Lost My Car Keys? Here's What to Do

Whatever way you are, there will come a time when you lose your car keys. It's crucial to be prepared for this situation.

Depending on your vehicle the first phone call you must make is to an auto locksmith or dealership. These professionals can create an alternative key for your vehicle.

1. Retract your steps

There are few things more painful than losing your car keys. It can make your day miserable, cause lots of stress and can even result in unwanted calls from strangers. It doesn't matter whether you are an organized person or not the loss of your keys can occur to anyone.

The ideal scenario is for them to turn up exactly where you left them (Parent Logic would argue this is always the case). In reality, the situation can often be more serious. It is crucial to stay calm and retrace your steps when you lose your keys.

It is important to keep in mind that most things aren't lost forever, https://advicebookmarks.com/story22043892/how-to-replace-a-lost-car-key and they are often found in some very odd places. Therefore, before you resort to extreme measures it's best to revisit your steps and search thoroughly. Bring a flashlight with you to search dark corners and drawers. You can also ask someone to assist you for items, as a second pair of eyes can be very helpful.

2. Check the Inside

If you haven't found your car keys after going back to your steps and looking in common places like key hooks, look for them in bags, pockets and jackets that you've worn or wore recently. If you've lost them in a store, ask employees or customers to see if they noticed anything out of the ordinary.

It may seem obvious to look in your bags and pockets for your missing car keys, but it's important to do it in a thorough manner. Empty your pockets, even those on purses and jackets. Examine all zippered areas. Also, check the recycling and trash bins to see if any of your keys have been snatched from your bag.

You could also retrace your steps and search places where you know it isn't in, like the fridge or freezer. Many times, items are lost car keys how to replace when we try to find them but then take them off and forget about them.

3. Check the Outside

You've been working hard all day and are now ready to head home put on your comfy sweats, have pizza and watch your favorite show. Unfortunately, you realize the keys to your car have disappeared.

Examine desks and pockets that are too cluttered. You may also leave your keys in a crowded area, such as in the door handle or in the refrigerator.

Another popular hiding place is under the car. If you decide to do this, make sure you remove the gas cap outside your car because thieves can easily spot you crouching beneath your vehicle to hide your keys there.

You can also put your keys in a corner on the dashboard or under the seats. Make sure you don't put them there too tightly or you'll 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 may be doing an easy errand and you've left your keys in the car seat. Perhaps you require two hands to carry an empty bag of food items. It happens to all of us.

It is crucial to notify the police immediately if you lose anything. This way, you can submit a claim and help keep your car safe from thieves. This is particularly crucial if you find your keys lost outside of your home or at the store or at a location that is public.

Before you do this ensure that you follow your steps. Try to play the role of Sherlock Holmes and recreate the scene in your head from when you last saw them. It's also a good idea to ask others in the vicinity whether they have seen your car keys. This will help to keep your car secure and also stop others from stealing it (which could lead to additional costs like replacing door locks and ignition). If you have a spare key, it is always an excellent idea to make a copy of it in the event that this occurs again.

5. Contact a Locksmith

People often forget where they placed their keys, especially when they're distracted or in a rush. Luckily, there are several actions you can take to help.

Start by retracing your steps and looking for areas you think you might have abandoned them. If you're unable to locate them, consider searching inside the car. It's not common for people to lose their keys under the visor or on the keychain.

Contact a locksmith to inquire whether they can locate your keys. They may be able make you a new key or even change your locks if required. They also have the equipment and expertise to remove bent or broken keys from locked doors.

Be prepared to provide proof of ownership when you contact a locksmith. This includes your vehicle's registration or title. You may have to wait for several days for a dealership to send you a replacement key according to your particular situation.

6. Call Your Insurance Agent

You might lose your keys to your car at times and it could make your day miserable. It could be that you were running a quick errand and accidentally left them on the seat or maybe you put your key down to grab something but lost track of it.

Notifying a stolen or lost key to the police as soon as you can is vital. This will be recorded on paper and will stop other people from using your vehicle without permission. It also prevents you from getting punished.

The homeowner's insurance policy could cover your keys if you have reported them as lost to local police. They are considered personal property. However, it's best to check with your agent to make sure you're covered before you file an insurance claim.

Consider investing in the purchase of a Bluetooth tracking device like Apple AirTags or Tiles. This will save you the hassle of having to replace your car keys, and ensure that you always have your keys at hand.

7. Get a Bluetooth key tracker

Sometimes, you'll lose your keys when you least would. You might be out for a quick errand and forget to put them down on the seat or you may be getting out of your car after an exhausting day at work and can't remember where you put them.

There are ways to stop this from happening again. The best way to do this is to use a Bluetooth key tracker. These tiny devices are connected to your keyring or wallet, and can connect with an app on your phone. Once you open the app it will ring or flash to help locate your keys. Most of these Bluetooth trackers also come with community functions so that other people can help you locate them if you are out of range.

Another way to prevent losing your keys is to place them in the same spot each time you arrive home. It doesn't matter if you place them in an table in the entryway or on a hook by the door. Making this a habit will help you locate your keys in the future.

8. Get a Replacement Key

If you've lost your vehicle keys or they've been stolen, the most important thing is to inform your insurance company right away. That way, you can rest assured that your claim will be dealt with properly should anything happen to the vehicle in the future.

If you have a regular key (which doesn't have chip) you can simply get an alternative from any locksmith or hardware store. This is the quickest and cheapest solution.

For modern vehicles with a smart key that requires an electronic fob, it may be a little more difficult. It is likely that you will need to go to your local dealership and show proof of ownership in order to obtain an updated key. Based on the make and model of your vehicle this could cost upwards of $200.

To avoid this, make sure you have a spare key to keep it somewhere different from your keys. It's also an excellent idea to clean your office or home especially in areas that you tend to drop things.