Car Lockout Service in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado
It happens to everyone. You shut the door, hear the click, and see the keys sitting on the seat. Maybe the engine is still running in a grocery store lot on College Avenue. Maybe your dog is in the back seat at a trailhead outside Bellvue. Choice Towing & Recovery opens locked cars, trucks and SUVs 24 hours a day across Fort Collins, Greeley and Northern Colorado. Our operators are trained to get you back in without damaging your door, window or weatherstripping. Call 970-482-0159.
If a Child or Pet Is Locked Inside
If a child or pet is trapped in the vehicle, especially on a hot day or in deep cold, call 911 first. Emergency responders can get there and act immediately. Then call us. Colorado sun can heat a closed car fast even on a mild day, and a winter night in Wellington can drop well below freezing. Nobody should wait in either.
How We Open Your Vehicle Without Damage
Coat hangers and screwdrivers from a helpful stranger tend to scratch paint, tear door seals and damage the wiring inside the door. Our operators use professional lockout tools made for modern vehicles. The approach depends on the make and model. On most vehicles we create a small, controlled gap at the top of the door with an air wedge, then use a long-reach tool to press the unlock button or lift the handle from inside. It is quick when done right, and it leaves no marks.
Choice Towing provides car door unlocking for all vehicle makes and models, and our operators are experienced at opening doors damage-free.
Vehicles We Unlock
- Cars, sedans and hatchbacks
- Pickups and SUVs, including lifted trucks
- Minivans and passenger vans
- Work trucks and fleet vehicles
- Luxury and late-model vehicles with frameless windows or side airbags
If you are locked out of a semi or another commercial truck, call dispatch. Our heavy duty roadside team covers commercial vehicles as well.
Common Lockout Situations We See
Keys locked inside. The most common call. The key fob is on the seat, in the cup holder or in a bag in the trunk.
Keys locked in the trunk. Many vehicles will not open the trunk from the outside without the fob. Once we get a door open, you can usually reach the trunk release.
Running vehicle, locked doors. People warming up the car on a cold Colorado morning and stepping out for a second, only to have the doors lock. We see more of these on the first cold mornings of fall.
Dead fob battery. If your fob is dead and the car will not respond, we can often get you in so you can use the backup key or start procedure.
Frozen locks and doors. After an ice storm, a door may not be locked at all, just frozen shut. Tell dispatch what you are seeing.
Where We Provide Lockout Service
We cover Larimer and Weld counties from our Fort Collins and Greeley locations. That includes:
- Fort Collins, from Old Town and the CSU campus to Harmony Road shopping centers and the neighborhoods off Timberline.
- Loveland, around Centerra, the outlet shops near I-25 and the lake neighborhoods.
- Greeley, including the UNC area and downtown.
- Windsor, Timnath, Wellington, Severance, Johnstown, Milliken, Berthoud, Laporte and Bellvue.
- Trailheads and recreation areas, such as Horsetooth Reservoir, Lory State Park and the Poudre Canyon pullouts off SH-14.
Choice Towing & Recovery can typically arrive within 20 to 30 minutes of your call. Rural areas, canyon roads and storms can add time, and dispatch will give you an honest estimate.
Keep a Lockout From Happening Again
Most lockouts come down to habit. A few simple changes help: keep a spare key with someone you trust in town, not in a magnetic box under the bumper where a thief can find it. Get in the habit of keeping the fob in your hand or pocket until the door is shut. And if your fob battery is getting weak, replace it before winter, since cold weather drains small batteries faster.
Lockouts Around CSU and Campus Housing
Fort Collins has a lot of students, and student life involves a lot of locked cars. Lockouts in parking garages, apartment lots and campus lots spike at move-in in August and at semester’s end. If you are in a parking garage, tell dispatch which level and which garage so the operator can find you without circling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will unlocking my car damage it?
Our operators are trained to open doors damage-free using professional tools. Modern doors hold side airbag sensors and wiring, so we work carefully and take our time.
How fast can you get to me?
We can typically arrive within 20 to 30 minutes of your call. Location, traffic and weather can change that, and dispatch will tell you what to expect.
Can you unlock my car if the keys are in the trunk?
Usually. Once a door is open, most vehicles let you reach the trunk release or fold a seat down to get to the trunk.
Do you unlock trucks and commercial vehicles?
Yes. We unlock pickups, work trucks and fleet vehicles, and our heavy duty team can help with commercial trucks.
Does my roadside plan cover a lockout?
Many do. Our business partners include Allstate Motor Club, GEICO, NSD, FleetNet America and Quest. Check your plan or mention it when you call.
Locked Out? Call Now
Call Choice Towing & Recovery at 970-482-0159 for 24/7 lockout service across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado. If you are not sure of your address, use our Send Location page.
