At some point or another it happens to everyone, and if it hasn’t happened to you yet, rest assured it will. You know precisely what I’m talking about, the day that you accidentally lock yourself out of your car. That in itself is bad enough, but what about the time that you lock a child or pet within the vehicle? That can be very irritating, and in some cases deadly. So what exactly can you do? You can’t break a window, that’s certainly a last resort, and you’re not that guy that can just pick the lock with a coat hanger and call it done. Fortunately there is something that you can do to alleviate this problem, and it’s actually pretty simple.

All that you need to do is call for a locksmith. Just think about it, you’re coming out of the store having bought a bunch of groceries, and it suddenly starts to downpour. You get to your car only to realize that you keys are sitting in the ignition. At first you panic, and then you smile because you know that you can call your nearest locksmith provided that you didn’t leave your cell phone in your car as well. If you did, then there is probably a nearby good Samaritan with either a cell phone or a slim jim that will be more than happy to help you out.

So at this point you’re probably wondering exactly who you call to have your car unlocked. Fortunately a lot of people have this exact problem, and because of that the locksmith industry is pretty huge. You can find them on just about every single corner and many of them are open all day and night. Their logic is that people are going to make mistakes at any hour of the day, so they can make money at all hours of the day. So all you need to do is dial information from your phone, or simply grab a phone book. Either way you’re going to find something that will work in your favor!

This service is not cheap however, in some cases you might find a locksmith that will charge around $75, but in most cases you will discover that it can be $100 or more. While this may be slightly inconvenient, just think about the peace of mind it will give you when you know that there is someone you can call any hour of the day to get you out of a jam.

You will lock yourself out of your car eventually, and there may even be someone you love trapped inside, but this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost, and you certainly don’t have to panic. Help is going to be there when you need it, so calm down, dial your phone, and be on your way home soon!

6. Get a recommendation. If you can, ask people you know and trust who they’ve used in the past. They’ll be able to tell you who in your area is a good, trustworthy locksmith and who should be avoided.

7. Does your locksmith have a shop? It might be a good idea to avoid locksmiths that work out of their homes or cars. A long standing locksmith with a lot of business will generally have a physical address and a shop that customers can visit. While a locksmith with no store isn’t always untrustworthy, you should definitely take time to find out how long he or she has been in business and whether or not complaints have been registered.

8. Ask whether you’ll be getting served by the locksmith or by employees. All employees should be bonded, certified and insured, as well as the owner. Know who will be helping you with your problem.

9. Ask about references. A good locksmith is going to be willing to give you references, especially if you’re asking for business service. Other businesses should be happy to recommend a good locksmith.

10. Price is important. While price isn’t the biggest thing you’ll want to think about, a very cheap locksmith could be suspect. Be willing to pay a little more to get a locksmith you’re comfortable with and can trust.