Emergency car unlocking: 2026 price list, night call-outs and keys

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

Emergency car unlocking by a locksmith in Poland most often costs PLN 240, including travel, while half of the price lists fall within the range of PLN 125 ‑ 255. Prices start from PLN 100 for a standard car during the day and reach up to PLN 500 when the car has double locking or the locksmith comes at night.

The key is left in the ignition, the doors slam shut, or the central locking locks the car while the remote is lying on the seat. There is no time to compare offers in a situation like this, so we have brought locksmith price lists together in one place: how much unlocking alone costs, what increases the bill and when calling your insurer may be cheaper.

How much does emergency car unlocking cost?

Emergency car unlocking most often costs PLN 240, based on 8 locksmith and guide price lists collected by indekscen.pl. Half of the offers fall within the range of PLN 125 ‑ 255, while the full range is from PLN 100 to PLN 500. The price includes the locksmith’s travel to the location and unlocking the car using a method that leaves no marks.

The price list covers a standard situation: an ordinary passenger car without double locking, during daytime hours, in a town or city or the immediate surrounding area. Any departure from this scenario increases the price. Details and sources for each amount are available at emergency car opening.

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

What determines the cost of unlocking a car?

The cost of emergency car unlocking depends primarily on the vehicle’s security features, the time of day and the distance the locksmith must travel. These are the factors worth asking about by phone before the locksmith sets off:

1. Type of security. A car without double locking can be opened quickly, usually for an amount towards the lower end of the PLN 125 ‑ 255 range. Double locking, where the doors cannot be opened using the interior handle, requires more work and increases the price.
2. Make, model and year. Newer premium cars have more difficult locks and alarm sensors, so locksmiths charge more.
3. Time of day. A call-out at night, at the weekend or on a public holiday usually costs more than during a working day.
4. Travel. Travel is usually included in the price within a town or city. The locksmith will add a mileage charge for journeys outside it or to a motorway.
5. What is locked. Unlocking the boot can be more expensive than unlocking a door.

The most expensive jobs in the price lists, costing up to PLN 500, combine several factors at once: a car with double locking, a night call-out and travel from outside the town or city.

How much does it cost to unlock a car without a key?

Unlocking a car without a key costs the same as any emergency unlocking, usually PLN 125 ‑ 255, because the locksmith does not use the original key anyway. The difference only arises when the key has been lost rather than locked inside. In that case, simply opening the door is not enough because the car will not start without a key containing a coded transponder.

A replacement key with an immobiliser costs around PLN 390 according to our index, typically PLN 255 ‑ 595, while a key with a central-locking remote costs around PLN 525. The most expensive option is a smart key for a keyless car, at around PLN 1,350. Read more in our article about getting a replacement key with an immobiliser.

Situation	What you need	Typical cost
Key locked inside the car	emergency unlocking	PLN 125 ‑ 255
Car with double locking, night call-out	emergency unlocking with a surcharge	up to PLN 500
Lost key, standard key with an immobiliser	unlocking and a replacement key	key around PLN 390
Lost key, smart key	replacement and coding	around PLN 1,350
Spare key is at home	taxi to collect the key or recovery vehicle	recovery vehicle within a town or city around PLN 200

Can a car be unlocked without a key?

Yes, most cars can be unlocked without a key and without causing damage. The locksmith uses an inflatable wedge to create a gap in the door frame, then reaches the handle or central-locking button with a rod. On some cars, they use a tool that opens the door lock like a key. The entire process usually takes a few minutes.

Do not try to do this yourself with wire or a coat hanger. It is easy to scratch the paintwork, bend the door frame or tear the seal. Repairing this damage is not included in the unlocking price and costs more than the locksmith. Breaking a window is a last resort: windscreen replacement costs many times more than calling a professional.

How much does emergency car unlocking cost in Warsaw and Kraków?

