Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
Losing your car keys could be a terrifying experience. There are many options to consider before calling roadside assistance or a locksmith.
Follow your steps. This will help you locate your keys and give you a place to start before you take further drastic measures.
1. Retract your steps
The loss of keys is one of those things that can really cause stress. It's possible that you don't realize they've been lost until you're forced to get into your home or start your vehicle. It can be a challenge to get in your car when you don't have a spare.
It's important to stay calm and first go back to where you started. This will allow you to locate your keys quickly and save you from having to call a locksmith or go to the dealership to purchase a new key. Usually, the keys that you lost are close by or have been dropped near the item you've been carrying around. It's a good idea to go through your purse, pockets and bags before you start retracing your steps.
Another excellent method to locate your keys that you have lost is to ask your friends or family members if they have seen them. They may be able to provide you with useful information and guide you in the right direction. This is especially beneficial if you share a home with your roommates or family.
If you have combed through your purses, wallets and bags and are unable to find your keys, it could be time to check inside your vehicle. Sometimes your keys are just in the car and you need to find the right spot to find them. This simple action can spare you a lot headaches.
Get a professional's help if your keys aren’t in the vehicle. It's a bit expensive but it's well worth it to not be concerned about being locked out. replacing car keys without spare should have an extra key to avoid this issue in the future. You can even attach a colorful keychain on your keys to make them easier to locate. This will help you always know where your keys are and find them quickly. This is a small but extremely worthwhile investment!
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 moment such as when you're running late for work. The best thing to do in this circumstance is to stay calm and follow the steps below.
The first step is to retrace your steps. This will help you identify the exact location and time you lost the keys. After that, search your bag and pockets thoroughly. Also, look through any jackets or coats that you may have worn. You can also ask the staff in any establishments or stores you visited if your keys were there.
It's easy to lose your keys inside your clothing's pockets. This is particularly relevant if your jacket coat has a deep pocket. It is also advisable to be aware of your bags. Bags, messenger bags, and backpacks can all conceal keys that are lost. Also, you should check the interior of your vehicle to determine if they're there.
Take out all pockets from any bags you carry with you. Also, empty your purse or messenger bag completely. This will let you determine whether your keys are lodged in the lining of the bag. You can also use a flashlight in the darkest parts of your wallet or bag.
You can also stroll around the house shouting louder than you could ever "car keys!" This may sound absurd, but research has demonstrated that shouting out the name of the item you're searching for can boost the likelihood of finding it.
If you're still struggling to locate your keys, contact a locksmith. They'll help you obtain the replacement key for your car, and may even install a new lock for your door, should it be needed.
3. Check under the car
When you're running a series of errands - from school drop off and pick-up to grocery stores, dinner with the kids, or an afternoon at the park, it's not common for things to slip through the cracks. Sometimes it's a debit card, or your preferred pair of sunglasses, but occasionally it can be the most important things like your car keys. If you don't have an extra, it could be a major hassle and a major issue.
Relax and start searching for your keys. It's always recommended to begin with the obvious locations first. For instance did you put them down on your coffee table when you were leaving the house? 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.
Check under the car if you've emptied all of your purses and pockets, walk through your day to see if it's possible to remember where you went on the way to your home and emptying every surface you could have seen. You never know if the key fob was lost in the gap between the seat cushion and floor mat or if it was accidentally thrown out of your bag as you were reaching into your bag to take something out.
Of course the best method to avoid a situation like this in the future is to establish a habit of placing your keys in the same spot when you come home from work. It could take a few months to make the habit instilled, but the more you maintain it the easier it will be to find your keys the next time you'll need them. To ensure that you're ready in case in an emergency, it also is beneficial to include GEICO's Emergency Roadside Service on your policy, which will save you the cost of a tow truck or replacing your lost car keys.
4. Take a look back at your day
Sometimes you just get so caught up in the day-to-day chaos of children's activities, running errands going out with friends for dinner and trying to complete all your work-related tasks that you forget something important. The unfortunate thing is that losing your car keys is just one of those things that can cause a disruption to all of your plans.
Take an exhale before you begin calling everyone you know and asking them where your keys are. Be careful not to be anxious. Once you have regained your calm, you should go back to the steps you made. When was the last moment you saw your car keys? This will help you figure out where your keys could have been.
Make sure you empty your bags and pockets that you might have put them in. You should also check places you would not typically consider, like the pockets of your jacket, coat or your shoe. Check the place you keep your keys at home. You may have put them on a table or somewhere else out of sight when you came inside.
Losing keys to your car is not fun, but if you follow these tips you will be able find them quickly and conveniently without needing to call a locksmith or your family for help. You can prevent this from happening in the future by having an area designated for your keys inside your. After a few weeks you'll become accustomed to it and no longer have to be concerned about losing your keys.