Manual vs Automatic Car Locks: Pros and Cons of Each Type
Should you get a manual or an automatic car door lock? Well, if you are a new car buyer, your vehicle is likely to come fitted from the factory with an automatic car lock. Many of the available used cars from the past five years are also likely to have automatic locks. The number of new or used vehicles with manual car locks is declining, so you may have limited choices if this feature is important to you. It might not make much sense either to buck the trend and choose a component that car manufacturers could stop producing in the near future.
Still, weighing the pros and cons of manual and automatic car door lock may enable you to make an informed decision.
Manual car locks
Manual car locks use push/pull levers and pins for their locking system. These components are inside the car, and each door in the manual locking system has an individual lock that you must lock and unlock separately. The car key can open or secure the driver door and front passenger door from the outside. However, you may have to lock or unlock the rear passenger doors from the inside.
Pros of manual car locks
The benefits of manual car locks are:
Many people still prefer the traditional manual car door locking systems as they are uncomplicated and easy to operate.
Each car door comes with a locking pin, and you only have to pull up this pin to unlock the door and push it down to lock it.
Exposure to water does not adversely affect manual car locks.
If you have a road accident or end up in the water, you can quickly pull up the locking pin, open the car doors, and make your exit. Unless the crash damages the unlocking lever, getting out of the car will not be a problem.
The manual locking system rarely fails and does not usually require any maintenance.
The uncomplicated nature of the manual locking system makes it easy to pick. So, if you forget your keys inside and get locked out, it is a small matter to pick the lock and open the door.
Cons of manual car locks
The disadvantages of manual car locks are:
Since manual car locks are easy to force open, they do not meet modern security standards against car theft.
There is no safety mechanism to prevent the car doors from locking while you have the key in the ignition.
It is easy to get locked out of your car, especially if you are prone to using the locking pin rather than the locking lever.
It is problematic to get repair work done for manual car locks as many regular car service centers may not have the parts or may not offer the repair service. You may have to contact the factory dealership for the necessary repairs.
Automatic car locks
Automatic car locks have mechanical and electronic components and use electricity to power a central locking system. In some cars, the doors automatically lock when you change the transmission from Park or increase the car speed. You can lock or unlock them with an external car door keypad or a key fob that operates on a remote keyless system.
Pros of automatic car locks
The benefits of automatic car locks are:
They are convenient to use. You can just touch the key fob button or the door handle to open the front, back, and trunk doors. You can also remotely lock or unlock the doors.
As long as the automatic locking system works, there is no question of being locked out of the car.
It is not easy to break the automatic locking system, leading to greater car security.
Cons of automatic car locks
The disadvantages of automatic car locks are:
If the key fob’s battery dies or there is a glitch in the system, you could find yourself locked inside or out of the car.
Automatic car locks could fail and put your life at risk if your car falls into the water.
It can be expensive to repair malfunctioning automatic car door locks or replace the key fob.
Automatic car locks increase the price of the vehicle.