Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
Losing your car keys could be a frightening experience. There are a variety of ways to try before calling roadside assistance or a locksmith.
The first step is to trace your steps. This will help you locate your keys and give you an opportunity to start from scratch before you take further drastic measures.
1. Retract Your Steps
Losing your keys is just one of those things that can really stress you out. It's possible that you don't realize you've lost them until you're forced to enter your home or start your car. If you do not have a spare, it can also be a trouble to get back into your vehicle.
You should remain at peace and go back to the steps you took. This will allow you to locate your keys quickly and avoid having to call a locksmith or head to the dealership to purchase new keys. Your lost keys will usually be near you or close to something you've been carrying. It's a good idea comb through your purse, pockets, and bags before you start returning to your steps.
Asking your family and friends if they have seen your keys is a great way to locate them. They are often able to provide you with useful information and point you in the right direction. locked key in car no spare can be especially useful if you are living with roommates or family members.
Check your car if you cannot find your keys after rummaging through your purses, wallets and bags. Sometimes your keys are just inside your car and you need to check the right place to locate them. This is a straightforward step that can save you from a lot of headaches.
Call a professional if your keys aren't in the vehicle. It's a bit expensive but it's well worth it to not have to be concerned about 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 aid you in being able to see them. This will help you always be aware of where your keys are and locate them quickly. This is a tiny but extremely worthwhile investment!
2. Empty your Pockets
It can be a traumatic experience to lose your car keys. It happens more than you think, and always at the worst possible time, like when you are late for work. The best thing you can do in this situation is to keep calm and follow the steps below.
Retracing your steps is the first step. This will help you figure out where and when you lost your keys. Then, thoroughly search your pockets and bags. Also, take a look at any jackets or outerwear that you might have worn. You could also ask the staff in any stores or restaurants you visited to see if the keys were there.
It is easy to forget your keys in your clothing's pockets. This is especially true if you have a deep pocket in a jacket or coat. You should also check the bags you carry. Purses, messenger bags and backpacks are all places to hide keys. Check the inside of your vehicle to see if you have any keys.
Take out all pockets from the bags you carry around with you. Also empty your messenger bag or purse completely. This will let you know the presence of keys in the lining of your bag. You can also use a flashlight in the darkest parts of your bag or wallet.
You can also stroll around the house shouting as loudly as possible "car keys!" It may sound silly but shouting out the name of something you're trying to find increases the chances of locating the item.
Contact a locksmith in case you are still having trouble finding your keys. They can help you get an additional car key or even install a new door lock in the event of need.
3. Check Under the Car
When you're in a whirlwind of errands ranging from school drop off and pick up to grocery stores, dinner with the kids, or even an afternoon spent at the park - it's not unusual for things to slip through the cracks. Sometimes it's a debit card or your preferred pair of sunglasses, but sometimes it could be most important items, like your car keys. If you don't keep a spare, it can cause a lot of inconvenience and be a big headache.
Before you get scared you, take a deep breath and begin searching for your lost car keys. Start by looking in the most obvious spots first. Did you leave them on your coffee table while you walked out the door? You might have placed them on the counter in your kitchen while you were going to the refrigerator, but then closed the door and then forgot about them.
Examine the underside of the car if you've exhausted all your purses and pockets and then walk around your day to see if you can remember where you went on the way to your home and emptying every surface you could have walked across. You never know when the key fob slipped down into a crevice between your seat cushion and floor mat or if you accidentally removed it from your bag while reaching inside to grab something.
Of course the best way to avoid a situation like this in the future is to establish a routine of keeping your keys in the same spot after you return from work. It may take a few months to make the habit established, but the longer you maintain it the easier it will be to locate your keys the next time you need to. To ensure that you're ready in case of an emergency, it also is beneficial to have GEICO's Emergency Roadside Service on your policy, which will save you the cost of a tow truck or replacing lost car keys.
4. Review your day
It's easy to overlook important things when you're so busy with your daily activities. This includes running errands, or even getting together with friends for dinner. Losing your car keys can be a major disruption to your plans.
Take a deep breath before you start calling everyone you know and asking where your keys are. Be careful not to get overwhelmed. Once you've regained control over your emotions the first thing to do is go back to where you started. When was the last time you remember having keys to your car? This will help you find out where your keys could have been.
Then, make sure to empty your pockets and bags that you may have put them in. It's also recommended to look in places that you would not normally look like your shoes or the pockets of a jacket or coat. Also, look around the area where you keep your keys for your car at home. You might have put them on a desk or other than the home.
Losing keys to your car is never enjoyable, but if you adhere to these guidelines, you should be able to find them quickly and easily without having to contact a locksmith or family members for assistance. The best way to avoid this kind of issue in the future is by establishing a designated place to keep your keys when you get inside. It might take a time to get used to this but after a while it will become a habit and you won't have to be concerned about them getting lost.