What To Do If You Have Lost Your Vehicle Keys
Posted 07/13/21 by Elspeth Myers
You’ve made the dreaded mistake of losing your car keys!
You only had one set of car keys, and you don’t know where they are; you could have left them at football practice, or your ‘playful’ toddler has buried them somewhere in the garden, never to be found again.
Read on to see what action our team suggest undertaking.
First of all, stay calm, gather your thoughts and make notes of the information you need. For example, what kind of key was it? Was it a transponder key, a keyless entry fob, key fob or a traditional set of keys? This is all information that will help you explain to another person what kind of key you have lost.
The next step is to consider these points below:
Backtrack Your Steps
Before you lose all hope, remember you may have just misplaced them or not searched properly; look in unlikely places as it could save you time and money.
Before concluding that you need a new set of keys, first of all, backtrack your steps and take the time to search the last places you have been. Ruling out that you will be able to find your lost keys should be a priority.
Ps, you would not believe how many people leave their keys in the car, distracted by their children or rushing to their next appointment! Double-check the inside of your vehicle, under the seats and the ground around your vehicle.
Once you have done this, if they are nowhere to be found, follow these next steps.
Gather information on your car and car keys
Contacting a locksmith can be worrying, be prepared to answer the questions of your car’s make and model. For example, what type of key did you previously have? When would you be available to arrange a call out?
Knowing the VIN or vehicle identification number can assist the auto locksmith in suggesting the best possible product for you, have a look in your handbook for this information, if at all possible.
Find A Reputable Auto Locksmith Company
By choosing a local mobile locksmith, you can easily bypass your dealership and save yourself from footing a hefty bill.
By contacting a local auto locksmith company, you will more than likely be avoiding having to reach out to your dealership and arranging your car to be towed, staying overnight and footing the bill for their labour costs.
In almost all cases, it is better for you to contact a mobile auto locksmith, as they will be able to come to you, without the need for your car to be towed, and a mobile auto locksmith can do most jobs in a shorter period of time; costing you less and saving you time out of your day.
Not to forget, most experienced auto locksmiths are also trained and capable of providing services such as vehicle lock replacement and key fob programming for new models of cars.
Additional Considerations
Cost:
Remember what your mum said when you were younger, “You get what you pay for”, which can be the case when replacing your lost keys. When replacing your vehicle keys, it’s important to remember that you want them to last a long time, work well and be secure enough that you feel safe.
Try not to be swayed by deals that seem too good to be true; you could be sold sub-standard quality keys and remotes.
Additionally, an auto locksmith should give you a quote, including all final costs; this should be the price you pay on the day. Unfortunately, some auto locksmiths will leave off the tax and VAT until they have completed the work. Therefore, when organising the service, ask the company whether the quote is inclusive of all costs.
Spare Car Keys:
While you are organising your replacement set of keys, why not consider purchasing a spare set of keys. Ensuring the next time you misplace your keys, you’re not left in a worrying situation with no access to your car.
In the long run, this will save you time and money; there will be no need to reprogram a new set of keys.
Final Thoughts
When deciding on your auto locksmith, consider all these factors: has the auto locksmith got a proven track record, have they attained high levels of training and how much industry experience do they have?
It isn’t uncommon to find auto locksmiths that have limited insurance; this is a warning signal. The locksmith will have access to your car; mistakes can be made, you want your vehicle to be covered with the auto locksmith’s insurance.
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