You Are Responsible For The Lost My Car Keys Budget? 12 Top Ways To Spend Your Money
Lost My Car Keys? Here's What to Do
No matter how organized you are, there will come a time when you lose your car keys. It's important to be prepared for this eventuality.
Based on the model of your car, the first call you need to make is a locksmith or a dealership. lost car keys can make an appropriate replacement key for your vehicle.
1. Retract Your Steps
There aren't many things that are 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 whether you are a meticulously organized person or not losing your keys could happen to anyone.
The best case scenario is that they turn up exactly where you left them (Parent Logic would argue this is the norm). In reality, the situation can often be much more serious. It is important to remain calm and retrace your steps when you lose your keys.
It's important to remember that the majority of things don't go missing forever, and they're often found in some very strange places. Therefore, before you resort to extreme measures, it's a good idea to go back and conduct a thorough search. Bring a flashlight to look through dark corners and drawers. You could also invite a family or friend member to help you search, as another set of eyes can be helpful.
2. Check the Inside
If you can't find your keys after retracing the steps and checking common places like key hooks, examine the pockets, bags and jackets that you recently wore or used. If you've lost them at the store, talk to employees or customers to determine if they saw something unusual.
The process of checking your bags and pockets for keys missing may appear obvious but it is important to do it thoroughly. Empty your pockets, even those on jackets and purses. Feel around all zippered areas. It's also a good idea to comb through the trash and recycling bins in the event that keys were to fall out of your bag and got crushed by something other.
It might be beneficial to retrace your steps once time and look around for areas where you know they aren't like the freezer or refrigerator. Sometimes, items go missing when we reach for them but then take them off and forget about them.
3. Check the Outside
You've put in the hours and are ready to go home, put on your comfortable sweats, order pizza and on your favorite TV show. You find that your keys to your car are missing.
Check pockets and desks that are overly packed. You may also leave your keys in a crowded area, such as the door handle or refrigerator.
Another popular hiding place is under the car. However, if you do this, make sure you can open the gas cap from outside your car as a thief could easily see you crouching under your vehicle to hide your keys there.
You can also hide your keys in a small nook on the dashboard or under the seat. Be careful not to put them too tightly as you may accidentally crush them when you close the door.
4. Call the police
Sometimes, we forget things because we are just a little bit distracted. You may be running a quick errand and put your keys in the seat, or you may require two hands to carry a load of groceries. Whatever the reason, it happens to all.
If you lose something, it is important to contact the police immediately. This way, you can make a report and help to protect your vehicle from thieves. This step is especially crucial if you find your keys lost outside of your home or at the store or somewhere else public.
Make sure to go through all of your steps before you begin. Recreate the scene from the time you last looked at your keys in your head. It is also an excellent idea to ask others in the vicinity whether they've seen your car keys. This will help keep your vehicle safe and stop other people from using it. (This could result in additional costs, such as the purchase of new door locks and ignition). If you have a spare key, it's recommended to create copies of it in the event that this happens to you again.
5. Contact a locksmith
Many people forget where they placed their keys, particularly when they're stressed or distracted. There are a few basic ways to help.
Begin by retracing the steps you've taken and searching in the places in which you think they could be. If you're still unable to find them, try searching inside the car. It's not uncommon for people to lose their keys in their visors or on the keychain.
Finally, contact an locksmith to see if they are able to help you find your keys that have disappeared. They might be able to cut keys for you or alter the locks if required. They have the tools and expertise to remove broken or bent keys from locked doors.
When you do call locksmiths, be prepared to provide proof of ownership of your vehicle. This includes your vehicle's registration or title. You might have to wait several days for a dealer to send you a replacement key according to your particular situation.
6. Call Your Insurance Agent
You may lose your car keys at times and it could ruin your day. It could be that you were running a quick errand and accidentally left keys on the seat, or maybe you set your keys down for a moment to grab something but lost track of it.
Notifying a stolen or lost key to the police as quickly as you can is crucial. This will be recorded on paper and prevent others from using your car without your permission. This will also help you avoid getting fined.
Your homeowner's insurance may cover your keys if you've reported them as lost to the local police. They are considered personal property. It's best to contact your agent to confirm that you are covered before filing an insurance claim.
You might want to consider keeping an extra key or investing in a Bluetooth tracker like Apple AirTags Tiles, Apple AirTags or any of the other options available. This will save you the hassle of having to replace your car keys and provide you with peace of mind knowing that you always have your keys in reach.
7. Get a Bluetooth Key Tracker
Sometimes you can lose your keys when you least would. You might be on the run and do not remember to put them on the seat or might be getting out of your car after an extended day at work, and don't remember where you put them.
Fortunately, there are ways to stop this from happening in the near future. The best way to do this is by using a Bluetooth key tracker. These tiny devices can be attached to your keyring or wallet and connect to an app for your phone. When you launch the app it will sound or flash to help you find your keys. These Bluetooth trackers have community features that allow others to assist you in locating the keys if they are out of reach.
Another excellent way to avoid losing your keys is to always place them in the same place each time you return home. It doesn't matter whether you put them in an table in the entryway or on a hook by the door. Making this an habit will make it easier to locate your keys in the future.
8. Get a New Key
It's important to notify your insurance company right away when you lose your car keys or if they're stolen. This way you can be assured that your claim will be handled properly should anything happen to the vehicle in the future.
If you have a standard key (which does not contain a chip) you can simply get an alternative from any locksmith or hardware store. This is typically the fastest and most affordable alternative.
It might be more difficult for vehicles that have a smart key and require an electronic fob. It is likely that you will need go to your local dealer and present proof of ownership to get an entirely new key. Depending on the make and model of your car, this could cost anywhere from $200 to $300.
To avoid this, keep a spare set of keys in a different place than your keys. Cleaning out your office or home is also a good idea, particularly in areas where you can't find things.