Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
The loss of your car keys can be a frightening experience. There are a few things you can do prior to calling roadside help or a locksmith.
Follow your steps. This will aid you in finding your keys and provide a place to start before you take further drastic measures.
1. Retract Your Steps
You could be stricken by the loss of your keys. They're easy to lose and you might not even realize it until you need to start your vehicle or go to your home. If you don't have a spare, it could be a an issue to get back into your vehicle.
It's important to stay calm and first retrace your steps. This will help you locate your keys faster and prevent you from having to call a locksmith or a dealer to get a new key. Usually, the keys that you lost are in close proximity or dropped in the vicinity of something you've been carrying around. Before you begin going back to trace your steps it's a good idea to search through your purses, pockets, and bags.
Asking your family and friends if they have seen your keys is another good way to find them. They can often provide you with helpful information and guide you to the right direction. This is especially helpful for those who are living with roommates or family members.
Check your car if cannot locate your keys after searching through your purses, wallets and bags. Sometimes, the keys are inside your vehicle and you have to look in the right spot to find them. This is a simple step that will save you a lot of hassles.
Contact a professional if you suspect your keys aren't in the vehicle. It's going to cost you money but it's well worth it to not be concerned about being locked out. You should get a spare key to avoid this problem in the future. You can put a keychain in a bright color on your keys to make it easier to find them. This will ensure that you'll always know where they are, and can locate them quickly. This is a small but very profitable investment!
2. Empty your Pockets
It can be a frustrating experience to lose your car keys. It happens more frequently than you think, and always happens at the worst possible moment, like when you're late for work. In this case, it's best to stay calm and follow these steps.
Retracing your steps is the initial step. This will help you identify the location and time when keys went missing. After that, search your bag and pockets thoroughly. You should also check the coats and jackets you might have worn. It's also an excellent idea to ask the staff at any restaurant or stores you've went to if they've seen your keys.
If you leave your keys in the pockets of your clothes is a great way to forget. This is particularly true if you have pockets that are deep in your jacket or coat. You should also check the bags you carry. Bags, messenger bags, and back packs can all hide keys that have been lost. Examine the inside of your car to determine whether you have keys.
It is a good idea to empty out all of the pockets in any bags that you have with you and to completely empty your messenger or purse bag. This will let you determine whether your keys are lodged in the lining of your bag. It's also an excellent idea to use a flashlight to shine into the dark areas of your bag or purse.
Another tip is to go around the house yelling "car keys!" as loudly as you can. This may sound silly, but studies have demonstrated that shouting out the name of the item you're looking for can increase the likelihood of finding it.
If you're still struggling to find your keys, call a locksmith. They can help you get an alternative car key and even install a new door lock in the event of need.
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 to an afternoon spent at the playground. Sometimes it's a debit or your favorite pair of sunglasses, but occasionally it can be the more important items like your car keys. If you don't have an extra set, it can be a huge headache and a major inconvenience.
Relax and start searching for your keys. It's always a good idea to start with the obvious locations first - for example, did you set them on your coffee table when you were walking out the door? You might have placed them on the counter in your kitchen while you were going to the fridge, but then closed the door and forgotten about them.
Make sure to check under the car to see if you've used up all your pockets and purses, walk through your day to see if you can remember where you went on the way to your home. You've emptied every surface you might have walked across. You never know when the key fob slipped down into a crack between your seat cushion and floor mat or if you dropped it out of your bag while reaching in to grab something.
It is crucial to make it a habit to put your keys in the exact same spot each when you return home from work. It could take up to a month to make the habit ingrained, but the more you stick to it, the easier it is to find your keys the next time you need to. To ensure replacing car keys without spare prepared in case in an emergency, it is beneficial to have 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. Review your day
It's easy to forget important details in the midst of your daily activities. This can include running errands or getting together with friends for dinner. Losing your car keys can be a major setback to your plans.
Take your time before you begin calling anyone you know and asking where your keys are. Try not to panic. Once you've gained control of your emotions the first thing you need to do is to retrace your steps. When was the last time you thought of seeing your car keys? This will help you pinpoint where they might have gone missing.
Next, empty any pockets or bags you may have used to store them. Also, you should check places that you wouldn't typically consider, like the pockets of your jacket, shoes or the coat. Also, look around the area where you keep your keys for your car at home. They may have been placed on a table or somewhere in a different location when you entered the house.
Losting keys to your car is never fun, but if you adhere to these guidelines, you will be able to locate them quickly and easily without having to call a locksmith or your family for assistance. The best way to avoid this problem in the future is by creating a designated spot to keep your keys when you enter your home. It might take a time to get used to this, but after a while it will become a habit and you won't need to be concerned about them getting lost.