Why a trunk is harder
A door is made to be opened with a key or a fob from the outside, so it has a lock the driver can work with. Many newer cars have no key cylinder on the trunk at all. They release it with a button inside, with the fob, or by electric latch, and with the keys inside the trunk and the doors locked, there's nothing to press.
So the job isn't just opening a lid. Getting to the release usually means getting into the cabin first, then reaching the trunk from the inside, and the tools and the time are different. That's what sets it apart from a door lockout.
A fold-down rear seat is sometimes a way through, since on some cars the seat back can be released from inside the cabin. That isn't true of every model, and some can only be released from the trunk side, so don't count on it.
What to check before you call
A couple of minutes of looking can change the answer:
- Whether the rear seat folds, and if the release is inside the cabin. On some sedans it is, and a folded seat gives access to the trunk.
- Whether there's a spare key or fob at home or with someone nearby.
- Whether the car has a trunk release button on the dash or on the driver's door, and whether the doors are locked or just shut.
- Whether the keys are really in the trunk, or in the cargo area of an SUV or hatchback that connects to the seats. That can be a different job, so tell dispatch which it is.
What it costs and why
Keys in the trunk are priced as their own job, because the trunk is harder to get into and takes longer: $120, plus a $19 dispatch fee charged once per job. A lockout where the keys are in the cabin is from $50, plus the dispatch fee. Tell dispatch exactly where the keys are, in the cabin, the trunk or the cargo area, and we tell you which job it is.
The driver confirms the vehicle is yours before starting, so have ID or other proof of ownership with you.
How to keep it from happening again
Most trunk lockouts happen when you're loading something. You put the keys on top of the bags, set the bags in the trunk and close the lid. Keep the keys in your pocket until the lid is closed, and don't hand them to a child to hold while you load.
Keep a spare key or fob somewhere you can get to when the car is locked, such as at home or with someone you trust. A glove box doesn't count, since that's inside the car with everything else.
Common questions
Trunk access is a different job from opening a door. It takes longer and needs different tools, so it's priced separately.
Often the cargo area is open to the rear seats, so it may be handled as a normal lockout. Tell dispatch where the keys are and the vehicle, and they'll tell you which job it is.
Yes, that's the job. How it's done depends on the vehicle, and the driver tells you what's possible with yours once they've seen it.