Lost Spare Car Key? Here's What to Do
It wasn't that long ago that losing your car keys weren't a big problem. You could contact your local locksmith and they would create a replacement key for you.
It's more complex now. It depends on the type of key you've got and whether you've lost your spare. Here are some suggestions to help you find your car keys.
Retract your steps
Sometimes, we forget things. You could be on the run for a few minutes, and you've forgotten to hang your keys in the entryway. Or, you could be returning home from a long workday and put them on the couch. Whatever the case it can be very frustrating and stressful to lose your spare car key.
Take a deep breath, and don't get stressed. You'll be able to locate your keys if you search long enough. It's also a good idea to have a backup plan in place for emergencies, like calling a professional locksmith for your car, just in case.
Once you've cooled down and are able to control your emotions, you are now able to begin the search for your keys. You can retrace the steps you took by thinking back to the last time you observed them. It's a lot simpler than you think, particularly if you can close your eyes and visualize the location where you last was able to see them.
Once you've thought about the last time you saw them, you can begin to look at each of the possible places they could be. This includes your car, your house, and other common areas you've visited throughout the day. You can ask your family or acquaintances to help you find your way. This will give you more eyes!
When you're looking inside your car, look at the handle on the driver's side of the door and the center console for any evidence of the spare key. Check any bags or pockets that you may have carried with you during the day. Examine all compartments in your car. It's common for keys to be "lost" in the car.
Check Your Hideouts
No matter how careful you are, your car keys are always a little tricky to keep on top of. It's one of the most frequently lost items that can be misplaced, and it can quickly turn into a nightmare if you aren't vigilant. There are a few steps you could take before calling a locksmith if you've misplaced your spare car keys.
Before you start searching for your lost keys, it's worth checking the places where you usually keep them. If you have a key holder near the door or a key bowl on a table, check these areas first. It's an excellent idea to ask others who are in the vicinity such as a store worker or fellow customer. They may have seen your keys during your shopping spree or have spotted them while they were cleaning up.
It is possible to hide spare keys in your car. If your car has an hood that can be opened externally, it's important to ensure that the spare key is kept in a safe spot that won't get crushed when the hood is closed. Magnetic boxes and mini-vaults can be attached to your vehicle to keep your keys secure and easily accessible.
You could also put keys that are spare in the car's tailpipe, but this method is often difficult to implement and not very discreet. It is also possible that the tailpipe will be covered with mud or snow, making it hard to locate the key within.
Another spot where people often conceal their keys is behind the tires. This is a good way to hide your keys however, you must be aware that the tires of your car will be visible no matter the clothes you wear.
It's also possible to leave your spare car keys with an individual who is a trusted family member, particularly when you're on the road and don't want to risk losing it in the process. If you do have an proximity key, be cautious about leaving it with strangers since some thieves could make use of signal relay and amplifier technology to snoop on the signal from your key fob and unlock the car even when the key is a long distance away.
Take a look inside Your Car
It's difficult to pinpoint the exact location where you could lose something, and a key fob isn't an exception. So, it's best to look everywhere. This includes going back to the last location you used it then retracing your steps and contacting workers or the owners of places you visited and may have lost it at.
It's also worth checking your car for the keys if you think you've put them in there. This involves checking the glove box (it's a common location to store keys for a spare car) as well as the area beneath the front seats, and that mysterious black hole inside the car that can swallow a small item like a key fob.
Check any purses or bags that you might have, as they could contain keys that have been lost. You must carefully go through all compartments and pockets of your backpack or purse. Look for zippered areas and remove items like sunglasses and makeup from your bag to check under.
Call a locksmith if you've tried these steps and still cannot find your car keys. They can assist you in replacing keys that are lost in your car, and get you on the road in no time.
A spare car key can be the ideal solution to avoid this stressful situation, but you should also consider adding a Bluetooth key tracker to your keys so that they're easier to keep in check. These tiny devices attach directly to your keys and emit a unique signature. You can then connect them to your phone to keep track of their location throughout the day.
You can also reach out to your dealer and ask them to create a new key for you. Because they already have security details for your car, they can do this quickly. If you have a smart car, however, it may be more difficult since they'll have to pair the new key to your vehicle, which may take a little longer. It's important to always have an extra car key.
Call a Locksmith
In the event that you cannot find your car keys, it is essential to call locksmiths as quickly as possible. car key lost replacement will this help you get into your car, but it will also ensure that nobody else has access. If you don't immediately report the loss of your key fob as soon as you can it could result in further issues later on such as an impersonation attempt by someone else.
Modern vehicles require a keyfob to unlock and operate them. It is important to keep an extra key fob in case you lose yours. This will save you from having to pay for the car to be towed and then buy a replacement set.
A locksmith will be able to create a replacement key for your vehicle without needing to know the exact specifications of the security system of your vehicle. They can also disable the old key to prevent it from being able to be used again. A locksmith can tell you what type of car key you need from the information in your registration or title.
It is best to prevent the loss of your car keys by keeping them in a secure location, away from your lanyard or keychain. This will reduce the likelihood that you'll drop your keys, or be thrown out of your pocket.
Another method to avoid loss of your spare car key is to note down your vehicle identification number (VIN) and keep it in your wallet at all times. This unique code helps identify your car and is visible on your dashboard, door jamb or frame.
Whether you need to replace a car key or simply want to minimize the chance of losing it altogether, a local locksmith is the best choice to get your life back on track. It is also less expensive than going through a dealership, and you may be able to have the spare key created on-site.