What to Do If You Lose Your Only Car Key

In the whirlwind of life – kids, errands socializing with friends and work – things are lost. Sometimes it’s the smallest things such as keys.

For most vehicles keys, a new one can be purchased at your local hardware store with evidence of ownership (car registration or title). This is an inexpensive alternative.

Retract Your Steps

It’s a pain to lose your sole car keys and not be able to enter your vehicle. You can lose money, time and peace of mind. But the first thing you need to do if you lose your only car key is to stay calm. Doing your best to panic is not going to help you locate your keys quicker and could make the situation even worse.

Begin by attempting to remember when you last saw your keys. It could be as simple as them being in your pocket when you hopped out of the car to go on an run, or they could have been i lost my Only car key while bringing groceries inside. Following your steps can assist you in finding your lost keys in a matter of minutes.

If retracing steps isn’t working try writing down all the places you visited during the day. This will help you remember where you were and could give you a clue as to where your keys are. Once you’i ve lost my car keys written down all the possible places where your keys might be, double check each place again. Sometimes, keys “drift” to the floor, side or under something, and you may be capable of picking them up right where you left them.

Check Inside Your Car

In the past the loss or misplacement of a car key wasn’t a big problem. A majority of people had a spare attached to the car in a little box attached to the inside of the bumper. Nowadays, however, vehicles are becoming more advanced in technology and keys are more likely to be lost. Replacing a lost car key with no spare or stolen car key could require several steps and cost hundreds of dollars based on the type of vehicle and the year of manufacture. It’s why it’s essential to have a backup key in case you ever do lose your only car key.

Before you start worrying about losing your only car key, take an exhale and try to stay calm. Once you’ve got your emotions under control you can begin to work through the steps to locate it. Follow your steps and try to remember when you last held your keys. It’s not unusual to carry your keys while you grab other items, and sometimes they end on the floor of your car where you can’t see them.

The next step is to thoroughly search through your car, especially the places where you usually put them. You might have left them on the dashboard when you got out of your car to go into a store or maybe you reached into your bag to get a snack and accidentally knocked them out.

Also, you should look through your purses, pockets, and bags. It’s easy to overlook things that are in the pockets of your coat, or in a large bag, so be sure you empty them and scrutinize every crevice.

If you still can’t find your keys, you need to contact a locksmith for help. If you own an old-fashioned metal key that has no electronic components, a locksmith can usually make you a new one on the spot. If you have a key with a chip and a more recent model, you will need to contact the dealership to request a new one.

Check Your Hide Spots

It’s easy to forget your keys when you’re busy. Whether you were rushing to leave, distracted by a sandwich while talking on the phone, or you forgot them, it is easy to lose them. The good news is that most people have a spare key they keep in their home or office that can easily be located in the correct spot. It is important to check every place where you’ve put your spare key. These include obvious places like a purse, backpack, a sofa pocket or a pile on your desk, or a dresser drawer. Have a friend do the same.

There are also magnetic boxes and mini vaults that you can stick on your vehicle to store keys that you don’t need. They are great for hiding keys because they aren’t able to be smashed off accidentally when driving over bumps, and they will also shield your keys from the elements. Many of these storage units come with combination locks, which means that even if a friend receives the key but they aren’t able to open it without your assistance.

A fake rock with an inside compartment is another method to conceal keys. This is a great idea for outdoor areas, but it is important to be aware that burglars are often looking for these items. If you decide to use this method make sure you use dark duct tape to make it harder for thieves to detect.

One last place to look is the hood of your vehicle. This is a great place to hide a key for the gas cap if you have one. It won’t be seen. Use a heavy-duty tape to prevent the key from slipping off or scratching the paint on your vehicle when you remove it.

There are methods to lessen the impact of lost car keys on your daily routine. You can find your keys by retracing Your steps and examining the most common hiding places. A local locksmith can save you time and money.

Call a Locksmith

Unless you have a spare set of keys stashed somewhere the best thing to do if you’ve lost the car key your car keys is to contact locksmith. They can assist you in retrieving it quickly, and they’ll also be able to guide you on ways to prevent this from happening again in the future. You could also contact an auto key duplicate company. But, they’ll need the exact make, model and year of your car to duplicate a key.

You’ll have visit your dealer if the car is an older model or is equipped with a smart fob. This can be expensive and especially if you need to order the correct key for your vehicle, and it can take days or even weeks.

A thing that many don’t know is that an experienced locksmith can typically provide the same service as a dealership however at a fraction of the cost. A lot of insurance policies cover locksmith charges and towing costs in the event of a lost or stolen keys. Some even offer roadside assistance that can send professionals to you to assist you with getting into your vehicle.

If you have comprehensive auto insurance, it’s worth checking your coverage before deciding to go with a dealership. It is also important to inform the police as soon as you can. This ensures that no one else can have access to your car key lost no spare without your permission, and also keeps you safe in the event that you are ever robbed or assaulted. Notifying your keys will enable police officers to be on watch for anyone who may try to use your vehicle for illegal purposes. In the event of a worst-case scenario you could be shielded from criminal charges in the event that someone tries to steal your vehicle. It is essential not to be frightened if you lose the keys to your car. Try the above steps and, if necessary ask a friend or family to help.