Lost My Car Keys? Here’s What to Do

No matter how well-organized you are, there comes a time when you lose your car keys. In the event of this happening, it’s important to know what to do.

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 difficult than losing your car keys. It can ruin your day, cause a lot of anxiety and even trigger unsavory calls from strangers. Losing your keys is something that can happen to anyone, regardless of how organized you are.

The best-case scenario is that they end up exactly where you left them (Parent Logic would argue this is always the case). But, in reality things tend to take a more dire turn. When you lose your keys, it is crucial to remain calm and retrace the steps.

Keep in mind that many things don’t go unnoticed forever and can be found in the most unlikely places. So, before taking extreme measures, it’s a good idea to retrace your steps and search thoroughly. Bring a flashlight with you to look through dark corners and drawers. You can also ask someone to assist you for you, as a second pair of eyes can be very helpful.

2. Check the Inside

If you can’t find your keys after retracing steps and examining places you’ve used such as key hooks, examine the pockets, bags and jackets that you recently worn or used. If you lost them in a store, ask employees or customers to see if they have noticed anything out of the ordinary.

Examining your bags and pockets for keys missing may seem obvious but it is important to take the time to do it with care. Clean out all pockets you carry including those in purses and jackets and be sure to look around every zippered area. It’s also recommended to go through the recycling and trash bins in the event that keys were to fall out of your bag and were crushed by something other.

It may be helpful to retrace your steps once again and search places where you know they aren’t like the refrigerator or freezer. Many items get lost car key with no spare when we search for something, but we forget about it. then forget about it.

3. Check the Outside

You’ve had a tiring day and are eager to go home, change into your comfy sweats, eat pizza, and watch your favorite TV show. You find that your keys to your car are missing.

Examine desks and pockets that are too cluttered. It’s also common to leave keys in a crowded spot like inside a door handle or in the refrigerator, so make sure you’ve thoroughly checked those places.

Under the car is another favorite place to hide. However, if you do this, make sure you are able to open the gas cap from outside your car because a thief could easily see you crouching beneath your vehicle to hide your keys under the car.

You can also hide your keys in a corner on the dashboard or under the seats. Be careful not to put them too tightly because you may accidentally crush them when you close the door.

4. Call the Police

It is easy to lose things when we are distracted. You may be doing an errand that is quick, and you’ve forgotten your keys on the seat. Perhaps you require two hands to pick up a bag of food items. Whatever the reason, it happens to every person.

When you lose something, it is important to notify the police right away. You can then submit a police report in order to help protect your car from thieves. This is important in the event that you lose your keys outside of your home, at the shop, or anywhere else in public.

Before you begin, be sure to follow your steps. Try to become your own Sherlock Holmes and recreate the scene in your head from the time 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 keep your car secure and prevent others from stealing it. (This could result in additional costs, such as the purchase of new locks for doors and ignition). It is a good idea, should you have a spare car key, to make a duplicate in case you lose it again.

5. Call for a locksmith

It’s common for people to lose track of where they have put their keys, particularly when they are busy or distracted. There are, however, a few ways you can aid.

Start by retracing your steps and looking for places you think you may have abandoned them. If you are still unable to locate them, look in the car. Many people lose their keys that hang on the keychain or inside the visor and it’s worth having a quick look.

Last but not least, contact a locksmith to see if they can assist you in finding your lost my car keys what do i do keys. They may be able cut you a key or change your locks, if necessary. They have the tools and expertise to remove broken or bent keys from locked doors.

If you do call a locksmith, be prepared to show proof of ownership of your vehicle. You can do this by using your vehicle’s registration or title. Depending on the situation you may have to wait for a new key from the dealership, which can take several days.

6. Contact Your Insurance Agent

There are occasions that you’ll lose your car keys and it can put a massive damper on your day. It could be that you were running an task and left keys on the seat, or perhaps you put your key down for a second to grab something, but lost key car the track of it.

It is important to report a lost key immediately to the police. This will be recorded on paper and will stop other people from using your vehicle without your permission. It also prevents you from being penalized.

If you’ve reported your keys as lost to the police the homeowner’s insurance might be able to cover them as they’re personal property. It’s best to call your agent and confirm that you’re covered before filing an insurance claim.

You should consider investing in the purchase of a Bluetooth tracking device, such as Apple AirTags or Tiles. This will eliminate the hassle of having to replace your car keys, and give you peace-of-mind knowing that you always have your keys within reach.

7. Get a Bluetooth key tracker

Sometimes you can lose your keys when you least expect it. You could be out on a quick errand, and you forget to put them on the seat. Or you could be leaving your car after a long day at work and forget where you placed keys.

There are ways to prevent this happening again. One of the best ways is to make use of a Bluetooth key tracker. These small devices are attached to your keyring or wallet, and can connect with an app on the phone. Once you open the app it will ring or flash to help find your keys. The majority of these Bluetooth trackers also have community functions to allow other people can help you locate them if you are out of range.

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

8. Find a replacement key

It is crucial to inform your insurance company immediately in the event that you lose your car keys, or if they are stolen. So you can be assured that your claim will be handled in a timely manner should anything happen to the vehicle in the future.

If you already have an ordinary (non-chip) key you can purchase an additional one from any locksmith or hardware store. This is usually the quickest and cheapest alternative.

It could be more difficult for vehicles that have smart keys and require an electronic fob. You will likely have visit the local dealership and provide proof of ownership in order to obtain a new key. This could cost you up to $200 depending on the model and make of your car.

To prevent this from happening, keep a spare set of keys in a different place than your keys. De-cluttering your office or home is also a great idea, especially in areas where you can’t find things.