Car locksmith in Ottawa for lockouts, broken keys and ignitions
Keys locked in the car, a key snapped off in the door, or an ignition that will not turn. An automotive locksmith fixes it where the car is parked, without a tow to the dealer.
At a glance
- Hours
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- For
- Cars, SUVs, pickups and vans
- Lockouts
- Opened without damage
- Also
- Broken key extraction, ignition repair
- Have ready
- Registration or insurance slip
- All keys lost?
- A new key is cut at the car
- Experience
- 10 years in the trade, Fully insured
What a car locksmith does
An automotive locksmith works on the locks and keys of the car itself, at the roadside, in a parking lot or in your driveway.
What is wrong with my car lock?
Pick what is happening. Some of these you can fix in a minute yourself.
The key will not turn in the ignition
Try this first
Usually the steering lock is holding the cylinder. Turn the wheel gently both ways while turning the key. If it still will not turn, the key or the ignition wafers are worn.
What a locksmith does
A new key cut to the original code, or an ignition repair, done where the car is parked.
Call 613-820-5648The fob does not unlock the car
Try this first
Most often the fob battery. Try the spare fob, then the metal key hidden inside the fob, which opens the driver’s door.
What a locksmith does
A battery change, or reprogramming if the fob has lost its pairing.
Call 613-820-5648The key broke off in the lock
Try this first
Do not try to start the car or dig the piece out with pliers. That pushes it deeper and damages the lock.
What a locksmith does
The broken piece is extracted and a new key cut from the pieces or from the code.
Call 613-820-5648The door lock is frozen
Try this first
Use a de-icer made for car locks. Do not pour hot water on the door. If the door itself is stuck, push firmly on it before pulling to break the ice on the seal.
What a locksmith does
If the key has bent or snapped in the frozen lock, a locksmith extracts it and cuts a new one.
Call 613-820-5648The keys are locked inside
Try this first
Check every door and the trunk, and whether your car has an app that unlocks it. If a child or pet is inside on a hot or very cold day, call 911.
What a locksmith does
The door is opened with an air wedge and a long-reach tool, without damage.
Call 613-820-5648Locked out of your car: what to do
Most car lockouts are an inconvenience rather than an emergency. A few minutes of checking first can save the call.
Call 911 if someone is inside
A child or a pet locked in a car on a hot or very cold Ottawa day is an emergency. Call 911 first.
Check every door and the trunk
Some cars unlock the trunk separately, and a rear door may not have been locked.
Look for a spare
A spare fob at home is often the fastest fix. Some car brands can also unlock the car from an app.
Check your roadside cover
Insurance roadside plans and CAA membership often include lockout help. It is worth a look before you pay for a call.
Call with the details
Year, make and model, where the car is, and where the keys are if you can see them.
How a car is opened without damage
Modern cars are opened through the gap at the top of the door. A soft inflatable wedge opens the gap a few millimetres, and a long-reach tool presses the unlock button or lifts the handle from inside. Done properly, it leaves no mark on the paint, the weather seal or the glass.
Some vehicles are better opened by picking the door lock, which works the same way as a house lock. Coat hangers and slim jims, the tools people try first, can damage the wiring and the airbag curtain inside the door of a modern car, which is a far bigger repair than the lockout.
Once the door is open, the locksmith checks why it happened. A fob with a low battery, a door that relocks itself or a key that no longer turns smoothly are each worth fixing before the next time.
Ottawa winters and car locks
A car that sits outside through an Ottawa January gets frozen door locks, frozen door seals and fob batteries that give out in the cold. Most of it is preventable.
For a frozen car door lock, a lock de-icer made for cars is the right tool. Do not pour hot water on the door, which can crack cold glass and refreezes in the lock. If the door itself is frozen shut, the seal is the problem, and pushing firmly on the door before pulling often breaks the ice.
If a key has been forced into a frozen lock and has bent or snapped, stop. A car locksmith can extract the broken piece and cut a new key, which is far cheaper than a new lock cylinder.
Before winter
- Fob batteries
- Replace them in the fall. Cold weather drains a weak battery quickly.
- Metal key
- Know where the hidden key in your fob is and how to reach the door cylinder.
- Seals
- A silicone treatment on the door seals stops them freezing to the frame.
Car theft in Ottawa
Ottawa Police figures reported by CTV put vehicle thefts at 1,645 in 2024, and about 1,488 were reported in 2025. A car locksmith sees the other side of those numbers: the cars with forced locks and damaged ignitions, and the owners who want their remaining keys secured.
What a car locksmith call costs
The price depends mostly on the car and the job, so give the year, make and model when you call. These are the things that change it.
Questions people ask
Can a car locksmith open my car without damaging it?
Yes. Cars are opened with a soft air wedge and a long-reach tool, or by picking the door lock. Coat hangers and slim jims are what cause damage, because they catch the wiring and the airbag curtain inside modern doors.
My key broke off in the ignition. What should I do?
Do not try to start the car with the broken piece or pull it out with pliers, which can push it deeper or damage the wafers. A locksmith extracts it and cuts a new key from the pieces or from the code.
Is a locksmith cheaper than the dealer for ignition repair?
Often, and the car does not need to be towed, because the work is done where it is parked. For some newer models only the dealer can do the work, and you will be told if yours is one of them.
Do I need to prove the car is mine?
Yes. Expect to show the registration or insurance slip and a matching ID before a car is opened or a key is made.
Other work The Ottawa Locksmith does
For everything else, from a sticking deadbolt to a safe, see the main page for a locksmith in Ottawa.
Tell us what is locked
613-820-5648Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
If you are locked out right now, call, day or night. For anything that can wait, send the form and you will get a call back with a price.