Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
Losing your car key can be a terrifying experience. There are a variety of ways to try before calling locksmith or roadside assistance.
Retrace your steps. This will help you locate your keys and provide an area to begin before you take any more drastic steps.
1. Retract your steps
You could be stricken when you lose your keys. You may not realize that you've lost your keys until you have to get into your home or start your car. It's a pain to get into your car in the event that you don't have a spare.
Be at peace and go back to the steps you took. This will allow you to locate your keys faster and save you from having to call a locksmith or a dealer to obtain a replacement key. Your lost keys will usually be near you or in proximity to something you've been carrying. It's a good idea to look through your purse, pockets and bags before you start returning to your steps.
Another great way to find your keys that you have lost is to ask your friends or family members if they saw them. They can often give you useful information and guide you in the right direction. This can be especially useful when you live with roommates or family members.
Check get a spare car key if can't find your keys after rummaging through your wallets, purses and bags. Sometimes your keys are just inside the vehicle and you have to look in the right spot to find them. This simple action can spare you many headaches.
If your keys aren't inside the car, it's definitely time to contact a professional. It's a bit expensive but it's worth it to not have to worry about being locked out. You should have a spare key to avoid this issue in the future. You can even add a brightly colored keychain to make them easier to see. This will allow you to always know where your keys are and find them quickly. This is an investment of a few dollars that will pay off big time in the long in the long run!
2. Empty your pockets
It's a stressful experience to lose your car keys. It happens more frequently than you think, and usually at the worst times, like when you are late for work. The best option in this scenario is to stay calm and follow the steps below.
The first step is to trace your steps. This will help you determine the location and the time when you lost the keys. Afterwards, make sure to thoroughly search your pockets and bags. Also, check any jackets or other outerwear you may have worn. You could also ask the staff in any restaurant or store you visited if the keys were there.
It's easy to lose your keys inside your clothing's pockets. This is especially true if you have a deep pocket in a coat or jacket. In addition to jackets and coats it's a good idea look over any bags you have with you. Bags, messenger bags and backpacks can all conceal keys that have been lost. Also, you should check the interior of your car to see whether keys are there.
It is a good idea to empty out all of the pockets of any bag you carry, as well as to completely empty your purse or messenger bag. This will allow you to see whether any keys are tucked inside the bag's lining. It's also an excellent idea to make use of a flashlight to shine into the dark areas of your bag or purse.
You can also stroll around your home shouting as loudly as you can "car keys!" This might sound a little silly, but studies have shown that shouting the name of what you're searching for can boost your chances of finding it.
Contact a locksmith if are still unable to find your keys. They'll be able to assist you with getting a replacement key for your vehicle 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 daily errands, from grocery shopping to dinner with the family to an afternoon spent at the playground. It could be a debit card, your most loved pair of sunglasses, or something more important like your car keys. If you don't own an extra, it can cause a massive headache and a major inconvenience.
Before you get scared take a deep breath and start looking around to find your car keys. It's always best to start with the most obvious locations first - for example did you place them down on your coffee table when you were leaving the house? Or perhaps you put them on the counter in the kitchen to grab something from the fridge, but then shut the door and then forgot about them.
Examine the underside of the car if you've exhausted all of your purses and pockets and then walk around your day to see if you recall where you passed by while driving to the home and emptying every surface you may have encountered. You don't know if the key fob fell into the crevice between the cushion of the seat and the mat on the floor or was accidentally taken out of your bag while you were reaching in to get something.
Of course, the best way to avoid having a situation similar to this is to establish a habit of keeping your keys in the same place when you come home from work. It may take up to a month to make the habit ingrained, but the more you keep it in place and the more easy it will be to locate your keys next time you'll need to. To ensure you're prepared in case of an emergency, it is beneficial to have GEICO's Emergency Roadside Service on your policy, which will help you avoid the expense of a tow truck or replacing lost car keys.
4. Look back over your day
It's easy to forget important details in the midst of your day-to-day tasks. This includes running errands and meeting friends for dinner. Losing your car keys can be a major disruption to your plans.
However, before you begin calling everyone you know to inquire them where your car keys are take a deep breath and take a step back and try not to get stressed. After you have regained composure, you should retrace the steps you took. What was the last time you saw your car keys? This will help you find out where your keys might have been.
Then, empty the pockets or bags that you might have used to store them. It's also an excellent idea to look in places that you would not normally consider, like your shoes or the pockets of a jacket or coat. You should also check where you keep your keys at home. You may have put them on a table or somewhere in a different location when you entered the house.
If you lose your car keys, it's not enjoyable. But if you use these tips, you'll be able find them quickly and without calling an locksmith. The best way to avoid this kind of problem in the future is to establishing a designated place to keep your keys when you enter your home. It might take a little time to get used this, but after a while it will become a routine and you won't have to be concerned about them being lost.