It's incredibly frustrating to get locked out of your car. It's so easy to do: you're running late for work and hop in the car, only to remember that you left your briefcase on the porch. Because you're rushing, you make a mistake and shut the car door behind you while the car is still running. Now you need a locksmith. You don't have a lot of money to spare, so you're looking to spend as little cash as possible. Here's what you can do to find an affordable locksmith when you're in a pinch.

Your Car Insurance Company Might Be Able To Help

When you initially took out your car insurance policy, there's a good chance that you were asked if you wanted to add roadside coverage to your protection bundle. Although it probably didn't cost very much, your budget was already stretched so you declined it. Now that you actually need a locksmith, you could probably kick yourself for not thinking in advance. 

Don't beat yourself up too badly; it's normal to think based on the circumstances that you happen to be in, and if your money was tight you were only looking out for your bottom line. Even if you declined the coverage, your insurer might still be able to help you at this point.

Call up your insurance representative and ask them if the carrier has a partnership with any local tow shops. Some insurance companies do this as a courtesy so that even if a policyholder doesn't have lockout service as a part of their insurance coverage, they can still get affordable help when they have an emergency situation. 

While you're on the phone with your insurer it's a good time to go ahead and add the roadside coverage. Doing this will help you avoid finding yourself in the same circumstance in the future!

Go With A Local, Independent Locksmith

You can usually find a good rate by going with a local, independent locksmith. This is someone who works out of their van or truck so that they won't have the big overhead costs that can come with trying to maintain a brick-and-mortar building. They can then pass the savings onto the customer.

A good locksmith should be able to get you on your way without charging too much. With their help, you'll be able to get back into your car and resume your schedule in no time.

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