Ever wondered what to do when you lose your car keys? Well it can certainly be one of the most infuriating experiences, especially if you are in a hurry and you desperately need your vehicle to reach a particular location.
According to professional locksmiths, there are things you can do if such situations occur. The most important thing is never to panic and be calm, seeking out the help of specialized service. Keep in mind that other keys might be in the same ring, so you should analyze these matters as well.
9 Things You Can Do If You Lose Your Car Keys
1. Retrace Your Steps
This is valid for anything you might have forgotten and especially when it comes to car keys. Try to keep calm and track your actions, figuring out where you might have lost them. Think about where you had them last and if anyone was accompanying you. Turning everything upside down will not help, making the state of panic worse. Sit down and go through every activity of the day, trying to remember where you used the keys, any particulars that might help you and so on.
2. Notify The Authorities
If you've lost your car keys, your security could be affected. Burglars always roam in good neighborhoods, hoping for such an opportunity to present itself. The first thing to do is report to the police about your loss. Describe any particularities your car keys might have, as this will facilitate their recovery. For example, you can tell them details about the key ring they were on. And if it is a unique one like this Zinc Alloy Car Keychain, it will be much easier to find.
3. Search Your Vehicle
More often than you might think, people forget their keys in their actual vehicle. This is also known as the car lookout, with forgetfulness being the most common cause for which such situations occur. If you have noticed that your car keys are in the vehicle, do not panic. Most importantly, do not think about breaking the window or doing any other damage to your vehicle. What you need to do is contact a Qualified Locksmith, as only someone with experience can help you retrieve your keys from inside the vehicle.
4. Organize A Neighborhood Search
Often, we lose things in the areas frequently visited and especially around our neighborhoods. Contact the Neighborhood Watch and organize a thorough search, analyzing all of the potential premises where you could have lost your keys. The more people will be involved in the search, the easier it will be to find them. As with the authorities, be sure to provide the people involved in the actual search with as many details about the keys as you can remember.
5. Use Your Spare Key
This is perhaps one of the best things to do if you lose your car keys and most logical steps to take. It is common that the spare key is kept at another location, probably at your friend’s house or with a family member.
You can give your friend or relative a call, asking them to bring your spare key. This will help you get into the car and use it accordingly, perhaps even to perform a more thorough search. As a general rule, it is always a good idea to keep the spare key with a friend, relative or additionally in a Spare Key Hider that is camouflaged such as this Fake Rock Key Hider.
6. Evaluation Of Other Keys
In the majority of the situations, the car keys are kept on the same ring with different keys. So, if you have lost your car keys, this means you have lost other important keys as well. Sit down, take a deep breath and evaluate the entire ring in your mind; you might have keys from your home, garage, and workplace. This evaluation will help you determine which keys have to be replaced, saving a lot of time and energy when contacting the locksmith.
7. Professional Locksmith
This is the step that can truly help you get out of a difficult situation. Contact a locksmith and inquire about the car key replacement cost and make sure you choose a service that is reputable and affordable at the same time. The Locksmith will probably ask you about the type of car keys, make and model of the vehicle, vehicle identification number and so on. Be sure to provide the right details for a faster resolution.
8. Insurance Claim
The motor insurance policy can cover the loss of car keys so that you can make an insurance claim for such specific situations. While car keys are covered under standard procedures, it might be a good idea to check your coverage and make sure that there will not be additional costs to pay (if they exceed the value of the car key, then the claim is not worth it). For the future, it might interest you to know that there are specific policies that cover car keys; these have extensive covers so that you are protected against a wide range of situations.
9. Specialized Assistance
You can pay an annual fee to a company that specializes in the recovery of lost keys (service also valid for stolen keys). In this way, when you have lost your car keys, you can quickly turn to them, and they will handle the recovery process. Other companies will store your spare car keys, delivering them to you in case you have lost the original key. The fees for such services are not that high and, when you compare the benefits offered, it makes sense to consider specialized assistance.
What To Do When You Lose Your Car Keys Conclusion
The next time you're wondering what to do when you lose your car keys or keychain, keep in mind that there are things you can do to retrieve them. If all else fails, a certified and experienced locksmith can help you replace the lost car keys, bringing you the much needed peace of mind.