RoadsideMay 19, 2026

Tip #15: Lockout: Never Break the Window Yourself

A side window replacement runs $200–$800 depending on vehicle and glass type, and the replacement takes a day (the shop has to order the right glass). A profess…

Tip #15: Lockout: Never Break the Window Yourself — NYC Roadside Emergency Assistance
Photo: Feyza Yıldırım via Pexels
3 min read

A side window replacement runs $200–$800 depending on vehicle and glass type, and the replacement takes a day (the shop has to order the right glass). A professional lockout is faster and cheaper — air wedges and long-reach tools, no damage.

Don't use a wire coat hanger. Modern airbag-equipped cars route the side-curtain airbag wiring along the door interior. A coat hanger that catches that wiring can trigger the airbag, which is a $1,500–$3,000 repair.

Standard $249 / hour service rate, 1-hour minimum (most lockouts finish in under 10 minutes), $224 first hour when you book online.

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