Our index does not yet contain local emergency car-unlocking prices for individual cities, so use the national median of PLN 240 as a guide. Competition between locksmiths is stronger in large cities, so daytime unlocking prices can be closer to the lower end of the PLN 125 ‑ 255 range. One Warsaw price list quotes a rate starting from a net amount, including travel within the city. Remember to add VAT: the net price in an advert is not the price you will pay.

For comparison, we already have local prices for the emergency unlocking of flat doors: the median is PLN 175 in Kraków and PLN 190 in Gdańsk.

Emergency door opening: cities from cheapest to most expensive. Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

How much does emergency door unlocking by a locksmith cost?

Emergency unlocking of a flat door with a standard lock usually costs PLN 170 ‑ 265, with a median of PLN 200, only slightly less than unlocking a car. Security doors cost around PLN 390, while an overnight call-out for a security lock can cost as much as PLN 700. If the lock cylinder needs replacing after the door is opened, door lock replacement costs an additional PLN 175 or so. See our article about replacing a lock in an entrance door for details.

Will insurance cover unlocking the car?

Car unlocking by a locksmith may be included in an assistance package added to Polish third-party liability or comprehensive insurance. Some packages cover help with keys that have been locked inside or lost, while others only cover recovery after a breakdown. Before paying a locksmith PLN 240, call the assistance number on your policy and ask whether the situation is covered.

Assistance has one drawback: you often have to wait longer for help than you would for a local locksmith. If you are stranded with a child in freezing or hot weather, or an animal is locked inside the car, immediately call the nearest professional or the emergency number. Our article on the cheapest car third-party liability insurance explains what cheaper policies cover.

How can you avoid overpaying for emergency car unlocking?

• Ask for the total price by phone. Give the make, model, year and location. Confirm whether the amount includes travel and VAT.
• Ask about night and weekend surcharges before the locksmith arrives, not after the car has been unlocked.
• Check where your spare key is. If it is at home a few kilometres away, a taxi may be cheaper than paying a locksmith PLN 240.
• Do not agree to a window being broken unless the locksmith has tried a non-invasive method.
• Ask for a receipt or invoice. You may need it when claiming reimbursement through your assistance cover.
• Have your documents with you. A reputable locksmith will check whether the car belongs to you, which is a good sign.

After an incident like this, it is worth getting a spare key made and keeping it at home. It costs less than two locksmith call-outs, while replacing the remote-control battery every few years helps prevent a situation in which the car does not respond to the button.

You can find more service prices for drivers in the motoring category. If the car needs to be transported to a garage, see our article on how much a recovery vehicle costs per km.

The prices in this article come from public locksmith price lists and guide articles. Each one has a source, date and verbatim quotation at emergency car opening.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to unlock a car boot?

Otwarcie samego bagażnika bywa droższe niż otwarcie drzwi, bo ślusarz ma do niego gorszy dostęp. Takie zlecenia są zwykle bliżej górnej granicy cenników, czyli do PLN 500.

Will a locksmith damage the car while unlocking it?

Ślusarz otwiera auto metodą nieinwazyjną: klinem pneumatycznym i prętem albo narzędziem do zamka, bez wybijania szyby. W cenie PLN 125 ‑ 255 nie ma naprawy szkód po wcześniejszych, nieudanych próbach otwarcia na własną rękę.

How long does it take for an automotive locksmith to arrive?

W dużym mieście ślusarz dojeżdża zwykle w 30 do 60 minut, a samo otwarcie auta trwa od kilku do kilkunastu minut. Poza miastem czeka się dłużej i płaci więcej za dojazd, do PLN 500.

Can a locksmith unlock someone else's car?

Rzetelny ślusarz poprosi o dowód rejestracyjny i dokument tożsamości zaraz po otwarciu auta. Jeśli dowód jest w środku, pokazujesz go po otwarciu, zanim zapłacisz PLN 240.

How much does it cost for a locksmith to unlock a flat door?

Awaryjne otwarcie drzwi mieszkania ze zwykłym zamkiem kosztuje zwykle PLN 170 ‑ 265, a drzwi antywłamaniowych około PLN 390.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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