What non-destructive entry actually means
Non-destructive entry is exactly what it sounds like. We get into your vehicle using tools designed for the job, without drilling the lock, forcing the door or smashing a window. When we drive away, the only difference is that your car is open.
It matters more than people expect. A broken window on a modern car is rarely just glass: there is the door card, the regulator, the wiring in the door and the clean-up of glass in the seat rails. A forced door leaves a bowed frame that whistles at motorway speed and lets water in. Both cost far more than the call-out that would have avoided them.
We are auto locksmiths rather than general locksmiths, so the tools on the van are made for vehicle locks and vehicle door seals. That is the difference between an opening that takes a few minutes and one that leaves marks down the top of your door.
The situations we get called to most
- Keys locked in the boot after loading shopping, which happens constantly in the car parks around the White Rose in Beeston
- Child or pet locked in the car, which we treat as an emergency and prioritise immediately
- Keys visible on the driver's seat after the doors auto-locked
- A dead key fob battery leaving you stood next to a car that will not respond
- Central locking that has locked every door on its own with the key still inside
- Keys locked in a works van with tools inside and a job waiting
How the job goes
- We confirm the car on the phone. Make, model, year and where it is parked. That tells us which method suits the lock and how long we will need.
- We agree a price before we travel. No call-out fee, and no change to the number once we arrive.
- We open it on site. Most cars take minutes once we are with the vehicle.
- We check the door before we leave. Locking, unlocking, window operation and the seal, so nothing has been disturbed.
If the key is locked inside and it turns out to be faulty, or the fob has given up entirely, we can usually sort that in the same visit rather than sending you away with an open car and a key that still will not work.
Cars we open
Most cars on UK roads, from older hatchbacks to current keyless models, plus vans such as Transit, Sprinter, Vivaro and Transporter. Keyless entry cars need a slightly different approach because there is no mechanical way in on some models, and we will tell you honestly on the phone if yours is one of the rare vehicles that needs a different route.
What we will not do is guess. If a car cannot be opened without damage, we say so before you have paid anything, rather than making a mess of it and charging you for the privilege.
What affects the price
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Vehicle and lock type | A standard barrel takes less work than a high-security or keyless system |
| Time of day | Middle of the night call-outs cost a little more than a Tuesday afternoon |
| Where the car is | A driveway in Bramley is a quicker job than a multi-storey with height restrictions |
| Whether the key is faulty | Opening the car is one job, making the key work again is another |
You get the whole number on the phone. We would rather spend two minutes asking about the car than turn up with a price you were not expecting.
Why not a general locksmith or a recovery truck
A house locksmith is skilled, but the tools for a UPVC front door are not the tools for a Golf. Recovery is worse value again: a tow takes your car somewhere you did not want it to be, and you still need someone to open it at the other end.
A mobile auto locksmith comes to the car, opens it where it stands and leaves you driving. That is the whole point of the service, and it is why we work nights and weekends, when dealers are shut and most of these calls actually happen.
Questions about non-destructive entry
Will you damage my car getting into it?
In the vast majority of cases, no. We use entry tools made for vehicles and we protect the paintwork and seals while we work. If your car is one of the few that cannot be opened without damage, we tell you before we start.
How quickly can you get to me?
It depends where you are and what the traffic is doing. West Leeds is closest to our Stanningley base. You get an honest ETA on the call rather than a guess.
My keys are locked in the boot. Can you still help?
Yes. Boot lockouts are one of our most common jobs. Tell us the make and model when you call, because the route in differs between vehicles.
Do you need proof the car is mine?
Yes. We ask for ID and something linking you to the vehicle, such as the V5C, an insurance document or the app on your phone. It protects you as much as it protects us.
The car is keyless and completely dead. Is that different?
It can be. A flat vehicle battery or a dead fob changes the approach, and some keyless models have no mechanical lock at all. We will talk it through on the phone so nobody wastes a journey.
Do you charge a call-out fee?
No. The price we agree before we set off is the price you pay when the job is done.
Can you open a van?
Yes, including Transit, Sprinter, Vivaro, Transporter and most other work vans. Tell us if there are tools inside, because we will treat it as urgent.