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How do you open a car trunk from the inside?

My friend wanted to play a prank on us and snuck into the trunk. They’re fine, still laughing, but we can’t figure out how to let them out from the outside. The keys are with them and the fob’s battery died. What options do we to get them out?

avatar
Lauren Smith · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“What a perfect storm of bad luck, but I’m glad your friend is still laughing!
Have your friend check if there’s a cable trunk release. This runs from the front of the car through to the trunk. They’ll need to pull up some of the carpets in the trunk and feel for the cable. If there’s cardboard paneling, they might need to pull that up as well.
Some cars also have a release lever inside the trunk. Your friend should feel around for this push it to the left if they find it.
If the car is a 2002 or later, it should have a trunk release to pull. It will glow in the dark. This is a national requirement to prevent this very situation from happening.
The other option your friend has is to try and see if the seats that go to the back seat come down. If so, they may be able to push those down and get out through the backseat.
If these options don’t work, you should call for help. A locksmith should be able to open the trunk. If you have a roadside assistance membership through your
car insurance
, you could also call them.
If you don’t currently have roadside assistance, consider adding a membership for the future. The
Jerry
app has a roadside assistance membership. Benefits include towing, lockout service, key replacement, and more!”
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