Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
Losing your car key can be a scary experience. There are several things that you can do before calling roadside assistance or a locksmith.
The first thing to do is to trace your steps. This will assist you in finding your keys and provide an area to begin before you take further drastic measures.
1. Retract your Steps
Losing your keys is just one of the things that can cause stress. It's easy to lose them and you may not be aware of it until you need to start your vehicle or go to your house. It's a pain to get in your car in the event that you don't have an extra.
It is important to remain calm and then take a second look. This will help you find your keys quicker and save you from having to call a locksmith or a dealer to get a replacement key. Usually, the keys that you lost are in close proximity or were dropped near the item you've been carrying around. Before you start looking for your lost keys it's a good idea to search through your purses, pockets, and bags.
Asking your family and friends if they've seen your keys is another great way to locate them. spare key shop near me can often provide you with useful information and guide you to the right direction. This is especially helpful if you share a home with family or roommates.
Make sure you check your car if are unable to locate your keys after searching through your wallets, purses and bags. You may find that your keys are inside the vehicle and you need to look at the right place to find them. This simple step can spare you numerous headaches.
If you don't have your keys in the car, it's time to contact an expert. It will cost some money but it's well worth it to not have to be concerned about being locked out. In the future, think about getting an extra key so that you can avoid this problem completely. You can even add a brightly colored keychain to make them easier to see. This will ensure that you'll always know where they are, and will be able to locate them quickly. This is a very small but extremely profitable investment!
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 think and usually happens at the worst possible time such as when you're late for work. In this case it's best to remain calm and adhere to these steps.
Retracing your steps is the first step. This will help you determine the location and the time when you lost your keys. Then, go through your pockets and bag thoroughly. Also, check your jackets and other outerwear you may have worn. It's also an excellent idea to ask the staff at any restaurant or stores that you visited if they've seen 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 jacket or coat. In addition to coats and jackets, it's a good idea to examine any bags that you carry. Messenger bags, purses and backpacks could all be hiding spots for keys that are lost. Check the inside of your vehicle to see whether you have any keys.
Clean out all pockets of the bags you carry around with you. Also empty your purse or messenger bag completely. This will let you see whether your keys are lodged in the lining of the bag. You can also use a flashlight to illuminate the darkest areas of your bag or wallet.
Another tip is to walk around the house yelling "car keys!" as loudly as you can. It may sound silly, but research has demonstrated that shouting out the name of the item you're searching for can boost the likelihood of finding it.
Contact a locksmith in case you haven't been able to locate your keys. They'll be able to help you obtain the replacement key for your car, and may even install a new lock on your door, if needed.
3. Check under the car
When you're running a series of errands - from school drop off and pick up, grocery run or dinner with the children, or even an afternoon at the park - it's unusual for things to get lost. It could be a debit card, your most loved pair of sunglasses, or something more important like your car key. If you don't have a spare, it can cause a lot of inconvenience and create a huge headache.
Before you panic you, take a deep breath and start searching for your car keys that you lost. It's always best to start with the obvious locations first. For instance did you put them down on your coffee table when you were walking out the door? Perhaps you placed them on the kitchen counter to grab something from the fridge, but then closed the door and didn't think about them.
If you've cleared all of your purses and pockets (and if it was unlocked, have someone help you search inside the car as well), looked back over your day to find out where they could have gone missing, and sifted through every surface you're likely remember passing by as you left the home, it could be time to take a look under the car. You never know if the key fob has fallen into a crevice between your seat cushion and floor mat or if you accidentally knocked it out of your bag when reaching in to grab something.
Of course, the best way to avoid a situation similar to this is to develop a routine of putting your keys in the same spot when you come home from work. It may take a few months 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 the next time you need them. If you want to be prepared in the event of an emergency, you can also add the GEICO Emergency Roadside Service to your policy. This will help you save money on towing or replacing keys that have been lost.
4. Look back over your day
Sometimes you get overwhelmed by the day-to-day routine of your kids' activities, running errands having dinner with friends and attempting to complete all of your work tasks that you overlook something crucial. Unfortunately, losing your car keys is one of those events that can cause a disruption to all of your plans.
Take an exhale before calling everyone you know and asking where your keys are. Try not to be anxious. Once you've regained your confidence, you can retrace the steps you took. When was the last time you remember seeing your car keys? This will help you pinpoint where they may have gone missing.
Next, empty any pockets or bags that you might have used to store them. It's also a good idea to look in places that you would not normally look like your shoe or in the pocket of a coat or jacket. Finally, check the place where you keep your keys to your car at home. You may have put them on a table or somewhere away from view as you entered.
If you lose your car keys, it's never enjoyable. However, if you follow these tips, you'll be able find them quickly and without calling a locksmith. You can avoid this issue in the future by having the designated place for your keys inside. It might take a time 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 being lost.