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How do you open a car trunk without a key?
Can I manually open my trunk? I locked my keys in my trunk, and I don't know of any other way to open it.
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Good news: you can open your car trunk without a key by using the trunk release button or lever inside the cabin of your vehicle.
Even if your cabin lacks a trunk release lever, you may not be out of luck—if you can access the trunk by folding down your seats, you should be able to activate the trunk release lever located inside. Virtually every vehicle manufactured since 2002 has a trunk release lever located inside the trunk itself, in response to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other organizations petitioning car companies for safety measures to curb car kidnappings.
If you’ve locked yourself out of the car altogether, the best way to get the trunk open is still through the cabin. Either
call a locksmith
or use a lock pick to open your car door.You can buy a lock pick, also known as a “slim jim,” from most auto parts stores. Here’s how to use it to get your keys out of the trunk:
- Stick the pick down between the window and the window trim
- Feel around with the pick for a rod, which will trigger the door to unlock
- Use the pick to lift up the rod and unlock the car door
- Locate the trunk release button or lever inside your car
- Push or pull the mechanism to unlock the trunk
So, if you’ve locked you keys in your trunk, you have a few options. You can use the cabin to release the trunk with the trunk release button or lever, but if you’re locked out of there too, you can either use a slim jim with the steps above, get
roadside assistance
, or call a locksmith.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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