What to do if…
your phone dies and you cannot unlock or start your vehicle

What to do now

1. Make the road situation safe first.

   • If you can, move the vehicle to a service area, car park, lay-by, hard shoulder, or emergency area.
   • Switch on hazard warning lights if the vehicle is causing an obstruction.
   • On a motorway or high-speed road, get out on the side away from traffic only if it is safe, then wait well away from the vehicle and moving traffic, behind a barrier if there is one.
   • If you cannot reach a place of relative safety, cannot get out safely, or are stuck in a live lane, stay in the vehicle with seat belts and hazard lights on, call 999 and ask for the police, or use the vehicle SOS button if it has one.

2. Try the non-phone ways into the vehicle.

   • Check for a physical key or emergency blade key inside the fob.
   • Look for a manual door lock, which may be under a small cap on the door handle.
   • Try the ordinary key fob if you have it, even if you normally use the app.
   • Check your wallet, bag, or phone case for a key card or valet card.
   • From another phone, ask someone nearby to bring a spare key or key card.

3. Try the dead-phone digital key method once or twice.

   • For iPhone Wallet car key with Express Mode, some keys may work in power reserve for up to five hours after the iPhone needs charging. Do not turn the iPhone off, because power reserve is not available after shutdown.
   • For Android digital car key, some phones may still unlock and start the car for a few hours after the battery has run out, but usually only if the key does not require the phone to be unlocked.
   • Hold the back or top of the phone against the door handle or reader area. If the car has a start reader, place the phone on that reader before pressing start.
   • Stop after a couple of careful tries if nothing happens; focus on charging or calling help.

4. Get a few minutes of phone power.

   • Ask a petrol station, shop, café, hotel, car park office, or reception desk if you can plug in briefly.
   • Ask for a compatible USB-C or Lightning cable if you have a power bank but no cable.
   • Use a vehicle 12V socket, USB socket, or portable charger if you can access one safely.
   • Borrow a phone only for a simple call or message; do not share passcodes or vehicle account details.

5. Contact help in a way that does not depend on your dead phone.

   • On a motorway, use a free emergency roadside telephone where provided.
   • In England, National Highways guidance applies to motorways and major A-roads; elsewhere, follow emergency telephone instructions, road operator signs, or local police instructions.
   • Contact your breakdown or recovery provider from another phone if you can.
   • Say: “My phone is dead and my vehicle access depends on an app or digital key. I may not be able to unlock or start the vehicle.”
   • If you are in a car park or private site, ask staff or security for somewhere safer to wait while you charge the phone or contact recovery.

6. Once you regain access, stabilise the next stop.

   • Start charging the phone immediately.
   • Before driving away, check that you can unlock and start the vehicle again after you stop.
   • Keep the physical key, fob, key card, or charged phone with you before leaving the vehicle.