What to Do If You Lose Your Only Car Key

Things get lost in the whirlwind that is life: kids, errands and work socializing with friends, etc. Sometimes it’s the smallest things such as keys.

A new key for the majority of cars can be made in your local hardware store if you have proof of ownership. This is a cheap option.

Retract Your Steps

It can be a nightmare to lose your only car keys and be unable to get into your car. It can cost you time, money and peace of mind. The first thing you must do when you’ve lost the only car key you have is to remain calm. Panicking will not help you find your keys faster and can make the situation worse.

Begin by attempting to remember when you last saw your keys. It could be as easy as them being in your pocket when you hopped out of your car to do an appointment, or they might have been dropped while you were carrying groceries into the house. The process of retracing your steps will help you find your keys in a matter of minutes.

If retracing your steps does not work, try recording all the places you’ve been throughout the day. This can jiggle your memory and provide you with the clue you need to locate your keys. Make sure you check every location you wrote down. You may find that keys “drift” on the floor, side or underneath something, and you’ll be able to pick them up exactly where you left.

Check Inside Your Car

A few years ago the loss or misplacement of a car key wasn’t a big deal. In the past, most people stored spare keys in a small container that was attached to their vehicle. Nowadays, however, vehicles are becoming more advanced in technology and keys are more likely to be replace lost keys. Replacing a stolen or lost key replacement Near me (https://Menwiki.men) car key could require several steps and cost hundreds of dollars based on the vehicle type and model year. That’s why it’s important to have a backup in case you ever do lose your car’s only key.

Take an exhale before you panic about losing your one car key. Try to remain calm. Once you’ve managed your emotions you can begin to work through the steps to locate it. Retrace your steps, and try to remember the last time you held your keys. It’s not uncommon to juggle your keys while you reach for other things, and often they end in the back of your car, where you don’t even see them.

The next step is to thoroughly search through your vehicle, particularly the places where you usually place them. You might have accidentally thrown the items out of your bag or left them on your dashboard when you got out of your car to go to an establishment.

Examine your purses, pockets and bags. It’s easy to overlook things in the deep pockets of your coat or a large bag, so be sure to empty them out and look carefully through every crevice.

If you’re still having trouble finding your keys, it’s time to call a locksmith for help. If you own a traditional metal key with no electronic components, a locksmith could typically make you a new one right on the spot. If you have a key with chip and is an older model, you will have to contact the dealer to get a new one.

Make sure you are aware of your hide spots

It’s easy to forget your keys when you’re busy. If you were hurrying to leave or distracted by a meal while on the phone, or simply forgot them, it’s easy to lose keys. It’s good that most people keep an extra key in their workplace or at home that they can easily find. If you have a spare key, you need to look over all the places where you have previously stored the keys. This includes obvious places such as a purse or backpack or a pocket on the sofa, a stack of mail on the table, or even a drawer in your dresser. Have a friend do the same.

There are also magnetic boxes and mini vaults you can place on your vehicle to store a spare key. These are ideal for hiding keys since they won’t break when you drive over bumps and will protect your key against the elements. A lot of these storage devices also come with combination locks, which means that even if you give the key to a friend, they can’t open it without you.

A fake rock with an enclosed compartment is another way to conceal keys. This is a good option for outdoor areas. However, you must be aware of the fact that burglars will often look for these items. If you decide to use this method you can try using dark duct tape to make it more difficult for thieves to spot.

The hood is the final location to check. This is a good place to hide keys to the gas cap, if you have one. It won’t be noticeable. Be sure to use a heavy-duty piece of tape to ensure the key won’t fall off or scratch the paint on your car when you go to remove it.

There are ways to minimize the impact of lost car keys on your daily life. You can find your keys by retracing Your Steps and checking the most frequent hiding spots. A local locksmith can also save you time and money.

Call a Locksmith

Unless you have spare keys the best thing you can do if you’ve lost the only car key you have is to contact a locksmith. They can help you retrieve the key quickly, and also be able to advise you on ways to prevent this from happening again. You can also try contacting an auto key duplicate business. However, they’ll require the exact model, type, make and year of your vehicle to duplicate keys.

If your car is an older model, or if it uses an electronic key fob, you’ll need to go to your dealer to request a replacement. It can be expensive particularly if they have to order the correct key for your vehicle, and it can take days or even weeks.

Most people aren’t aware that locksmiths can provide the same service at less than a dealership. A lot of insurance policies cover locksmith fees or towing costs in the event of a lost or stolen key, and some provide roadside assistance to send experts to your location to assist you get back into your vehicle.

If you have comprehensive auto insurance, it’s worth looking over your coverage prior to making a decision to purchase from a dealership. It is also important to inform the police as soon as you can. This ensures that no one else will have access to your car without your permission, and is also a way to protect yourself in case you’re ever attacked or Lost Key Replacement Near Me robbed. The act of reporting your keys will enable police officers to be on watch for anyone trying to gain access to your vehicle in a way that is illegal. In the worst case scenario you could be shielded from criminal charges if someone tries to steal your vehicle. The most important thing to remember when you lose your only car key is that you shouldn’t be in a state of panic. Instead, follow the steps above and seek the assistance of a family member, if needed.