Can a locksmith open my trunk if there is no keyhole?

Yes. On cars without an exterior trunk lock, we usually open a door first and then reach the trunk through the cabin. That means the interior release button, the fold-down rear seats, or the trunk's internal release handle. The method depends on how your car is built.

Will opening the trunk damage my car?

We use professional lockout tools made to open cars without scratching paint or bending the door frame. Damage usually happens when people pry the lid or force the seats. Our goal is to get your keys out and leave everything working the way it did before.

Why won't my trunk release button work?

The most common reasons are a dead car battery, a valet or trunk lockout switch turned on in the glove box, or a car that only allows trunk release when it's unlocked. Check the glove box switch and try unlocking the car first. If the battery is dead, the electric release usually won't work at all.

How fast can you get to me in Charlotte?

Our typical response time is 20 to 35 minutes in most of our service area, depending on traffic and distance. We handle lockouts 24/7. Call 704-905-6600 and tell us your exact location so we can give you a better estimate.

Do I need proof of ownership if my registration is locked in the car?

We do need to confirm the car is yours, but that is common in a lockout. Have your photo ID ready and let us know where the registration is. We can check it once the car is open.

Keys Locked in Trunk in Charlotte

If your keys are locked in the trunk, we can usually get them out without damaging the car. In most cases we open a door first, then reach the trunk from inside the cabin using the release button, the fold-down rear seats, or the trunk lock itself. Call 704-905-6600 and a technician can typically reach you in 20 to 35 minutes in most of our Charlotte-area service area. We are available 24/7 for lockouts.

What a trunk lockout usually looks like

Trunk lockouts happen fast. You set the keys down to load groceries, a gym bag or a stroller, close the lid, and the keys are gone. Common versions we see:

Keys in the trunk, doors unlocked. This is the easiest case. The trunk release inside the car or a fold-down seat may get you in on your own.
Keys in the trunk, doors locked. Many cars lock themselves after a set time, or you locked them before closing the trunk. Now you need a way into the cabin first.
No keyhole on the trunk. A lot of newer sedans have no exterior trunk lock at all. The only ways in are through the cabin, the fob, or the powered release.
Smart key in the trunk. Many push-to-start cars sense a fob in the trunk and will not latch, but not every car does this, and a weak fob battery can fool the system.
Dead car battery. If the trunk release is electric and the battery is flat, the button inside the car does nothing.

Things to try before you call

These are worth a few minutes and cost nothing:

Check every door and the hatch. One door may still be unlocked.
Look for a spare. A second key at home or with a family member may be closer than you think.
Use your car’s app. Some brands let you unlock doors or pop the trunk from a phone app if your account is set up.
If a door opens, try the interior trunk release. It is usually on the driver’s floor, the lower dash, or the driver’s door panel. Some cars also have a release on the key fob only.
Try the rear seats. Many sedans have seat-back pulls on the top of the seat or straps you can reach from the back seat. Fold the seat and reach into the trunk.
Check the glove box. Some cars have a valet switch or trunk lockout switch there. If it is turned on, the interior release will not work.

Don’t pry the trunk lid, force the seat backs, or slide a coat hanger into the door. These are the fastest ways to bend sheet metal, break seat latches, or tear weatherstripping and wiring.

What we do on site, step by step

Our technicians use the same careful approach on every trunk lockout:

Confirm ownership. We ask for ID and proof that the car is yours. If your registration is inside the car, tell us when you call and we will check it once we are in.
Look at the car. We check the year, make and model, whether the doors are locked, whether the trunk has a keyhole, and how the rear seats release.
Open the cabin if needed. If the doors are locked, we use professional lockout tools, such as an air wedge and long-reach tool, to unlock a door without scratching paint or damaging the door frame. This is the same method we use for a standard car lockout.
Pick the best path to the trunk. That might be the interior release button, folding the rear seat, or working the trunk lock directly if the car has one.
Handle trickier seat designs. Some cars only release the rear seats from levers inside the trunk. In those cases we work through the seat gap with reach tools to hit the trunk’s internal release, or open the trunk lock itself.
Work around a dead battery. If the release is electric and the battery is flat, we may need to power the system or use a mechanical override so the latch can open.
Hand you the keys and test. We make sure the trunk, doors and seats all close and latch properly before we leave.

What affects time and cost

We don’t quote prices online because every trunk lockout is a little different. The main things that change the time and cost:

Whether the doors are also locked. Opening a door adds a step.
Whether the trunk has an exterior keyhole. Cars without one have fewer ways in.
Rear seat design. Seats that fold from the cabin are quick. Seats that only release from inside the trunk take longer.
Battery condition. A dead battery can lock out electric trunk releases.
Vehicle type. Luxury and newer cars with alarms, double-locking or shielded latches take more care.
Time of day and location. Late-night calls and longer drives within our service area affect the final number.

For more on how pricing works, see our page on locksmith costs in Charlotte, or call us with your make, model and situation for a quote.

What to have ready

To get you back on the road faster, have these ready when we arrive:

A photo ID
Your registration or title (or let us know it is inside the car)
The year, make and model of the car
Whether the doors are locked and whether the trunk has a keyhole
Whether the car battery was working before the lockout
Your exact location, such as a parking deck level or space number

We accept cash and credit card, and our technicians speak English and Spanish.

When this is not the right service

A trunk lockout is for when the keys are inside the car and you just need to reach them. If your situation is different, one of these may fit better:

Keys locked in the cabin, not the trunk. That’s a standard car lockout.
Keys are lost, stolen or broken. If the key isn’t in the trunk at all, you need car key replacement. We cut and program most keys and fobs on site, no tow to the dealer.
The car opens but won’t start. If the key turns but nothing happens, or the key won’t turn, look at ignition repair and replacement.
Locked out of your home or business. See our emergency lockout service.
Key snapped in the trunk lock. Tell us when you call. We extract broken keys from locks and ignitions, and the job is a bit different from a simple lockout.

Where we work

We are fully mobile and based in Ballantyne. We handle trunk lockouts across the Charlotte metro, including South Charlotte, Pineville, Matthews, Weddington and Waxhaw in North Carolina, plus Fort Mill, Indian Land, Tega Cay and Rock Hill in South Carolina. Public Locksmith is licensed in North Carolina (License #2721), bonded and insured.

Prevent the next one

The simplest fix is a spare key. Making a spare while you still have a working key is usually faster and cheaper than dealing with a lost-key situation later. Keep it at home or with someone you trust, and get in the habit of keeping your keys in a pocket, not on top of the bags you are loading.

Keys Locked in the Trunk? Mobile Trunk Lockout Service in Charlotte