Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
The loss of your car key could be a scary experience. There are many things you can try before calling assistance at the roadside or a locksmith.
The first thing to do is to go back and trace your steps. This will help you locate your keys and provide you with an idea of where to begin before proceeding to more drastic steps.
1. Retract Your Steps
You could be stricken by the loss of your keys. You may not realize that they've been lost until you have to enter your home or start your car. If you don't have a spare it could be a an issue to get back in to your vehicle.
It is important to remain calm and first retrace your steps. This can help you find your keys quickly and prevent needing to call a locksmith or go to the dealership to purchase the new key. The keys you lost will typically be near you or close to something you've carried. It's a good idea go through your purse, pockets and bags before you begin returning to your steps.
Another excellent method to locate your keys that are lost is to ask your family or friends members if they've seen them. You can gather valuable information from them, and they may point you in the correct direction. This is especially beneficial when you live in a house with roommates or family members.
Check your car if you cannot find your keys after rummaging through your wallets, purses and bags. Sometimes, your keys are inside the car and you need to find the right spot to locate them. This is a simple step that can save you from a lot of hassles.
Contact a professional if you suspect your keys aren't inside the vehicle. It's going to cost you money but it's worth it to not have to worry about being locked out. In the future, consider getting an extra key made in order to get rid of this issue completely. You can attach keys in a bright color on your keys to make it easier to see them. This will ensure that you'll always be aware of where they are and can find them quickly. This is a small investment that will pay off big time in the long in the long run!
2. Empty your pockets
Losing keys to your car with having no spare keys can be a very frustrating experience. It happens more often than you might think and usually happens at the worst possible time such as when you're running late for work. The best option in this scenario is to keep calm and follow the steps below.
Retracing your steps is the initial step. This will help you determine where and when you lost the keys. After that, search your bag and pockets thoroughly. Also, look over any jackets or outerwear that you might have worn. It is also recommended to ask the staff at any restaurants or stores that you 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 you have an extensive pocket inside a coat or jacket. In addition to jackets and coats it's a good idea check any bags you have with you. Bags, messenger bags and backpacks are all places to hide lost keys. Examine the inside of your vehicle to determine whether you have any keys.
Empty all pockets from any bags you carry with your. Also empty your purse or messenger bag completely. This will help you see whether any keys are tucked in the lining of your bag. It's also recommended to make use of a flashlight to shine into the dark areas of your purse or bag.
Another tip is to go around the house shouting "car keys!" as loudly as you can. It may sound silly but shouting out the name of something you are looking for will increase the odds of finding that item.
Contact a locksmith if are still unable to find your keys. They can help you get an alternative car key and even install a new door lock if needed.
3. Check under the car
When you're in a whirlwind of errands ranging from school drop off and pick up to grocery stores, dinner with the children, or even an afternoon in the park, it's not common for things to get lost in the shuffle. Sometimes it's a debit card, or your most loved pair of sunglasses, but occasionally it can be the most important things like your car keys. If you don't have a spare, it can cause a lot of hassle and be a big headache.
Before you get scared take a deep breath, and start searching for your car keys that you lost. Start by looking at the most obvious locations first. Did you put them on your coffee table as you walked out the door? Or perhaps you put them on the counter in the kitchen to grab something out of the fridge, but then closed the door and then forgot about them.
If you've cleared all of your pockets and purses (and in the event that it wasn't locked ask someone to help you search inside the car as well) and then went back through your day to see where they could have gone missing, and exhausted every surface you're likely to remember passing on your way out of the home, it could be time to take a look under the car. You never know when the key fob slipped down into a crevice between your seat cushion and floor mat, or if you accidentally removed it from your bag when you reached in to grab something.
Of course, the best way to avoid having a situation like this in the future is to develop a routine of keeping your keys in the same place after you return from work. It may take up to a month to make the habit ingrained, but the more you maintain it the easier it will be to locate your keys the next time you need to. To ensure that you're prepared in the event of an emergency, it is beneficial to have GEICO's Emergency Roadside Service on your policy, which can save you the cost of a tow vehicle or replacing lost car keys.
4. Walk Back Through Your Day
Sometimes you get distracted by the day-today routine of your kids' activities, running errands, going out with friends for dinner and trying to complete every single task at hand that you forget to do something important. The loss of your car keys could be a major setback to your plans.
Take an exhale before you begin calling anyone you know and asking where your keys are. Try not to be anxious. Once you've regained control over your emotions, the first thing to do is retrace your steps. What was the last time you saw your car keys? This will help you figure the location where your keys may have been.
Also, be sure to empty your bags and pockets in which you may have put them in. It's also a good idea to search in places you would not normally look like your shoe or in the pocket of a coat or jacket. Examine the location where you keep your keys at home. look at this website may have been placed on a table or somewhere else out of sight as you entered.
If you lose your car keys, it's never fun. But if you use these tips, you can find them quickly without calling a locksmith. You can avoid this problem in the future by making an area designated for your keys inside. After a few weeks you'll get used to it and no longer have to worry about losing your keys.
