Angelia Chen asked 4 months ago
Lost My Car Keys? Here’s What to Do
No matter how organized you are, there will come a time when you lose your car keys. It’s crucial to be prepared for this eventuality.
It is recommended to contact a locksmith, or a dealership, based on your vehicle. They can design an alternative key that will fit your vehicle.
1. Retract Your Steps
There are few things more painful than losing your car keys. It can ruin your entire day, cause anxiety, and even trigger unwanted phone calls from strangers. It doesn’t matter if you are a meticulously organized person or not losing your keys could happen to anyone.
The best case scenario is for them to turn up exactly where you left them (Parent Logic would argue this is always the case). In reality it is possible for the situation to be much more grave. When you lose your keys, it’s crucial to be calm and not panic. You can then retrace the steps.
It’s important to remember that the majority of things don’t go missing forever, and they’re often found in some very strange places. Before you resort to drastic measures, it is recommended to go back and look over your steps. Bring a flashlight to search for dark corners and drawers. You can also ask a friend or family member to search with you to help you, as a second set of eyes can be helpful.
2. Check the Inside
If you’ve not found your car keys after returning to your location and looking in common places like key hooks, search for them inside of bags, pockets and jackets that you’ve worn or used recently. If you Lost car keys cost to replace them in a store, ask employees or customers to see if they noticed anything unusual.
Examining your bags and pockets for keys that are missing might seem like common sense however, you must be thorough. Empty all of the pockets that you carry around including purses and jackets and be sure to feel around every zippered area. You should also look in the trash and recycling bins to see if your keys have disappeared from your bag.
You could also retrace your steps and look in places where the item isn’t, like the fridge or freezer. Many times, items disappear when we go to them, but then take them off and forget about them.
3. Check the Outside
You’ve been working hard all day and are ready to go home put on your comfy sweats, have pizza and on your favorite TV show. But, you discover that the keys to your car have disappeared.
While you’re retracing your steps, check overly cluttered spaces like tabletops and desks and also the pockets of your clothes. It’s also common to leave keys in a crowded spot such as on the handle of a door or in the refrigerator, so be sure you’ve checked these areas.
Another favorite place to hide your keys is under the car. If you decide to do this, make sure you can open the gas cap from outside your car because a thief could easily see you crouching beneath your vehicle to hide your keys.
You could also consider hiding your keys in a small nook on the dashboard or under the seat. Be sure that you don’t put them there too tight as you might accidentally crush them as you close the car door.
4. Contact the police
It is easy to lose things when we’re distracted. You may be doing a quick errand, and you have left your keys on the seat. Perhaps you require two hands to grab an empty bag of groceries. It happens to everyone.
It is essential to notify the police immediately if you have lost anything. This way, you can file a report and help protect your vehicle from thieves. This is particularly crucial if you find your keys lost outside of your house at the grocery store, or somewhere else public.
Make sure to go through all of your steps before you begin. Try to be your own Sherlock Holmes and recreate the scene in your mind from the last time you saw them. It’s also an excellent idea to ask other people in the area whether they’ve seen your car keys. This will help keep your car secure and prevent others from stealing it (which could result in additional costs such as new door locks and ignition). If you have a spare key, it’s always recommended to create a copy of it in case this occurs again.
5. Contact for a locksmith
It’s normal for people to forget where they put their keys, especially when they are distracted or in a hurry. There are a few simple ways to assist.
Retrace the steps you’ve already taken and then searching for the locations in which you think they could be. If you’re still struggling to locate them, consider checking in the car itself. Many people have keys that are hanging on the keychain or inside the visor, so it’s worth taking a look.
Call a locksmith and ask whether they have your keys. They may be able cut you a key or change your locks, if necessary. They also have the equipment and expertise to remove broken or bent keys from locked doors.
Be prepared to provide proof of ownership whenever you call a locksmith. You can do this by using your vehicle’s registration or title. Depending on the situation, you may need to wait for a new key from the dealership which can take several days.
6. Call Your Insurance Agent
It is possible to lose your keys to your car at times and it can make your day miserable. It could be that you were running a quick task and left keys on the floor or maybe you set your keys down to grab something but lost car key replacement price track of it.
It is important to report a lost key immediately to the police. This creates a paper trail and will help keep others from using your vehicle without permission. This will also allow you to avoid being fined.
The homeowner’s insurance policy could cover your keys if you’ve reported them as lost to local police. They are considered personal property. It’s best to call your agent and confirm that you are covered prior to filing a claim.
You should consider investing in the purchase of a Bluetooth tracking device such as Apple AirTags or Tiles. This will save you from going through the hassle of a car key replacement and provide peace of mind knowing that your keys are always in reach.
7. Get a Bluetooth Key Tracker
Keys can be lost at any moment. You could be out for a quick errand and forget to put them down on the seat, or lost car keys cost To replace you may be getting out of your car after a long day at work, and don’t remember where you put them.
There are ways to avoid this from happening again. One of the best ways is to make use of a Bluetooth key tracker. These tiny devices can be attached to a wallet or keyring and can connect to an app on your smartphone. When you open the app it will sound or flash to help you find your keys. These Bluetooth trackers come with community features that allow other people to assist you in locating them if your keys aren’t in range.
You can also make sure you don’t lose your keys by placing them in the same place each time you get home. Whether it’s on your entry table or on a hanger near the door, establishing the habit will make it easier to find them in the future.
8. Find a replacement key
It is essential to inform your insurance company immediately in the event that you lose your keys to your car or if they’re stolen. You can be assured that your claim will get taken care of if something happens to the car in the future.
If you have an ordinary (non-chip) key, you can easily get a new one from any hardware or locksmith. This is usually the quickest and most affordable option.
It might be more difficult for cars equipped with an electronic key and an electronic fob. It is likely that you will need go to the local dealership and provide proof of ownership to get an entirely new key. Depending on the make and model of your car it could cost upwards of $200.
To avoid this, ensure that you have a spare key in your possession and keep it somewhere other than your keys. It’s also a good idea to get rid of clutter in your house or office especially in areas where you are likely to lose things.