Lost My Car Keys? Here's What to Do
You'll lose your keys at some point, no matter how organized you are. It's important to be prepared for this eventuality.
It is recommended to contact an auto locksmith or a dealership, based on your vehicle. They can design an alternative key for your vehicle.
1. Retract Your Steps
There aren't many things more painful than losing your car keys. It can ruin your day, create a lot of anxiety and even lead to unwanted phone calls from strangers. The loss of keys is a problem that could happen to anyone regardless of how well organized you are.
The best case scenario is that they turn up exactly where you left them (Parent Logic would argue this is the norm). But, in reality things often take a much more dire direction. When you lose your keys, it's crucial to remain calm and retrace the steps.
Be aware that a lot of things aren't lost forever and can be located in the most unlikely places. Before taking drastic measures, it is an ideal idea to go back and look over your steps. Bring a flashlight with you to search dark corners and drawers. You can also invite a family or friend member to help you search, as another set of eyes can be beneficial.
2. Check the Inside
If you've not found your car keys after going back to your steps and looking in the usual places, such as key hooks, look for them inside of pockets, bags, and jackets you wore or used recently. If you lost your keys in a store, ask other shoppers or employees if they noticed something out of the ordinary.
The process of checking your bags and pockets for keys that are missing might seem like common sense, but you should be thorough. Empty your pockets, even those on jackets and purses. Check every zippered area. You should also check the recycling and trash bins to determine if your keys have been snatched from your bag.
You can also retrace your footsteps and search in places where you know it isn't in, like the freezer or fridge. Many items are lost when we search for something, but we forget about it. then forget about it.
3. Check the Outside
You've been working hard all day and are ready to go home, put on your comfortable sweats, order pizza and binge on your favorite TV show. You realize that your keys to your car are missing.
While you're walking around be sure to check out areas that are cluttered such as tabletops and desks and also the pockets of your clothes. You could also leave your keys in a busy space, like the door handle or refrigerator.
Another popular place to hide is under the car. However, if you do this, make sure you are able to remove the gas cap outside your vehicle as a thief could easily see you crouching beneath your vehicle to hide your keys there.
You can also store your keys in a nook on the dashboard or under the seats. Be careful not to put them too tightly, as you may accidentally crush them when you shut the door.
4. Contact the police
We are prone to lose things when we're distracted. You might be running an easy errand and you've forgotten your keys in the car seat. Or perhaps you need two hands to grab the groceries. Whatever the reason it occurs to all.
It is crucial to notify the police immediately if you lose anything. You can then submit a police report in order to protect your car from thieves. This is essential if you have lost your keys outside your home, in the shop or any other place in public.
Make sure you retrace every step before you begin. Try to become your own Sherlock Holmes and recreate the scene in your head from the last time you seen them. lost my car key is also a good idea to ask others in the vicinity whether they've seen your car keys. This will help keep your vehicle secure and prevent others from stealing it. (This could result in additional costs, such as the purchase of new locks for doors and ignition). If you have a spare key it is always a good idea to make a copy of it in the event that this happens to you again.
5. Call a locksmith
Many people forget where they placed their keys, particularly when they're busy or distracted. There are a few basic ways to assist.
Retrace the steps you took and searching in the places in which you think they could be. If you're unable to locate them, consider checking in the car itself. It's not common for people to lose their keys in the visor or on the keychain.
Contact a locksmith and inquire whether they can locate your keys. They may be able cut you a key or change your locks, if needed. They have the tools and know-how to remove bent or broken keys from locked doors.
When you do call locksmiths, be prepared to provide proof of ownership for your vehicle. You can use your vehicle's registration or title. Depending on your situation, you may need to wait for a new key from the dealership which can take a number of days.
6. Call Your Insurance Agent
There are occasions that you'll lose your car keys and it can put a major damper on your day. It could be that you were running a quick errand and accidentally left keys on the seat, or maybe you put your key down for a second to grab something, but lost track of it.
Reporting a lost or stolen key to the police as quickly as you can is important. This will create a paper trail and helps keep others from using your vehicle without permission. This will also help you avoid getting punished.
If you've reported your keys as lost to the police and your homeowner's insurance could be able to cover them as they're personal property. It's best to call your agent to confirm that you're covered before making an insurance claim.
Think about purchasing an Bluetooth tracking device, such as Apple AirTags or Tiles. This will save you from going through the hassle of a car key replacement and provide peace of mind knowing your keys are always within reach.
7. Get a Bluetooth Key Tracker
You can lose your keys at any moment. You could be out on an urgent errand, only to forget to place them on the seat. Or, you might be getting out of your vehicle after a long workday and forget where you placed keys.
Luckily, there are ways to prevent this from happening in the near future. The best method to prevent this is by using a Bluetooth key tracker. These tiny devices can be affixed to a keyring or wallet and connect to an app on your phone. The app will blink or ring once you open it to assist you in finding your keys. The majority of these Bluetooth trackers also come with community functions so that other users can help you locate them if you are out of range.
You can also avoid losing your keys by always putting them in the same spot every time you come 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 make it easier to locate your keys in the future.
8. Get a Replacement Key
It is crucial to inform your insurance company right away if you lose your keys to your car, or if they are stolen. So you'll be able to rest sure that your claim will be dealt with properly should anything happen to the vehicle in the future.
If you have a standard (non-chip) key you can purchase a new one at any hardware or locksmith. This is the fastest and least expensive solution.
For modern vehicles with a smart key that needs an electronic fob, it might be a little more difficult. You'll need go to your local dealer to purchase a new key. Depending on the model and make of your car it could cost you upwards of $200.
To avoid this, you should keep a spare set of keys in a different place than your keys. Cleaning out your office or home is also a great idea, particularly in areas where you're likely to lose things.