What to Do if Your Car Key Ever Gets Stuck in the Ignition?

• Start by making sure that your key is all the way in the off position. If not, your ignition cylinder lock is designed so that it does not release the key. If your dashboard lights are still on, then your key is definitely not all the way in the ignition cylinder’s off position.
• You can try gently jiggling the key back and forth in the ignition. Never do this too forcefully or the key may actually break off creating even more problems. This has a good chance of working if it’s a situation where a key is bent or slightly misshaped because of wear and tear.
• You may be able to fish the key out if your key is not a transponder key. A transponder key has buttons on the end of it which turn the car alarm on and off and lock and unlock the doors. Just hook a wire through the hole at the exposed end of the key and gently pull away from the ignition cylinder. Again, don’t pull too hard or you might break off the key in the lock.
• Sometimes the lock itself does not disengage like it’s supposed to because of an alignment problem. To correct this put your right hand at the 12 o’clock position on the steering wheel and your left hand on the steering column shifter. As you pull the steering column shifter towards the steering wheel at the same time jiggle the steering wheel back and forth. You may hear the ignition lock click into place if this method works.
• If all else fails, then your best bet is to call a locksmith. They are experts at key extraction tasks and at changing out ignition cylinder locks.

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