Vehicle Key Stuck in Your Ignition? Here is What to Do

Suppose you are driving down the road on an average day, headed towards your workplace, the gym, or out to run errands. Once you arrive at your destination, when you attempt to remove your key from the ignition cylinder, it remains stuck. Dealing with a stuck vehicle key is probably the last thing you need, especially if you are in a rush or on a strict schedule.

While out-and-about, no one anticipates that a major hang-up will put a damper on their plans. A key that refuses to come out of your ignition slots is one of the very hang-ups that may catch you off guard. While it can be easy to become overwhelmed with frustration when your vehicle key is behaving badly and refusing to come out, there are several things you can do to fix the problem.

How to Extract Your Key

• Take a Deep Breath and Calm Down

The first thing you will want to do if you find that you cannot extract your vehicle key is to calm down. Any sort of rushing or frustration will only interfere with finding and executing the proper solution. You will get the entire situation resolved and over with quickly if you are able to remain calm and think with a clear head.

• Check the Vehicle Gear and Parking Brake

Once you have taken the time to gather your thoughts, accept the situation, and calm down, you will want to check some basic things inside of your vehicle. Is the emergency brake in place? What about the gear shift? Some vehicles will not allow drivers to extract their vehicle keys until the car is properly put into ‘park’ and the emergency brake is activated. If you are frazzled or rushed in any way, it can be easy to bypass these simple measures – which may leave you wondering why your vehicle key will not come out.

• Wiggle the Wheel Back-and-Forth

The number one trick you can try if your vehicle key is still refusing to come out, is to move the steering wheel back-and-forth with one hand, while gently trying to wiggle the key out of the ignition slot. Most of the time, you will find that this trick is entirely effective and your key should pop out with no problems. Sometimes, the steering wheel locking system and other safety measures inherent in the vehicle can cause the key to become stuck.

• Never Use Force to Extract Your Key

Vehicle keys are intended to be inserted and extracted at will and with ease. If there is some sort of resistance occurring with your key and you have tried wiggling the wheel, setting the gears in place, and have tried other basic troubleshooting steps, do not attempt to forcefully remove your key. Although it can be tempting, especially if you are frustrated and just want to get on with your day, trying to force out the key will likely only cause more damage.

• Ask for Emergency Assistance

Sometimes, no matter what you do, you will need to have a specialist help you extract your key. If you are to the point where you cannot get your key out and have made several attempts to extract it yourself, now is the time to call for help. Keep reading to learn more about the kind of specialist to call for your stubborn vehicle key extraction.

Contact a Mobile Lock and Key Technician

There may be times when, no matter what you attempt in order to try and release your stuck vehicle key, you will need to have an experienced technician extract your key for you. If you have tried the suggestions described above and are still unable to retrieve your key, it is time to call a mobile locksmith.

Mobile locksmiths are preferred in situations like this for a couple of reasons. Number one, most mobile locksmiths are open 24-hours a day. Since stuck vehicle keys, lockouts, and other vehicle lock and key problems can occur 24/7, you can count on most mobile locksmiths offering their services around-the-clock. Make sure that you hire a mobile locksmith that offers emergency hours and services, even if you need a locksmith during business hours. Hiring a 24-hour locksmith is always recommended in the event you need their services sometime later down the road.

It is also a good idea to hire a mobile locksmith to help you extract your vehicle key since it will help you save both time and money. Without a mobile locksmith to come to your rescue, you will likely need to call an expensive tow truck, pay to have your vehicle towed to a dealership or other repair place, and wait in line for your vehicle to be looked at and serviced. This entire process is extremely inefficient compared to simply calling a mobile locksmith.

Mobile locksmiths can perform a variety of vehicle locksmithing related duties, right where you are stranded. Whether you are in your driveway, stuck at your workplace, or in a parking lot, a mobile locksmith will be able to meet your right at your location and help with whatever locksmithing concerns you have. Once you have received your repairs, you will be back on the road quickly and at a much cheaper rate than alternative routes.