Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
The loss of your car keys can be a frightening experience. There are a variety of things you can do prior to calling roadside assistance or a locksmith.
Retrace spare car key cutting . This will help you find your keys and provide you with somewhere to start before you move on to more drastic steps.
1. Retract your steps
It's easy to be stressed when you lose your keys. They're easy to lose and you might not even realize it until you need to start your vehicle or go to your house. It can be a challenge to get in your car if you don't own a spare.
It's important to stay calm and first go back to where you started. This can help you find your keys quickly and save you from having to contact a locksmith or go to the dealership to purchase the new key. Most likely, the keys you lost are within reach or dropped in the vicinity of the item you've been carrying around. Before you begin retracing steps it's a good idea to go through your pockets, purses, and bags.
Asking your family and friends if they have seen your keys is a good way to find them. You can obtain useful information from them, and they may help you find the right direction. This is particularly helpful when you have roommates or family members.
If you have combed through your purses, wallets and bags but can't find your keys, it might be time to take a look inside your car. You might find that your keys are within the vehicle and you just need to find the right spot to locate them. This is a straightforward step that could help you avoid a number of headaches.
Call a professional if your keys aren't inside the vehicle. It's a bit expensive but it's worth it to not have to be concerned about being locked out. You should get a spare key to avoid this problem in the future. You can even put a brightly colored keychain on your keys to make them easier to locate. This will allow you to always know where your keys are and locate them quickly. This is an investment that is small but will pay off big time in the long in the long run!
2. Empty Your Pockets
It's a stressful experience to lose your car keys. It happens more often than you think and always happens at the worst possible moment such as when you're late for work. In such a situation, it's best to stay calm and follow these steps.
Retracing your steps is the initial step. This will help you identify where and when keys were stolen. Then, thoroughly search your pockets and bags. You should also check any jackets or coats that you might have worn. It is also a good idea to ask the staff at any restaurant or stores you've visited if they've noticed your keys.
Leaving your keys in the pockets of your clothes can be very easy to forget. This is particularly true if your jacket or coat has a deep pocket. It is also advisable to examine your bags. Bags, messenger bags, and backpacks are all places to hide lost keys. Check the interior of your vehicle to see whether you have keys.
It is a good idea to clear all pockets of any bag you carry, as well as to completely empty your purse or messenger bag. This will let you know if any keys are stuck in the lining of your bag. It's also a good idea to make use of flashlights to illuminate the dark areas of your bag or purse.
You can also walk around the house shouting as loudly as you can "car keys!" It may sound silly, but research has demonstrated that shouting out the name of what you're looking for will increase your chances of finding it.
If you're still unable to find your keys, call a locksmith. They'll be able assist you in obtaining an alternative key for your car, and can even install a new lock for your door, if necessary.
3. Check under the car
It's normal for things to be lost in the chaos of daily errands, from grocery shopping to dinner with the family or a day at the park. It can be a debit card, a pair of your favorite sunglasses or even something more important, like the car key. If you don't keep an extra set, it could cause a lot of inconvenience and be a big headache.
Relax and begin looking for your keys. It's always recommended to begin with the most obvious locations first - for example did you place them on your coffee table when you were leaving the house? You may have put them on the counter in your kitchen while you were heading to the fridge, but then closed the door and then forgot about them.
If you've cleared all of your pockets and purses (and if the lock was not locked and you didn't have help, ask someone to search the car as well) and then looked back over your day to find out where they could be missing, and then wiped out every surface that you're likely remember passing when you leave the home, it may be time to check under the car. You never know when the key fob has fallen into a crevice between your seat cushion and floor mat or if you accidentally removed it from your bag while reaching in to grab something.
Of course, the best way to avoid a situation like this in the future is to establish a habit of placing your keys in the same spot when you get home from work. It could take a few months for it to stick and the longer you can maintain this routine, the easier it will be to locate your car keys when you require them. To ensure you're prepared in the event of an emergency, it helps to have GEICO's Emergency Roadside Service on your policy, which will help you avoid the expense of a tow truck, or replacing your lost car keys.
4. Walk Back Through Your Day
Sometimes, you get overwhelmed by the day-to-day routine of your kids' activities, running errands going out with friends for dinner, and trying to accomplish all your work-related tasks that you forget to do something important. Losing your car keys can be a major setback to your plans.
Take your time before you start calling anyone you know and asking them where your keys are. Try not to get overwhelmed. Once you have regained your composure, you should retrace the steps you did. When did you last thought of having your car keys? This will help you find the location where your keys may have been.
Make sure you empty your pockets and bags in which you may have put them in. You should also look for places you might not typically consider, like the pockets of your jacket or coat or your shoe. Examine the location where you keep your keys at home. You may have placed them on a table or else when you entered the home.
If you lose your car keys, it's not fun. But if you use these tips, you'll be able locate them quickly, without having to call a locksmith. The best method to avoid this kind of problem in the future is by establishing a designated place to keep your keys when you enter your home. It might take a time to get used to this however, after a few weeks it will become a routine and you won't need to be concerned about them being lost.