What The Heck What Is Lost My Car Keys?
Lost My Car Keys? Here's What to Do
Whatever way you are, there will come an occasion when you'll lose your car keys. It's crucial to be prepared for this scenario.
Depending on the vehicle you have, the first call you should make is to an auto locksmith or dealership. These experts can create an alternative key that will fit your vehicle.
1. Retract your Steps
There are few things more painful than losing the keys to your car. It can ruin your entire day, cause anxiety and even cause you to receive unwanted 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 best-case scenario would be that they return exactly where you left them. (Parent Logic says this is always true). In reality it is possible for the situation to be much more serious. When you lose your keys, it's important to remain calm and follow the steps.
It's important to remember that the majority of things don't go missing for ever, and are often found in some very unusual locations. Before resorting to extreme measures it is an ideal idea to retrace and search your steps. Bring a flashlight with you to search dark corners and drawers. You could also ask someone to assist you in your search for items, as a second pair of eyes can be very beneficial.
2. Check the Inside
If you've not found your car keys after retracing your steps and checking in the usual places, such as key hooks, search for them inside of bags, pockets and jackets that you've worn or wore recently. If you've lost them in the store, talk to employees or customers to see if they noticed anything out of the ordinary.
It may appear obvious to check your pockets and bags for keys to your car that are missing However, it's essential to do it in a thorough manner. Empty your pockets, even the ones on purses and jackets. Examine all zippered areas. You should also check the recycling and trash bins to see if your keys have disappeared from your bag.
It may be helpful to go through your steps again and search places where you know they aren't, such as the fridge or freezer. Many times, items are lost when we go to them, but then take them off and forget about them.
3. Check the Outside
You've put in the hours and are now ready to head home, put on your comfortable sweats, have pizza and binge on your favorite TV show. You realize that your car keys are missing.
Check pockets and desks that are filled with. It's also not uncommon to leave your keys behind in a messy spot like on the handle of a door or in the refrigerator, so be sure to thoroughly check those places.
Under the car is another favorite place to hide. However, if you do this, make sure you remove the gas cap outside your car as thieves can easily spot you crouched under your car to hide your keys there.
You might also try hiding your keys in a small nook in the dashboard or under the seat. Be cautious not to place them too tightly as they could be crushed when you close the door.
4. Call the police
Sometimes, we get distracted and lose things simply because we're a little bit distracted. You might be running a quick errand and you have put your keys in the seat, or you may require two hands free to pick up a bag of groceries. Whatever the reason, it happens to everyone.
If you have lost something, it is important to notify the police right immediately. This way, you can file a report and help keep your car safe from thieves. This is particularly crucial if you find your keys lost outside of your home, at the store, or at a location that is public.
Before you start, be sure to retrace your steps. Recreate the scene from the time you last looked at your keys in your head. Asking people around you if they've seen your keys is also a excellent idea. This will help keep your vehicle secure and prevent others from stealing it. (This could result in additional expenses such as new locks for doors and ignition). If you have a spare key, it's always a good idea to make copies of it in case this happens to you again.
5. Contact a locksmith
People often forget where they placed their keys, especially when they're distracted or in a rush. There are, however, some actions you can take to help.
Retrace the steps you've taken and searching in the places where you think they might be. If you're still not able to locate them, check the car. Many people lose their keys that hang from their keychains or the visor and it's worth having a quick look.
Finally, contact a locksmith to see if they are able to help you find your lost keys. They might be able to cut keys or replace the locks if required. They also have the tools and know-how to remove broken or bent keys from locked doors.
When you do call a locksmith, be prepared to provide proof of the ownership of your vehicle. You can use your vehicle's registration or title. You might have to wait for several days for a dealership to send you a new key, depending on your situation.
6. Call Your Insurance Agent
There are occasions when you lose your car keys, and it can put a major downer on your day. It might be that you were running an run and forgot to put keys on the floor or maybe you set your key down to grab something, but lost track of it.
Reporting a lost or stolen key to the police as quickly as you can is crucial. This will result in a paper record and will stop other people from using your vehicle without permission. This also helps you avoid getting penalized.
Your homeowner's insurance may cover your keys if you have reported them as lost to local police. They are considered personal property. However, it's best to talk to your agent to confirm that you're covered prior to filing a claim.
Consider keeping an extra key or purchasing a Bluetooth tracker like Apple AirTags, Tiles or the numerous other options available. This will save you the stress of having to replace your car keys and give you peace-of-mind knowing that you always have your keys at hand.
7. Get a Bluetooth key tracker
Sometimes you'll lose your keys when you least would. You might be on the run and forget to put them down on the seat or might be getting out of your car after an exhausting day at work, and don't remember where you put them.
Luckily, there are ways to prevent this from happening in the future. One of the best is to use a Bluetooth key tracker. These tiny devices can be attached to a wallet or keyring and can connect to an app on your smartphone. The app will flash or ring once you open it to aid you in finding your keys. The majority of these Bluetooth trackers also come with community functions, so that others can assist you to locate them if you are lost.
Another excellent way to avoid losing your keys is to always place them in the same spot each time you arrive home. It doesn't matter whether you place them in a bowl on the table or hang them on a hook near the door. Making this an habit will make it easier to find your keys in the future.
8. Get a New Key
It's important to notify your insurance company right away in the event that you lose your car keys, or if they are stolen. This way, you can rest sure that your claim will be handled in a timely manner should anything happen to the vehicle in the future.
If lost vehicle keys have an ordinary (non-chip) key it is easy to purchase an additional one from any locksmith or hardware store. This is the fastest and cheapest solution.
For more modern cars with an electronic key that requires an electronic fob, it could be a bit more difficult. It is likely that you will need visit the local dealership and provide proof of ownership in order to obtain an updated key. Depending on the make and model of your car, this could cost you upwards of $200.
To prevent this from happening, keep an extra set of keys in a different place than your keys. It's also an excellent idea to clean your office or home particularly in the areas where you tend to lose things.