Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
The loss of your car keys can be a terrifying event. There are a variety of things you can do prior to calling roadside assistance or locksmith.
Retrace your steps. This will help you find your keys and provide you with an idea of where to begin before moving on to more drastic measures.
1. Retract Your Steps
Losing your keys is one of the things that could stress you out. They're easy to lose and you may not realize it until you have to start your car or enter your home. If you do not have a spare, it can also be a bit of trouble to get back in to your vehicle.
It is important to remain calm and retrace the steps you have taken. This will help you locate your keys quickly and prevent needing to call a locksmith or go to the dealership for a new key. Usually, the keys that you lost are in close proximity or have been dropped near something you've been carrying around. It's best to comb through your pockets, purses and bags before you begin retracing your steps.
Another way to locate your keys that you have lost is to ask your family and friends members if they saw them. They are often able to provide you with useful information and guide you to the right direction. This is particularly helpful if you are living with roommates or family members.
Check your car if are unable to find your keys after rummaging through your wallets, purses and bags. Sometimes your keys are just inside your car, and you must look in the right spot to find them. This is a straightforward step that can save you from a number of headaches.
Get a professional's help if your keys aren't inside the vehicle. It will cost you money, but it's well worth it to avoid the stress of being locked out. In the future, you should consider having a spare key made to get rid of this issue completely. You can put keys in a bright color on your keys to help you identify them. This will ensure that you always know where they are and can find them quickly. This is a small investment that will pay dividends in the long time!
2. Empty Your Pockets
It can be a frustrating experience to lose your car keys. It happens more than you imagine, and it always happens at the worst possible time such as when you're late to work. In this situation it's best to remain calm and follow these steps.
Retracing your steps is the first step. This will allow you to determine where and when keys were stolen. After that, be sure to thoroughly look through your bags and pockets. Also, look through any jackets or coats that you might have worn. You can also ask the staff at any establishments or stores you visited if your keys were there.
It's easy to forget your keys in your clothing's pockets. This is particularly the case if your jacket or coat has a deep pocket. In addition to coats and jackets, it's a good idea examine any bags that you carry around. Bags, messenger bags and backpacks are all places to hide keys that are lost. Examine the inside of your car to determine if you have any keys.
It's a good idea empty out all of the pockets in any bag you carry, as well as to completely empty your messenger or purse bag. This will help you see whether any keys are tucked in the bag's lining. It's also a good idea to use a flashlight to shine into the dark areas of your purse or bag.
You can also wander around your home shouting louder than you could ever "car keys!" This might sound a little absurd, but research has demonstrated that shouting out the name of the item you're looking for will increase your chances of finding it.
If you're still struggling to find your keys, call locksmith. They'll assist you in obtaining 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 ranging from school drop off and pick up to grocery run and dinner with your kids, or an afternoon in the park, it's not uncommon for things to get lost. Sometimes it's a debit card or your most loved pair of sunglasses, but sometimes it could be most important things like your car keys. If you don't keep an extra set, it could cause a lot of inconvenience and be a big headache.
Take a deep breath and begin looking for your keys. It's always recommended to begin with the most obvious locations first - for example, did you set them down on your coffee table when you were heading out the door? Or maybe you put them on the kitchen counter to get something from the fridge, but then shut the door and then forgot about them.
Make sure to check under the car if you've exhausted all your purses and pockets and then walk around your day to see if you remember the places you passed while driving to the house and emptied every surface you may have seen. You don't know if the key fob was lost in the crevice between the seat cushion and mat on the floor or was accidentally knocked from your bag when you were reaching inside to get something.
It is important to make it a habit to place your keys in the same place each when you return home from work. It may take a few months to make it a habit and the longer you keep this routine, the easier it will be to locate your car keys when you require them. If you're looking to be prepared in case of an emergency, you can also include GEICO's Emergency Roadside Service to your policy. This will help you save money on towing charges or replacing keys that have been lost.
4. Walk Back Through Your Day
Sometimes you just get so distracted by the day-today routine of your kids' activities, running errands meeting friends for dinner and attempting to complete all your work-related tasks that you forget to do something important. Losing your car keys can be a major disruption to your plans.
Take your time before calling everyone you know and asking them where your keys are. Be careful not to panic. Once you've gained control of your emotions the first thing to do is retrace your steps. What was the last time you looked at your car keys? This will help you figure out where your keys could have disappeared.
Make sure you empty your bags and pockets that you might have put them in. It's also recommended to look in places that you would not normally look like your shoe or the pocket of a coat or jacket. You should also check where you keep your keys at home. You might have set them on a table or else out of sight when you came inside.
Losing replacing car keys without spare to your car is not enjoyable, but if follow these steps, you will be able find them quickly and easily without having to call an emergency locksmith or your family for help. The best way to avoid this kind of issue in the future is to setting up a designated area for your keys every time you enter your home. After a few weeks, you'll be accustomed to it and not have to worry about losing your keys.