When you’re rushing around or you have a ton of items in your hands, the chances of locking your keys in the car skyrocket. Even though roadside assistance can help you in a pinch, the ideal way to avoid a headache is to take a few precautions and not lock your keys inside in the first place. Here are a few tips.

How to Stop Yourself From Locking Keys Inside the Car

1. Go Keyless

Newer vehicles have a keyless remote option that eliminates the key altogether, subsequently lowering your chances of needing roadside assistance for a lockout. Entering and exiting the car or even starting the ignition can all be done with a remote instead of a key.

2. Lock From the Outside

Locking your doors from the inside is a recipe for disaster. The optimal defense against a lockout is to practice locking doors with the fob or the key itself from the outside. That way, it’s impossible to forget the key in the ignition, on a seat, or on the center console.

3. Keep a Spare Key

To avoid an auto lockout, keep a spare key in your wallet or purse or wear it on a necklace. You can even keep spares at work or at home so that you can easily grab it if you are close by. Don’t make a spare key and keep it magnetized in the vehicle wheel well; this is a well-known tactic that thieves can search for.

4. Use a Lanyard

The longer your keychain, the harder it is to lose or forget it. Lanyards are long strips that easily clip to keys. You can also use a retractable leash that attaches to a belt loop or a purse. The device will connect you to the keys, and if you attempt to exit the car without them, it will gently tug on you to remind you.

5. Check the Fob

If your car comes with a key fob, there is likely a backup key hidden inside. This comes in handy if the car locks with your main key inside. Some cars only have a fob, and you must use it to push a button to start the engine. If something occurs and you find yourself locked out and with no way to get inside, pop the spare key out and open the door the old-fashioned way.

If you locked your keys inside the car or have another emergency, contact Blystone Towing & Radiator for roadside assistance. The 24-hour towing company in Portage, WI, brings more than 50 years of services to Columbia, Dodge, Dane, Sauk, Marquette, Green Lake, Adams, Juneau, and other surrounding counties. In addition to tows, they also provide an auto repair shop with ASE-certified technicians to help with anything from oil changes to transmission services. For car towing, call (608) 742-4228. Visit them online for their full list of offerings.