Different Ways To Open Your Car Window in an Emergency
If you’re reading this, it probably means that you’ve either accidentally locked your keys inside your car or you’re preparing yourself for emergencies. Either way, you need to remember one thing: Do not hurry and take any rash decisions in a situation like this. You don’t want to just pick up the lug wrench and break the glass at once. You’ll just risk hurting yourself and making a mess that way.
There’s a way to open your car window without breaking it but it may not always work. So once you’ve tried the method, only then should you think about breaking the car window as a last resort. We’ve explained everything in detail below.
Why Would I Need To Open or Break My Car Window?
Following are the three highly unlikely, rare scenarios where you may have to break your car window:
- You accidentally locked your car keys inside and there’s a baby or pet inside your car who needs to be rescued.
- There’s a flood-like situation or you crashed into a body of water where you’re unable to open the doors.
- You’re in an accident (perhaps the car is on fire) and you’re unable to roll down the windows or open the door.
Can I Open a Car Window Without Breaking It?
Before we get into how to break a car window, let’s see if you can open it from the outside. Here’s how to do it:
- Get some duct tape from the nearest store.
- Cut five to six pieces of duct tape that are at least 10 to 12-inches long.
- Apply the tape pieces vertically from the middle of the glass, all the way down to where the metal frame begins.
- Now start ripping the duct tape off from the bottom. Pull it up for three to four inches so you have a tangle of tapes that you can hold and pull.
- Your duct tape pieces should now be holding on to the glass but free from the metal frame.
- Make strong pulls from the tangled corner so that the car window can be pulled down.
- If it pulls down a bit, you can insert your hands from the top and push the window further down.
How to Safely Break a Car Window?
If you’re unable to open your car window, you will have to break it. Depending on the scenario you’re in, you may either have to break it from the inside or outside. Here’s what you can do in each case:
Scenario 1: From the outside
- The first thing you must do is inform the appropriate law enforcement agency. If it’s not your car, take a picture of the vehicle right away.
- You need to tread with precaution if you’ve got a child or pet inside. Start by choosing an appropriate window that is not near the child or animal.
- Make sure you have a car window breaker tool. If you don’t have a dedicated tool, you’ll need a pointy, hammer-like object.
- Once you have an appropriate tool, take careful aims at the corner of the window. Breaking a car window at its corners is more effective than breaking through the center.
- You should be able to get spider-web-looking cracks in the glass. Once you have them, remove as many bits as you can to carefully open the car door.
Scenario 2: From the inside
If you’re stuck in a flood-like scenario and you’re unable to roll down windows or open the car door, here’s what you need to do:
- Try and stay calm. Start by calling 911 and let them know of your whereabouts.
- Make sure you’ve got a glass-breaking tool. Use it to break the window.
- If you’re still unable to break the window after trying with all your might, move to the elevated side of the vehicle.
- The car should balance in a while, the pressure might equalize and you may be able to open the door.
The Bottom Line
Car windows are either made of tempered glass or laminated glass. Laminated glass is much more difficult to break than the former. Make sure you’ve done your homework about your car. Secondly, be precautious when you’re out on the road, drive safely and never leave your kid or pet inside the car alone.