My mom accidently bumped the left front side of my car. hardly a scratch...I went to move my car and the key wont turn, steering wheel is locked.

turn hard to left and right and turn key to release

It could simply be your steering wheel lock. Try turning the wheel to the left and right while you try turning the key.

APPLY BRAKE AND MAKE SURE STEERING WHEEL IS CENTERED. IF IT IS PARKED SO THERE IS PRESSURE ON THE FRONT WHEELS AND HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL HARD RIGHT OR LEFT IT WILL MAKE THE KEY VERY HARD TO TURN.

to prevent accident remove the steering lock complete ,it could move over a bump and lock the steering

I'm assuming you mean your key wont turn in the ignition. first off check to make sure the car is in park. then what you gotta do is put in the key and put a little pressure as if turning but dont turn too hard, then even though the steering wheel is locked you will have to try to move it a little, if you parked with your tires turned then you will want to try to turn the wheel in the same direction, (even locked you should be able to move it about a half inch) you will have to turn the wheel hard but it should move enough to allow the key to turn, you may have to jiggle the key a little in the ignition but it should eventually turn, just remember not to try turning the key too hard, the extra force wont make it go but can cause the key to break. this tends to happen when you turn the car off andthe steering wheel gets locked if the wheels are turned hard in either direction. also if multiple attempts at this still dont work, try taking the key out and turning it over and trying again. Even though both sides of the key are identicle, because of wear on the key and the ignition, sometimes when the wheel locks the ignition, it will only turn if the key is put in a certain way. Hope this helps, good luck

TURN THE STERRING WHEEL HARD LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT HARD BACK AND FORTH A COUPLE OF TIMES THE TRY IT!?

Have you tried to turn the steering wheel side-to-side, while turning the key?
The steering wheel may be very hard to turn, but moving it just a little may free-up the key
Sometimes parking against a curb, or turning off the car while the steering is turned all the way to one side, will cause the stering wheel lock to actually lock the key cylinder from turning.

had the same problem with a 99 dodge van. tow truck driver put the key into the ignition and tapped it a couple of times while turning the key to freed it up and start the engine. works as long as you leave the key in the ignition so i use a second key to lock/unlock the van. hope this works for you. gary

Try having someone rock the car frontwards and backwards, while you rock the steering wheel back and forth and try to turn the key - it sounds like you're jammed up hard against the steering column lock.

Please rate if this is helpful!

Sounds like the anti-theft lock is stuck. Try having a friend turn the wheel to the left, hard, while you turn the ignition key. (Works if the front wheels are not locked up against a curb)