Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
Losing your car key can be a terrifying experience. Luckily, there are several options to consider before calling roadside assistance or a locksmith.
Follow your steps. This will help you locate your keys and provide you with an idea of where to begin before you move on to more drastic measures.
1. Retract your Steps
Losing your keys is just one of the things that can cause stress. You might not even realize you've lost your keys until you're forced to enter your home or start your vehicle. If you do not have a spare, it can also be a bit of an issue to get back into your vehicle.
Be at peace and go back to the steps you have taken. This will allow you to find your keys quicker and save you from needing to contact a locksmith or a dealer to get a replacement key. Usually, the keys that you lost are in close proximity or were dropped near something you've been carrying around. Before you begin retracing steps, it's a great idea to look through your pockets, purses and bags.
Another way to locate your keys that are lost is to ask your family and friends members if they have seen them. lost spare key to car can gather valuable information from them, and they may help you find the right direction. This can be especially useful when you live with roommates or family members.
Check your car if cannot locate your keys after looking through your wallets, purses and bags. It could be that your keys are within the vehicle and you just have to look in the right place to find them. This simple action will save you from many headaches.
If your keys aren't inside the car, it's definitely time to contact an expert. It's going to cost you money, however it is worth it to not have to be concerned about being locked out. You should have an extra key in order to avoid this problem in the future. You could even add a brightly colored keychain to make them easier to locate. This will help you to always know where your keys are, and also locate 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 no spare can be an extremely frustrating experience. It happens more frequently than you think, and always at the worst time possible, like when you are late for work. In such a situation it's best to remain calm and adhere to these steps.
The first step is to retrace your steps. This will help you figure out the exact location and time you lost your keys. Afterwards, make sure to thoroughly look through your bags and pockets. Also, take a look at any jackets or outerwear that you may have worn. It's also a good idea to ask the staff at any restaurant or shops you've went to if they've seen your keys.
It's easy to lose your keys inside your clothing's pockets. This is particularly true if you have a deep pocket in a coat or jacket. In addition to jackets and coats, it's a good idea to examine any bags that you carry around. Bags, messenger bags and backpacks can all conceal keys that have been lost. You should also check the interior of your vehicle to determine whether keys are there.
Take out all pockets from any bags you carry with you. Also empty your purse or messenger bag completely. This will help you see the presence of keys in the bag's lining. You can also use a flashlight in the darkest places of your wallet or bag.
Another option is to walk around the house, shouting "car keys!" as loudly as you can. It may sound silly, but shouting out the name of the item you are trying to find will increase the odds of locating the item.
Contact a locksmith in case you are still having trouble finding your keys. They'll be able help you obtain an alternative key for your car, and could even install a brand new lock for your door, if necessary.
3. Check Under the Car
If you're caught in a frenzy of errands - from school drop off and pick up, grocery run, dinner with the children, or even an afternoon spent at the park, it's not uncommon for things to get lost in the shuffle. It could be a debit card, your most loved pair of sunglasses, or something more crucial like your car key. If you don't have a spare, it can cause a lot of trouble and create a huge headache.
Take a deep breath, and begin looking for your keys. It's always best to start with the obvious locations first - for example did you place them down on your coffee table when you were walking out the door? You may have put them on your kitchen counter as you headed to the fridge but then closed the door and then forgot about them.
If you've cleared all of your purses and pockets (and if the lock was not locked ask someone to help you search the car well) and then went back through your day to see where they may have gone missing, and then wiped out every surface that you're likely to remember passing by on your way out of the home, it may 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 dropped it out of your bag when you reached inside to grab something.
Of course the best way to avoid a situation similar to this is to develop a routine of keeping your keys in the same location when you get home from work. It could take a month or so for it to stick, but the longer you keep this routine and stick to it, the easier it will be to find your car keys next time you need them. If you'd like to be prepared in the event of 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. Take a look back at your day
Sometimes you just get so distracted by the day-today chaos of children's activities, running errands going out with friends for dinner and trying to complete all of your work tasks that you forget to do something important. The unfortunate thing is that losing your car keys is one of those things that can cause a disruption to all of your plans.
Take an exhale before you start calling anyone you know and asking where your keys are. Be careful not to be anxious. After you have regained calm, you should go back to the steps you took. What was the last time you saw your car keys? This will help you figure out where they might have gone missing.
Then, empty any pockets or bags you might have used to store them. You should also look for places that you wouldn't normally consider, like the pockets of your jacket, shoes or coat. You should also check where you keep your keys at home. You might have set them on a table or somewhere else out of sight when you came inside.
The loss of keys to your car is never enjoyable, but if follow these steps, you will be able to locate them quickly and conveniently without needing to contact an emergency locksmith or your family to seek help. The best method to avoid this problem in the future is by setting up a designated area for your keys every time you get inside. It may take a while to get used to this however, after a few weeks, it'll become a habit and you won't have to worry about them getting lost.