How to Avoid Losing Your Car Keys

Losing your car keys can be a major hassle. Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent this from happening.

Traditional key chains and a decluttering of your home or office are easy, yet efficient ways to ensure your car keys are safe. If you need more complex keys, you can contact your dealer or locksmith.

Retract Your Steps

You can often find your keys by retracing your steps. This may seem like a dated piece of advice, how to replace car keys when lost but it is very helpful in locating lost objects. The first step is to go back to the place you last saw your keys. If you dropped your keys when getting out of your car, look around your driveway and garage. Look under all the things that could have fallen onto the table if you dropped them.

If you aren't able to trace your steps work, you can write down everything that you did during the day to stir up memories of where your keys might be. This could also help you to narrow your search.

Make sure you are aware of your hide spots

Losing your keys is a terrible feeling especially if you're late. It's easy for you to get distracted and then leave them in a random spot at home. It is important to place your keys back in the same place after you've used them. So, they become a habit and you'll will know where to find them in the future.

Begin by retracing the steps you've taken and examining common places where you might have left your keys. This includes tables, counters and hooks for keys. You can also look through your bags and pockets for any items that may have been thrown away.

Then, you should check the inside of your vehicle. Many people keep their keys inside bags or compartments inside the car. It's a good idea when your keys come with an ID card, to take the fob from its holder and check if it has fallen out.

It's also recommended to inspect the house itself. Many people have lost keys for car their keys while wearing a coat and do not take them out before they enter the house. Begin by checking your bags and pockets. You can also look around under furniture and in couch cushions to see if you have lost keys. If you're still unable to locate your keys, it may be time to contact a locksmith. If you're lucky, they'll in a position to assist you in finding them. If not, they'll be lost forever and you'll need to purchase another set.

Try turning off the car

Keep an extra car key in your glove box to prevent being locked out. This will allow you to get back into your car, even if your key fob.

If you have a newer car that only uses keyless entry and push-button start then you'll be out of luck when your keys go missing. The reason is that the keyfob comes with wireless components that send an alert to the ignition. If it doesn't receive this signal, the car will not start.

To overcome this problem, a number of car manufacturers build replacing a lost Car key fail-safe into their vehicles. If the battery inside your key fob dies, it will not be capable of transmitting the signal needed to start the ignition of the vehicle. Some vehicles have a hidden switch underneath the steering wheel that can be used without the key fob. Consult your owner’s manual for directions on how to activate the switch.

A few different methods can be used to start the car using an unresponsive key fob but it's generally an extremely risky and difficult task. Some methods employ a screwdriver to open the ignition while others use hot wiring, a technique which reroutes the battery's wires to start the engine. It is best to leave these techniques to an auto technician, who will have the required equipment. In most cases, an expert will need to remove a few modules in order to gain access to the security elements. The dealer can program a new remote to pair with your vehicle.

Call Your Insurance Company

It is important to contact your insurance company when you lose your keys. This will stop anyone from using keys that you have lost and will give you peace of mind. If you don't report your car keys missing in time, you might discover that someone else has used them and left the door of your vehicle damaged or ignition.

Car thefts are on an upward trend, especially when the owner leaves keys in the car. Thankfully, some insurers offer key replacement coverage as an optional rider to their comprehensive car insurance policies. However, the cost and requirements for this coverage can vary from policy to policy.

Most companies cover a limited amount of the cost to replace the key fob, which can be an expensive proposition. If you have a smart key that opens your doors or even start your engine, it can be even more costly to replace. In this instance, it may be worth looking into alternatives like a roadside assistance plan which includes a locksmith.

Contact the manufacturer of your vehicle to find out if they offer replacements for lost keys. Some brands sell them directly and will even connect a new one to your vehicle at the dealership. These services can be less expensive than having your car towed to the dealership and can be faster and more efficient, too. When considering these options, it is important to consider the cost of your deductible.

Contact a locksmith

There are a lot of possible reasons why you could lose your car keys. The best way to prevent this from happening is keeping an extra key in your car or by using one of the numerous Bluetooth key trackers that are available. This will allow you to locate your car in minutes and will save you from needing to pay for locksmiths or having to be taken back to the dealership.

Make sure to report the incident as quickly as you can if you've lost your car keys. This will ensure that your keys aren't stolen or used by someone else. It can also help ensure that your insurance company can provide you with the appropriate coverage if you need to make an claim.

If you lose your car keys, the very first step is to look them up in all of the usual places that they can be located. Contact a professional locksmith to get the replacement. They will usually be able to do this in a matter of minutes, and they will use the latest technology to create an identical key for you and program it.

It is important to hire a locksmith professional with the required expertise in the creation of these kinds of replacement keys. They should have the right tools to remove bent or stuck keys without further causing damage to them. They must be able to provide you a guarantee on their work.

Some dealerships can create new keys for customers, but it will cost more than using an outside locksmith. It is also important to see if your car insurance policy covers the cost of a locksmith or a new key from the dealership.