What to Do If You Lose Your Only Car Key Things are lost in the whirlwind of life such as kids, errands, work socializing with friends, etc It's not always the big stuff Sometimes, it's the little things like keys A new key for all cars can be made in the local hardware store if you have proof of ownership This is a low-cost alternative Retract Your Steps There is nothing more painful than losing your sole car key and not being able get in your vehicle It can cost you time, money and peace of mind The first thing you must do if you lose the only car key you have is to stay calm Doing your best to panic is not going to help you locate your keys quicker and could make the situation even worse Start by trying remembering the last time you saw them It could be as easy as them being in your pocket as you stepped out of the car to do an run, or they could have been dropped while bringing groceries inside The process of retracing your steps will aid in finding your keys in no time If retracing your steps does not work, you can try noting down all the places you've visited throughout the day This will help you remember where you were and could give you a clue as to where your keys are Double check every place you wrote down Sometimes, keys "drift" to the floor, side or under something, and you might just be able to pick them up right where you left them Look Inside Your Car It wasn't long ago that misplacing, or losing, a car key was not a major issue The majority of people had spare keys attached to the car in a little box attached to the inside of the bumper However, as cars become more technologically advanced, keys are more likely now to get lost Replacing a stolen or lost car key can take many steps and can cost hundreds of dollars, depending on the vehicle type and year of manufacture That's why it's important to have a backup plan in the event that you lose your car's only key Before you start freaking out about losing your only car key Take your breath and try to remain calm Once you've managed your emotions, you can work through the steps to find it First, retrace your steps and think about when you last held the keys in your hands It's common to juggle keys while you grab something else, and they may end up on the car floor, where you can't see them The next thing to do is to thoroughly search through your vehicle, particularly the places you normally keep them You may have put them on the dashboard when you got out of your vehicle to go into a store or maybe you reached into your bag to get some snacks, but accidentally knocked them out of there Check your pockets, purses and bags You might forget to check your deep pockets, or large bags If you still can't find your keys, you need to call an expert locksmith and request help If you have a traditional metal key with no electronic components, a locksmith will usually create a new one right on the spot If, however, you own a more modern key fob that has chips, you'll have to contact your dealer and possibly provide proof of ownership to get an exchange Be aware of your hiding spots It's easy to lose your keys when you're working Whether you were rushing to leave, distracted by a sandwich while talking on the phone, or you lost them, it's easy to lose them It's a good thing that most people keep a spare key in their office or home which they can quickly locate It is crucial to examine every place you've hidden your spare key This includes obvious places like a purse or backpack, a pocket inside the sofa, a stack of mail on your table, or a drawer in your dresser If you have a companion with you ask them to look over these same spots as well There are a variety of magnetic boxes and mini-vaults that are designed to be affixed to your vehicle so that you can store a spare key in it They are great to hide keys since they won't break when you drive on bumps and can protect your keys from the elements A lot of these storage devices feature combination locks so that even if you give the key to a friend they aren't able to access it without your permission Another popular trick for hiding keys is to purchase fake rocks that have a hidden compartment This is a great solution for outdoor areas, however it is important to be aware that thieves are often on the lookout for these items If you choose to employ this method, you could make use of a dark duct to make it more difficult for thieves to find https//wwwg28carkeyscouk/replace-lost-car-keys-near-me/ is one last location to check If you have keys that open the *** on your gas tank, this can be the perfect spot to conceal it because it won't be as visible Use a tape that is strong to prevent the key from slipping off or scratching the paint of your vehicle when you remove it There are ways to reduce the impact of lost car keys on your day-to-day life You can locate your keys by Retracting Your Steps and checking the most frequent hiding spots Contacting a locksmith in your area can also help you avoid wasting time and money Call a Locksmith If you've lost the car key, you should call locksmith They can assist you in retrieving the key quickly, and also be able advise you on how to avoid this from happening in the future You can also try contacting an auto key duplicate company However, they will require the exact type, make, and year of your vehicle to duplicate a key If your car is a more recent model, or if it has an electronic key fob, you'll need to go to your dealer for a replacement This can be costly particularly if the dealer has to order a new key for your vehicle It can also take a few days or weeks One thing that a lot of people don't know is that an experienced locksmith can typically offer the same services as dealers, but at less cost Many insurance policies cover locksmith charges and towing in case of a lost key or stolen key Some even provide roadside assistance, which will send professionals to you to assist you in getting into your vehicle If you have comprehensive auto insurance, you should be checking your coverage before deciding to go with a dealership You should also report your keys to the police immediately if you can This ensures that no one else will have access to your car without your permission, and also keeps you safe in case you're ever attacked or robbed By declaring your keys, you will also inform police about anyone who may try to use your vehicle illegally In the worst case scenario you could be shielded from criminal charges if someone tries to steal your vehicle It is essential not to panic if you lose your car keys Try the above steps and, if you need to ask a friend or family member to assist