Lost Spare Car Key? Here’s What to Do
It wasn’t too long ago that losing your car keys weren’t an issue. You’d call your local locksmith, and they’d make a new one for you.
It’s more complex now. It depends on what kind of key you have and if you’ve lost your spare. Here are some tips to assist you in finding your car keys.
Retract your steps
We all get things lost. You could be on the run for a few minutes and you forget to hang your keys in the entryway. Or, you may be returning home from a long workday and want to throw them on the couch. Whatever the reason it can be a hassle and difficult to lose your spare car key car lost.
Take a deep breath, and don’t be afraid. Remember, your keys aren’t Lost key to car No spare forever. You can still find them with some thorough searching! It’s also a good idea to have a backup plan in place by calling a professional locksmith for your car in case of emergency.
Now that you’ve calmed down and are able to control your emotions, it’s time to start searching for your keys. You can trace the steps you took, by thinking back to where you last seen them. It’s more simple than you think, particularly if you can shut your eyes and visualize the location where you last was able to see them.
After you’ve considered the last time you’ve seen them, start by looking at each of the possible places they could be. This includes your car, your house, and other common areas you’ve been to during the day. You can even invite your family or friends members to join in the search to give you more eyes to look around with!
If you’re in the car, make sure to check the driver’s side door handle and the center console for signs of the spare key. Look through any bags or pockets that you might have carried around during the day. It’s not uncommon for keys to get “lost” in the car, so make certain to check every compartment in your vehicle!
Check Your Hideouts
Your car keys can be difficult to locate regardless of how meticulous or diligent you are. They’re one of the most commonly misplaced items, and they could quickly turn into an issue in a moment of naivete. There are some steps you can follow prior to calling a locksmith in case you’ve lost your spare car keys.
Before you frantically search for keys that have disappeared, it’s worth checking the areas where you typically place them. If you have a key holder near the door or the key bowl is on a table, look at these areas first. It’s an excellent idea to ask others who live nearby like a store employee or a customer. They might have seen them in the midst of your shopping trip, or spotted them when cleaning up.
It can be convenient to store spare keys in your car. If the hood of your car is able to be opened externally, it is crucial to place the spare key in a safe nook so that it won’t be crushed when the hood is closed. Magnetic boxes and mini-vaults can be attached to your car to keep your keys secure and easily accessible.
You could also put an extra key in the tailpipe of your car, however, this is usually difficult to implement and not very discrete. It’s also possible that the tailpipe will be covered with snow or mud which makes it difficult to locate the key within.
Another location where people may put their keys behind the tires. This is a great place to keep your keys hidden, but you should be aware that the tires of your car are visible regardless of what you wear.
You can also leave your spare key with a family member or trusted friend, especially if you are you are traveling and don’t want it to get lost. However, if you own a proximity key, you should be cautious about leaving it with strangers as some thieves could use signal relay and amplifier technology to hijack the signal from your key fob and unlock the car even when the key is miles away.
Look Inside Your Car
There’s no way to predict when you’ll lose something, particularly a key fob, so it’s important to check every possible place. This includes returning to the last place you’ve used it then retracing your steps and contacting employees or the owners of places you’ve visited, and possibly lost it at.
If you believe that you have left keys in your car, you should check. Examine the glove box which is a popular place to store a spare key for your car. Also check the area underneath the front seats and the mysterious black hole inside the car that can take small items such as a key fob.
Examine any bags or purses that you carry around, as they could contain keys that were lost. You’ll need to go through all compartments and pockets of your purse or backpack. Look for zippered areas and remove items like makeup and sunglasses from your bag in order to see what’s beneath.
Contact a locksmith if you’ve tried all of these steps and are still unable to locate your car keys. They can help you replace keys that are lost in your car, and get you back on the road again in short time.
You can prevent this from happening by having an extra car key. But, you must add a Bluetooth tracker to your keys so that it’s easier to keep track of the keys. These tiny devices can be attached directly to your keys and emit a unique signature. It is then possible to connect them to your smartphone to track their location throughout the day.
You can also call your dealer and ask them to make your new key. Since they already have the security information for your car and can complete the process quickly. It could be more difficult if you own an advanced vehicle, as they will need to pair the key to your car. This can take some time. It’s important to always have a spare car key.
Contact a locksmith
In the event that you cannot find your car keys, it’s essential to call locksmith as soon as you can. This will not only assist you get back in your car but also ensure that no one else has access to the key. If you do not report the loss of your key fob right away, it could lead to further issues later on for instance, someone trying to impersonate you.
Modern cars require a keyfob to open and operate them. If you have lost your key fob, it is crucial to have a spare to prevent having for the vehicle to be taken to the dealer and then having to pay for a new set of keys.
A locksmith can design an entirely new key for your car without knowing the precise details of its security system. They will also be able to disable the key that was previously used to ensure that no one else can use it again. A locksmith can inform you what type of car key you need based on the information in your registration or title.
To avoid your spare keys from getting replacing lost car key, it’s best to keep them in a secure place separate from your keychain. This will make it less likely that you’ll accidentally drop your keys or that they slip out of your pocket.
You can also ward off the loss of a spare car key by writing down your vehicle identification (VIN) number and keeping it in your wallet. This unique code helps identify your vehicle and can be found on your dashboard, door jamb or frame.
Whether you need to replace a spare car key or simply want to minimize the chance of losing it in the first place an experienced locksmith in your area is the best choice to get your life back on the right track. It’s also less expensive than going through a dealership, and you might be able to get the spare key made on site.
