Lost My Car Keys? Here's What to Do

No matter how well-organized you are, there's an occasion when you'll lose your car keys. If this happens, it's important to be aware of what to do.

Depending on the vehicle you have the first phone call you should make is to a locksmith or a dealership. These professionals can make an appropriate replacement key for your vehicle.

1. Retract your steps

There aren't many things more painful than losing your car keys. It can ruin your day, create an anxiety-filled day and can even result in unsavory calls from strangers. Losing your keys is something that happens to everyone regardless of how organized you are.

The ideal scenario is that they end up exactly where you left them (Parent Logic would argue this is the norm). However the situation could be much more serious. When you lose your keys, it is important to remain calm and follow the steps.

Be aware that a lot of things aren't lost forever and can be located in the most unlikely places. Before you resort to drastic measures, it's an ideal idea to go back and look over your steps. To accomplish this it's recommended to carry a flashlight to help you search in dark corners and drawers. You can also ask a friend to help you search, as a second pair of eyes can be very helpful.

2. Check the Inside

If you haven't found your car keys after returning to your location and looking in common places like key hooks, look for them in bags, pockets and jackets that you've worn or used recently. If you lost your keys at a store and you are unsure of where to find them, ask other customers or employees if they noticed something unusual.

Checking your pockets and bags for missing keys may seem like common sense, but you should take the time to do it with care. Clean your pockets, including the ones on purses and jackets. Feel around every zippered area. It's also a good idea to comb through the recycling and trash bin in case your keys got i've lost my car keys in your bag and were crushed by something other.

It might be beneficial to retrace your steps once again and look for places you know they aren't like the fridge or freezer. Many items are lost when we reach for something, but we forget about it. then forget about it.

3. Check the Outside

You've had a long day and are eager to go back home, change into your comfortable sweats, have pizza, and binge-watch your favorite show. You discover that your car keys are missing.

While you're going through your steps, check overly cluttered spaces such as tabletops and desks as well as the pockets of your clothes. It's also common to leave keys in a congested area, such as on the handle of a door or in the refrigerator, so make sure to thoroughly check those places.

Under the car is another common place to hide. If you decide to hide your keys under the car keys lost replacement be sure you can open the gas cap on your car from outside. Otherwise, thieves could be able to spot you hiding your keys under your car.

You can also put your keys in a corner on the dashboard or under the seats. Just be careful that you don't place them too tightly, as you could accidentally crush them as you shut the door of your car.

4. Call the Police

We are prone to get lost when we are distracted. You might be on the run for a few minutes and have your keys on the seat, or you might just need two free hands to pick up a bag of groceries. Whatever the reason, it happens to every person.

If you lose something, it's important to contact the police away. This way, you will be able to make a report and help keep your car safe from thieves. This is essential when you lose your keys outside of your home, at the store or in public.

Before you begin, be sure to follow your steps. Try to play the role of Sherlock Holmes and recreate the scene in your head from the last time you seen them. Asking your friends and family if they've seen your keys is a good idea. This will help keep your car secure and stop others from using it (which could result in additional costs like replacing door locks and ignition). If you have a spare key it's an excellent idea to make a copy of it in case this occurs again.

5. Contact a locksmith

It's not uncommon for people to forget where they've put their keys, especially when they are busy or distracted. Luckily, there are some actions you can take to aid.

Start by retracing the steps you took and searching for the areas you believe they may have been left. If you're still struggling to find them, try looking inside the car. It's not common for people to lose their keys in the visor or on the keychain.

Finally, contact an locksmith to find out if they can help you find your keys that have disappeared. They might be able to cut you a new key or even alter your locks if necessary. They have the tools and know-how to remove bent or broken keys from locked doors.

Make sure you have proof of ownership when you call a locksmith. You can use your car's registration or title. You might have to wait for several days for replacing a dealership to send you a replacement key, dependent on the circumstances.

6. Call Your Insurance Agent

There are occasions when you lose your car keys, and it can put a major impact on your day. You may have been running a quick errand when you accidentally threw your keys off the seat, or you may have sat down to get something to grab for a second and then lost track.

Reporting a stolen or lost key to the police as quickly as you can is vital. This will leave a trail on paper and will help keep people from using your vehicle without permission. This will also help you avoid getting fined.

The homeowner's insurance policy could cover your keys if reported them as lost to local police. They are considered personal property. It is recommended to contact your agent and confirm that you are insured prior to making an insurance claim.

Think about purchasing a Bluetooth tracking device like Apple AirTags or Tiles. This will save you the headache of replacing your car keys, and give you peace-of-mind knowing that you always have your keys within reach.

7. Get a Bluetooth key tracker

Keys can be lost car keys near me at any moment. You might be running an urgent errand, only to forget to place them on the seat. Or, you might be getting out of your car after a long workday and forget the place you put the keys.

Fortunately, there are ways to stop this from happening in the future. One of the best is to use a Bluetooth key tracker. These small devices can be connected to a keyring or wallet and connect to an app on your phone. The app will blink or ring when you open it to help you locate your keys. These Bluetooth trackers have community features that allow others to assist you in locating the keys if they aren't in reach.

You can also make sure you don't lose your keys by placing them in the same place every time you come home. It doesn't matter if it's on the table in your entryway or on a hook near the door, making the habit will make it easier to locate them in the future.

8. Get a Replacement Key

Whether you've lost your car keys or they've been stolen the most important thing to do is to inform your insurance provider right away. So you'll be able to rest assured that your claim will be dealt with correctly should something happen to the vehicle in the future.

If you already have a standard (non-chip) key you can purchase an additional one from any locksmith or hardware store. This is the fastest and cheapest solution.

For modern vehicles with an electronic key that requires an electronic fob, it could be a bit more challenging. It is likely that you will need to go to your local dealer and present proof of ownership to get an entirely new key. Based on the make and model of your vehicle it could cost upwards of $200.

To avoid this, ensure that you have a spare key in your possession and keep it somewhere else than your keys. It's also an excellent idea to clean your house or office particularly in the areas that you tend to drop things.