Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
Losing your car key can be a scary experience. There are a few things you can do prior to calling roadside assistance or locksmith.
The first step is to trace your steps. This will help you find your keys and provide you with the opportunity to start from scratch before proceeding to more drastic steps.
1. Retract Your Steps
Losing your keys is one of the things that can make you feel stressed. It's possible that you don't realize they've been lost until you're forced to enter your home or start your car. It can be a hassle to get in your vehicle when you don't have a spare.
It's important to stay calm and then go back to where you started. This will help you locate your keys faster and prevent you from having to call a locksmith or a dealer to obtain a replacement key. Usually, your lost keys are within reach or were dropped near the item you've been carrying around. Before you begin going back to trace your steps, it's a great idea to search through your purses, pockets and bags.
Asking your family and friends if they've seen your keys is a great way to locate them. You can get helpful information from them and they can help you find the right direction. This can be especially useful for those who live with roommates or family members.
If you've searched through your purses, wallets and bags but can't find your keys, it might be time to check inside your car. It could be that your keys are within the vehicle, and you have to look in the right place to find them. This simple action can spare you numerous headaches.
Call a professional if your keys aren't inside the vehicle. This will cost you some money, but it's well worth it to avoid the anxiety of being locked out. You should have an extra key to avoid this issue 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 find them quickly. This is a very small but very worth it investment!
2. Empty your Pockets
Losing keys to your car with without a spare is a very stressful experience. spare car key replacement cost happens more frequently than you think, and usually at the worst possible time such as when you're late for work. In this situation, it's best to stay calm and follow these steps.
The first step is to trace your steps. This will allow you to determine the location and time when keys were lost. Then, go through your pockets and bag thoroughly. Also, take a look at any jackets or outerwear that you might have worn. You can also ask the staff in any stores or restaurants you visited to see if your keys were there.
Leaving your keys in the pockets of your clothes is a great way to forget. This is particularly the case if your jacket or coat has a large pocket. In addition to coats and jackets, it's a good idea examine any bags that you have with you. Messenger bags, purses and backpacks can all be hiding places for lost keys. Examine the inside of your vehicle to determine whether you have any keys.
Empty all pockets from any bags you have on your. Also, empty your purse or messenger bag completely. This will let you know if any keys are stuck in the lining of your bag. You can also use a flashlight in the darkest places of your bag or wallet.
You can also wander around the house yelling as loudly as you can "car keys!" It may sound silly but shouting out the name of the item you are trying to find increases the chances of finding that item.
Contact a locksmith if are still having trouble finding your keys. They can help you get an additional car key or even install a new lock for your door if needed.
3. Check Under the Car
If you're caught in a frenzy of errands, from school drop off and pick-up to grocery store runs or dinner with the kids, or even an afternoon at the park - it's common for things to slip through the cracks. It can be a debit card, your most loved pair of sunglasses, or something more important, like your car key. If you don't own an extra, it can be a huge headache and a major inconvenience.
Before you get scared you, take a deep breath, and start searching for your lost car keys. It's always best to start with the most obvious places first - for example did you put them on the coffee table as you were leaving the house? You might have placed them on the counter in your kitchen as you headed to the refrigerator, but then closed the door and forgotten about them.
Examine the underside of the car if you've exhausted all your purses and pockets, walk through your day to see if it's possible to remember where you went on the way to your house and emptied every surface you may have seen. You never know if the key fob fell into a crevice between your seat cushion and floor mat, or if you accidentally removed it from your bag while reaching in to grab something.
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 location when you get home from work. It may take a few months for the habit to become established, but the longer you maintain it, the easier it is to locate your keys next time you need to. If you'd like to be prepared in case of an emergency, you can also include the GEICO Emergency Roadside Service to your policy. This will help you save money on towing costs or replacing keys lost.
4. Walk Back Through Your Day
You can forget important things in the midst of your day-to-day activities. This can include running errands or meeting friends for dinner. Unfortunately, losing your car keys is just one of those events that can make a mess of your plans.
But before you start frantically calling anyone you know to ask them where your car keys are take a deep breath and take a step back and try not to get stressed. Once you've regained your calm, you should go back to the steps you took. When did you last thought of having keys to your car? This will help you find out where your keys could have been.
Also, be sure to empty your pockets and bags that you might have put them in. It's also a good idea to check places you would not normally consider, like your shoe or the pocket of a coat or jacket. You should also check where you keep your keys at home. They may have been placed on a desk or other than the house.
If you lose your car keys, it's not enjoyable. But if you use these suggestions, you'll be able to find them quickly without calling a locksmith. The best method to avoid this issue in the future is to setting up a designated area to keep your keys when you come inside. It might take a little time to get used this but after a while it will become a habit and you won't have to worry about them getting lost.