Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
Losing your car keys can be a frightening experience. There are many ways to try before calling roadside assistance or a locksmith.
The first thing to do is to retrace your steps. This will help you locate your keys and provide you with the opportunity to start from scratch before moving on to more drastic steps.
1. Retract your steps
It's easy to be stressed by losing your keys. You may not realize that they've been lost until you have to get inside your home or start your car. It can be a challenge to get in your car when you don't have an extra.
It is important to remain calm and retrace the steps you have taken. This will allow you to find your keys quicker and avoid having to call a locksmith or a dealer to get a replacement key. Most likely, the keys you lost are in close proximity or have been dropped near the item you've been carrying around. Before you start 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. You can obtain useful information from them, and they may guide you in the right direction. This is especially helpful when you live with roommates or family members.
If you've rummaged through your purses, wallets and bags and are unable to find your keys, it may be time to check inside your car. Sometimes your keys are just in the car and you need to look in the right spot to see them. This is a simple step that can help you avoid a lot of headaches.
If your keys aren't in the car, it's time to call an expert. This will cost you some dollars, but it's worth it to avoid the anxiety of being locked out. You should have an extra key to avoid this issue in the future. You can put keys in a bright color on your keys to help you see them. This will help you always know where your keys are and locate them quickly. This is a small, but very worth it investment!
2. Empty Your Pockets
It's a stressful experience to lose your car keys. It happens more often than you think, and always at the worst time possible such as when you're late for work. locked key in car no spare to do in this scenario is to keep calm and follow the steps below.
Retracing your steps is the first step. This will help you figure out the exact location and time you lost your keys. Then, thoroughly search your pockets and bags. You should also check the coats and jackets you may have worn. You can also ask the staff in any establishments or stores you visited to see if your keys were there.
In the pockets of your clothing can be a very easy thing to forget. This is especially true if you have pockets that are deep in your jacket or coat. In addition to coats and jackets it's a good idea examine any bags that you carry. Bags, messenger bags, and backpacks are all hiding spots for keys that are lost. You should also look around the interior of your vehicle to determine whether keys are there.
It is a good idea to empty out all of the pockets in any bags that you carry around, as well as to empty your messenger or purse bag. This will allow you to see the presence of keys in the bag's lining. It's also a good idea to make use of a flashlight to shine into the dark areas of your bag or purse.
Another tip is to walk around the house shouting "car keys!" as loudly as you can. This may sound silly, but studies have revealed that shouting the name of the item you're searching for can boost your chances of finding it.
If you're still struggling to locate your keys, contact an locksmith. They can help you get an alternative car key and even install a new lock for your door in the event of need.
3. Check Under the Car
When you're running a series of errands - from school drop off and pick-up to grocery run and dinner with your children, or even an afternoon in the park, it's not uncommon for things to get lost. It could be a credit card, your favorite pair sunglasses, or even something more important like your car keys. If you don't have a spare, it can cause a lot of hassle and create a huge headache.
Take a deep breath, and begin searching for your keys. Start by looking in the most obvious spots first. Did you leave them on your coffee table when you went out the door? Or maybe you put them on the kitchen counter to grab something from the fridge, but then closed the door and then forgot 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 recall where you passed by on the way to your home and emptying every surface you may have walked across. You never know when the key fob has fallen into a crack between your seat cushion and the floor mat or if you accidentally knocked it out of your bag when you reached for something.
It is essential to make it a habit to place your keys in the same spot each when you return home from work. It may take up to a month for the habit to become ingrained, but the more you stick to it, the easier it is to locate your keys next time you'll need them. If you'd like to be prepared in case of an emergency, you could also add GEICO's Emergency Roadside Service to your policy. This will help you save money on towing or replacing keys that have been lost.
4. Walk Back Through Your Day
Sometimes, you get distracted by the day-today routine of your kids' activities, running errands, having dinner with friends and attempting to complete all of your work tasks that you forget something important. Unfortunately, losing your car keys is one of those events that can throw a wrench in all of your plans.
Before you begin calling everyone you know to ask them where your car keys are, take a deep breath and be careful not to panic. After you have regained composure, you should retrace the steps you took. When was the last time you thought of having your car keys? This will help you figure out where your keys might have disappeared.
Then, empty any pockets or bags that you might have used to store them. You should also check places that you wouldn't normally think of, such as the pockets of your jacket or shoes or the coat. Also, look around the area where you keep your keys to your car at home. You might have set them on a table or in a different location when you entered the house.
The loss of keys to your car is not enjoyable, but if adhere to these guidelines, you should be able to find them quickly and conveniently without having to contact an emergency locksmith or your family to seek help. The best way to avoid this problem in the future is to creating a designated spot for your keys when you get inside. After a few weeks you'll become accustomed to it and no longer have to be concerned about losing your keys.