Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
Losing your car keys can be a terrifying experience. There are a variety of ways to try before calling assistance at the roadside or a locksmith.
Retrace your steps. This will help you locate your keys and provide a place to start before you take any more drastic steps.
1. Retract your steps
You can be stressed out by the loss of your keys. You may not realize that you've lost your keys until you're forced to enter your home or start your vehicle. It's a pain to get into your car when you don't have a spare.
You should remain calm and retrace the steps you have taken. make a spare key can help you find your keys quickly and prevent needing to contact a locksmith or go to the dealership for the new key. The keys you lost will typically be near you or close to something you've carried. It's best to comb through your purse, pockets, and bags before you begin going back to the steps you took.
Another great way to find your lost keys is to ask your family and friends members if they have seen them. You can get helpful information from them and they will point you in the correct direction. This is especially beneficial if you share a home with roommates or family members.
Check your car if can't locate your keys after looking through your wallets, purses and bags. It could be that your keys are in the vehicle and you need to look at the right place to find them. This is a simple procedure that could save you from a lot of headaches.
Get a professional's help if your keys aren’t in the vehicle. It will cost you dollars, but it's worth it to avoid the anxiety of being locked out. You should have a spare key to avoid this problem in the future. You could also attach a colorful keychain to make them easier to spot. This will allow you to always be aware of where your keys are and find them quickly. This is a small investment that will pay dividends in the long time!
2. Empty your pockets
It's a stressful experience to lose your car keys. It happens more frequently than you think and usually happens at the worst possible time such as when you're late for work. In this situation it is best to remain calm and follow these steps.
The first step is to retrace your steps. This will help you determine where and when the keys were lost. Then, thoroughly search make a spare key and bags. Also, take a look at any jackets or other outerwear you may have worn. It is also an excellent idea to ask the staff at any restaurant or stores that you visited if they've seen your keys.
It is easy to forget your keys in your clothing's pockets. This is particularly true if you have pockets that are deep in your jacket or coat. You should also be aware of your bags. Bags, messenger bags and back packs can all hide keys that have been lost. Examine the inside of your vehicle to see whether you have any keys.
It is a good idea to empty all the pockets of any bag you carry around and also to completely empty your messenger or purse bag. This will allow you to see if your keys are stuck inside the lining of the bag. It's also a good idea to use a flashlight to shine into the dark corners of your purse or bag.
Another tip is to go around the house yelling "car keys!" as loudly as you can. It may sound silly, but shouting out the name of something you are trying to find will increase the odds of locating the item.
Contact a locksmith if haven't been able to locate your keys. They'll be able to assist you in obtaining a replacement key for your car and could even install a brand new lock on your door, if needed.
3. Check under the car
It's not uncommon for things to be lost in the shuffle of everyday chores from grocery shopping to dinner with the family to an afternoon at the playground. Sometimes it's a debit or your preferred pair of sunglasses, but sometimes it can be the more important items like your car keys. If you don't keep a spare, it can cause a lot of inconvenience and cause a lot of stress.
Take a deep breath and begin looking for your keys. It's always best to start with the most obvious locations first. For instance did you put them down on the coffee table as you were walking out the door? Or perhaps you put them on the counter in the kitchen to get something from the fridge, but then shut the door and didn't think about them.
Examine the underside of the car to see if you've used up all of your purses and pockets, walked through your day to see if you can remember where you went while driving to the home and emptying every surface you might have seen. You don't know if the key fob fell into the gap between the cushion of the seat and the floor mat or if it was accidentally taken from your bag when you were reaching in to get something.
Of course, the best way to avoid a situation like this in the future is to develop a routine of placing your keys in the same location when you come home from work. It can take a few months to make the habit instilled, but the more you stick to it and the more easy it will be to locate your keys the next time you'll need them. If you're looking to be prepared for an emergency, you can also add GEICO's Emergency Roadside Service to your policy. This will save you money on towing charges or replacing lost keys.
4. Review your day
Sometimes you get overwhelmed by the day-to-day routine of your kids' activities, running errands having dinner with friends and trying to complete every single task at hand that you overlook something crucial. The loss of your car keys could be a major disruption to your plans.
Take a deep breath before calling anyone you know and asking them where your keys are. Do not get overwhelmed. Once you have regained your calm, you should go back to the steps you did. When was the last moment you saw your car keys? This will help you pinpoint where they may have gone missing.
Also, be sure to empty your bags and pockets in which you may have put them in. It's also recommended to check places you might not normally look, such as your shoe or the pocket of a jacket or coat. Also, look around the area where you keep your car 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 never fun. If you follow these suggestions, you'll be able to find them quickly and without calling an locksmith. You can prevent this from happening in the future by making a designated spot for your keys inside. After a few weeks you'll become accustomed to it and no longer have to be concerned about losing your keys.