Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
Losing your car keys could be a terrifying experience. There are a variety of things you can try before calling assistance at the roadside or a locksmith.
Take a step back. This will help you locate your keys and give you somewhere to start before you move on to more drastic steps.
1. Retract Your Steps
The loss of keys is one of those things that can really make you feel stressed. You may not realize that you've lost your keys until you have to get inside your home or start your car. If you don't have a spare, it can also be a trouble to get back in to your vehicle.
Be calm and retrace the steps you took. This can help you find your keys quickly and save you from needing to call a locksmith or go to the dealership for new keys. Most likely, the keys you lost are in close proximity or were dropped near something you've been carrying around. Before you begin looking for your lost keys it's a good idea to look through your pockets, purses, and bags.
Asking your family and friends if they've seen your keys is another excellent way to find them. They are often able to provide you with useful information and guide you in the right direction. This is especially helpful if you share a home with your roommates or family.
Check your car if cannot locate your keys after searching through your purses, wallets and bags. Sometimes, your keys are in the vehicle and you have to check the right place to locate them. This simple trick can spare you a lot headaches.
If your keys aren't in the car, it's definitely time to contact a professional. It's a bit expensive, however it is worth it to not be concerned about being locked out. You should have an extra key to avoid this problem in the future. You can attach an attractive keychain color on your keys to aid you in being able to find them. This will ensure that you always know where they are and can locate them quickly. This is a small investment that will pay off big time in the long run!
2. Empty Your Pockets
It can be a frustrating experience to lose your car keys. It happens more frequently than you think, and always at the worst possible time such as when you're late to work. In this case it is best to remain calm and adhere to these steps.
Retracing your steps is the initial step. get a spare car key made will help you determine where and when the keys went missing. Afterwards, make sure to thoroughly look through your bags and pockets. Also, look through the coats and jackets you may have worn. You could also ask the staff at any restaurant or store you visited if your keys were there.
If you leave your keys in the pockets of your clothes is a great way to forget. This is especially true if you've got an extensive pocket inside a jacket or coat. You should also examine any bags you carry. Purses, messenger bags and backpacks could all be hiding places for lost keys. You should also look around the interior of your car to see if they're there.
It's a good idea to empty all the pockets in any bag you carry around and to completely empty your purse or messenger bag. This will let you determine if your keys are stuck in the lining of your bag. It's also a good idea to make use of a flashlight to shine into the dark areas of your bag or purse.
Another suggestion is to walk around the house shouting "car keys!" as loudly as you can. It may sound silly, but studies have shown that shouting the name of what you're looking for will increase the likelihood of finding it.
Contact a locksmith if haven't been able to locate your keys. They'll help you obtain the replacement key for your car, and can even install a new lock on your door, if necessary.
3. Check under the car
It's normal for things to get lost in the shuffle of everyday chores from grocery shopping to dinner with the family or an afternoon spent at the playground. Sometimes it's a debit card, or your preferred pair of sunglasses, but occasionally it's more important items like your car keys. If you don't have an extra set, it could 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 most obvious places first. For instance did you place them on your coffee table while you were leaving the house? Or perhaps you put them on the kitchen counter to grab something from the fridge, then closed the door and didn't think about them.
If you've cleared all of your pockets and purses (and in the event that it wasn't locked, have someone help you search the car well), walked back through your day to find out the places they might have gone missing, and sifted through every surface you're likely to remember passing by on your way out of the home, it may be time to look under the car. You never know when the key fob slipped down into a crevice between your seat cushion and the floor mat, or if you accidentally knocked 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 placing your keys in the same spot after you return from work. It may take up to a month for the habit to become ingrained, but the more you keep it in place the easier it will be to find 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 will help you avoid the expense of a tow vehicle or replacing your lost car keys.
4. Walk Back Through Your Day
It's easy to overlook important things when you're so busy with your day-to-day tasks. This can include running errands, or even meeting friends for dinner. 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.
But before you start frantically calling everyone you know to inquire whether they know where your car keys are take a deep breath and try not to get stressed. Once you have regained your composure, you should retrace the steps you did. When was the last time you recall having your car keys? This will help you figure out where they may have gone missing.
Next, empty any pockets or bags you may have used to store them. You should also check places you might not typically think of, like the pockets of your jacket or shoes or the coat. Check the place you keep your keys at home. You may have placed them on a desk or somewhere in the home.
The loss of keys to your car is not enjoyable, but if follow these tips you should be able to find them quickly and conveniently without needing to contact a locksmith or your family for help. The best method to avoid this kind of issue in the future is to setting up a designated area for your keys every time you come 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 need to be concerned about them getting lost.