Lost My Car Keys? Here's What to Do No matter how organized you are, there's a time when you lose your car keys. It's crucial to be prepared for this situation. You should call an auto locksmith or a dealership, based on the vehicle. They can design an alternative key for your vehicle. 1. Retract Your Steps There are few things more frustrating than losing your car keys. It can make your day miserable, cause an anxiety-filled day and can even result in unpleasant phone calls from strangers. It doesn't matter if you are an organized person or not the loss of your keys can happen to anyone. The ideal scenario is that they show up exactly where you left them. (Parent Logic says this is the case). But, in reality things often take a much more dire turn. If you lose your keys, it's crucial to be calm and not panic. You can then retrace the steps. Be aware that a lot of things aren't lost forever and can be found in the most unlikely places. Before resorting to extreme measures it is recommended to go back and look over your steps. To accomplish this it's a good idea to carry a flashlight with you to help you find dark areas and drawers. You can also ask a friend to assist you for items, as a second pair of eyes can be very helpful. 2. Check the Inside If you are unable to locate your keys after retracing steps and examining common areas like key hooks, examine the pockets, bags and jackets that you recently were wearing or used. If you lost them in the store, talk to other customers or workers to see if they noticed anything out of the ordinary. It may seem obvious to check your own pockets and bags for keys to your car that are missing, but it's important to do so thoroughly. Clean your pockets, including the ones on purses and jackets. Feel around the zippered areas. Also, check the recycling and trash bins to determine if your keys have fallen out of your bag. You can also retrace your steps and look in places where you know it isn't in, like the fridge or freezer. Many items get lost when we reach for something, but then we take it away and then forget about it. 3. Check the Outside You've worked hard all day and are now ready to go home put on your comfy sweats, order pizza and binge watch your favorite show. You realize that your keys to your car are missing. While you're going through your steps, check overly cluttered spaces like desks and tabletops as well as the pockets of your clothing items. You can also put your keys in a crowded area, such as the handle of your door or in the refrigerator. Under the car is another favorite place to hide. If you choose to do this be sure you are able to open the gas cap on your car from outside. If not, a burglar could be able to spot you hiding your keys beneath your car. You could also consider hiding your keys in a small nook on the dashboard or under the seat. Be careful not to place them too tightly, as you could accidentally smash them when you close the door. 4. Call the police Sometimes, we forget things because we're a little bit distracted. You may be on the run for a few minutes and have your keys on the seat or you might just require two hands free to carry a load of food items. It happens to every person. It is essential to notify the police immediately if you have lost anything. This way, you will be able to file a report and help to protect your vehicle from thieves. This step is especially crucial if your keys get lost outside of your home, at the store, or in a public place. Make sure to go through all of your steps before you begin. Recreate the scene you saw the time you last glimpsed your keys in your head. It is also a good idea to ask other people in the vicinity if they have seen your car keys. This will help to keep your car safe and stop others from stealing it (which could lead to additional costs like replacing door locks and ignition). If you have a spare key it is always an excellent idea to make a copy of it in case this happens to you again. 5. Contact a Locksmith It's normal for people to forget where they've put their keys, particularly when they are distracted or in a rush. There are some ways you can help. Retrace your steps and looking for areas you think you might have left them. If you are still unable to locate them, look in the car. Many people lose their keys that hang from their keychains or the visor It's a good idea to take taking a look. Call a locksmith and ask whether they have your keys. They might be able to make you a new key or even change the locks on your home if needed. They have the tools and expertise to remove broken or bent keys from locked doors. If lost car keys do contact a locksmith, make sure to show proof of ownership of your vehicle. This includes your registration or title. It could take several days for a dealer to send you a replacement key, dependent on the circumstances. 6. Contact Your Insurance Agent It is possible to lose your car keys from time to time and it could make your day miserable. It might be that you were running a quick task and left keys on the seat, or maybe you put your keys down to grab something and lost the track of it. It's important to report a lost key immediately to the police. This will create a paper trail and can to stop others from using your vehicle without permission. This will also ensure that you don't get fined. Your homeowner's policy may cover your keys if reported them as lost to the local police. They are considered personal property. But, it's advisable to speak with your agent to make sure you're covered prior to filing an claim. You might want to consider keeping an extra key or purchasing a Bluetooth tracker such as Apple AirTags Tiles, AirTags, or the many other options available. This will help you avoid the hassle of having to replace your car keys, and ensure that you always have your keys at hand. 7. Get a Bluetooth key tracker Sometimes you'll lose your keys at the time you least would. You could be on the run and forget to put them down on the seat, or you may be getting out of your car after an exhausting day at work and can't remember where you put them. There are ways to stop this happening again. One of the best is to use a Bluetooth key tracker. These tiny devices can be attached to your keyring or wallet and connect to an app on the phone. The app will flash or ring when you open it to aid you in finding your keys. These Bluetooth trackers feature community features that allow other people to assist you in finding them in case your keys aren't in range. Another great way to avoid losing your keys is to place them in the same place each time you return home. If it's on the table in your entryway or on a hook near the door, establishing an habit of this will make finding them easier in the future. 8. Get a Replacement Key Whether you've lost your car keys or they've been stolen the most important thing to do is to notify your insurance company right away. So you can be sure that your claim will be handled properly should anything happen to the vehicle in the future. If you already have a standard (non-chip) key, you can easily get a new one from any hardware or locksmith. This is the fastest and least expensive solution. For more modern cars with a smart key that needs an electronic fob, it could be a little more difficult. You'll likely need go to the local dealership and provide proof of ownership in order to obtain an updated key. Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, this could cost you upwards of $200. To avoid this, keep an extra set of keys in a different location than your keys. It's also a good idea to get rid of clutter in your office or home particularly in the areas where you are likely to lose things.
lost car keys
