How to Open a Car Window From the Outside
by Francis J. Matthews
If you've locked your keys in your car, or just need to open your car up and don't have your key fob handy, you can still open the door without calling a locksmith or a lock-out technician if you have the right tools and information to prove to a police officer that you're not trying to steal someone's car.
Preparations
Step 1
Check all doors and the trunk to make sure that you can't access the interior through another avenue. The process described can be time-consuming, and if done incorrectly could lead to paint scratches in several places.
Step 2
Straighten out your coat hanger or metal rod, ensuring that it is several inches longer than the distance from the top of the door frame to the location of the latch for the door.
Step 3
Bend the rod in at the top to create a handle to use when manipulating the latch. Make another smaller hook at the opposite end. You may need to look at the inside of the opposite door to determine the best shape for the smaller hook.
Step 4
Attach a piece of fabric or rubber from a balloon or other object to the small hook of your new unlocking device. Due to the long length of the rod and the slippery nature of metal, you will want to have some friction to keep the rod from sliding over the inside of the door.
Opening the Car Window
Step 1
Insert the wedge between the glass and the weather seal around the window. Most cars will be built in such a manner that you will not be able to accomplish this, in which case you will need to unlock the door and move the window from inside.
Step 2
Insert the wedge at the top of the door so that a gap appears of roughly 1/2 inch. You may need to find another object to create a smaller gap before using the larger wedge or doorstop.
Step 3
Maneuver the metal rod so that the small hook is touching your lock mechanism. Move it so that the hook actuates the lock. You may need to look at the opposite door again, or enlist the help of a friend to guide the rod while you're attempting this.
Things You'll Need
- Registration in your name
- A coat hanger or other thin, pliable metal rod
- Wedge large enough to create a gap between the door and car frame
- Rubber or fabric to prevent damage to car's metal frame
Warnings
Writer Bio
Francis Matthews currently write SEO-friendly news articles for websites with topics as varied as military lodging, health supplements, car dealers and health insurance finders. Matthews has worked in corporate communications and as a reporter at a newspaper tasked with late-breaking news stories. He has a Bachelor of Arts in history and Spanish from Eckerd College.
