy one to forget you already pay for. Skip the coat hanger. Modern car doors have wiring and airbags inside, and a repair costs more than the lockout.

If you do need a locksmith

• Ask for the total, trip fee included, and whether they take a card or a payment app.
• Ask whether the price is lower during business hours. Fixr lists an after-hours surcharge of $150 to $250.
• Say it is a lockout, not a lost key. Opening a door costs far less than making a new key.
• Be wary of the lowest quote you hear. A $19 or $35 phone price that turns into $300 at the door is the classic scam, and it costs more than an honest $90 quote. How it works.