Question: How do you unlock a child lock on a car door?
Answer: The process of unlocking a child lock on a car door can differ from one vehicle to another, so it’s best to start with your owner’s manual and go from there. That said, here are some methods you can try to unlock the child lock in your car:
Unlock your vehicle
If your vehicle has a central locking system—and most modern cars do—unlocking all the doors should also unlock the child lock. If the interior lock/unlock button does not turn off the child lock, try using your vehicle’s key fob to unlock the child lock.
Try the exterior door handle
Child locks are designed to prevent the door from being opened from the inside but they still allow it to be opened from the outside. This means that regardless of the type of child locks in your car, you can probably walk around to the outside of your vehicle and pull the handle on the outside rear door to open it.
If you need to unlock the child locks entirely, here are a few more things to try:
Turn off the switch or lever on the side of the rear door
The child lock is usually located on the edge of the rear door and is often labeled with a child lock symbol. To deactivate it, open the door from the outside and use your finger or a small tool to flip the switch to the “unlocked” position. Afterward, test the door from the inside to ensure the lock is disabled.
Note: In select newer vehicles, you may find a child lock button on the driver’s door control panel. Pressing this button makes disabling and enabling your car’s child locks simple.
What if I still can’t unlock the child safety locks?
If the child lock on your car door still won’t unlock after you’ve tried all of these methods, you may have a blown fuse related to your door locks. A blown fuse is a safety device designed to protect the electrical system. If it’s blown, it can disrupt the power supply to the door locks, including the child lock system. Inspect your fuse box and replace any loose or blown fuses you find, then try to disable the child locks again.
If you still can’t unlock the child safety locks on your car doors, it’s time to head to the professionals.
Reasons to keep your safety locks on
Though we usually associate them only with children, safety locks aren’t just for when you have kids in the car—they’re also helpful in many other situations.
For instance, if you’re driving with pets, safety locks can prevent them from accidentally opening a door while the vehicle is moving. They’re also handy when you have passengers who might not be familiar with the car or during a bumpy ride where a door could accidentally be opened.
And if you’re transporting cargo that could shift and hit the door handles, keeping the safety locks engaged helps ensure everything stays inside.
In short, safety locks are a simple yet effective way to enhance your vehicle’s security and safety, even when children aren’t in the car.
Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car. Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.
Giselle Gomez is an editor with over a decade of experience editing content across personal finance, education, travel, and sports. In editing for Jerry, Giselle’s focus is on making sure content is consumer and SEO-friendly and helping readers understand all things car ownership. In prior roles, she worked as a content strategist, syndication editor, and writer. Her work is featured in AP, NerdWallet.com, BestColleges.com, and more. Giselle holds a master’s degree from Arizona State University.
