Along the carretera de Valencia, the N-332 through Sant Joan, the large stores and retail parks have large car parks. It is where the shopping goes into the boot, the boot comes down, and the keys turn out to be inside with it.
Check these first
- Every door and the boot. Some cars lock only the door you closed; another may still be open.
- The spare key. If someone at home has it and can bring it, that is the cheapest answer.
- Roadside assistance. Many car insurance policies include it, and some cover a lockout. Check the card or the app before calling anyone else.
- Engine running? If the car locked itself with the engine on, say so when you ring.
Being found in a big car park
Rows of cars look the same from the entrance. When you ring, give:
- the name of the store you parked by;
- which entrance or which side of the car park;
- the make, model and colour of the car;
- a WhatsApp location pin, which beats all of the above.
If it is a hot day, wait in the shade or inside the store, and tell the car park staff what has happened.
What the opening involves
The car is opened through the door seal with wedges and long-reach tools, without forcing the lock and without marking the paint. Before you drive away you show your ID and the car’s documents, or the hire agreement for a rental car. The price is agreed with you before work starts.
What it does not involve
The service is opening the car and nothing else. No car keys are made, cut, copied, programmed or replaced, and no remote fobs or ignition work are offered. If the key itself is lost rather than locked inside, the dealer or a vehicle key specialist is the right call.
Somewhere else in town?
The same applies outside the hospital, on a fiesta night when cars are parked further out, or in your own street. If you are not sure whether the address you are giving is in Sant Joan at all, check which San Juan you are in. And if you run one of the shops on that road, keeping its shutter and door working is worth a read.