What should you do if you lose your car keys?

 

Is there anything more annoying, frustrating and even costly than losing your car keys. So, what are you going to do about it?

Is the key truly lost?

It's worth putting in some effort to locate the misplaced key because replacing one is both inconvenient and costly. Of course, you may have realized it's gone because you stood there helplessly watching it fall from your pocket into the water. It's worth investigating if there's a chance it's in another pair of trousers, down the back of the sofa, or simply 'misplaced many business listings.

There are several types of lost keys

Is the key misplaced because it is locked inside the vehicle? Is it missing because someone snatched your bag? Are you at home and have access to a spare? Or are you thousands of miles away from it? If you have a spare key on hand, you'll have some breathing room.

What type of key do you have?

 

It's important to realize that a physical key doesn't only unlock the steering wheel. The key will have a transponder in it if the vehicle was produced after 1995. This will communicate with the vehicle's main computer, disabling the engine immobilizer.

If you insert a fob in the ignition with the key blade flicking out, hitting a button on the fob will disable the immobilizer and alarm.

You may not have a physical key at all on more current vehicles (although there will probably be a traditional key blade hidden in the fob). The 'key' might just be a fob that allows you to start and operate the vehicle by pressing a button on the dashboard.

What number should I dial?

This is dependent on the situation and the location of the breakdown. Call your breakdown operator if you're stuck on the side of the road or need to be rescued quickly. They'll have a lot of experience saving drivers in risky circumstances business listings.

Look for a specialised vehicle locksmith if you have a little more time on your hands. Finding one that has been approved by the Master Locksmiths Association is your best chance (MLA). This type of professional locksmith will come to you. According to the MLA, several of them had crucial programming equipment worth more than £100,000 on them.

Furthermore, if the key is locked inside the car, a breakdown operator or locksmith should be able to open it. A local garage, on the other hand, could be able to assist you free business listings.

Going to a franchised dealer for your car's manufacturer is the most expensive alternative. It's also possible that it'll be the slowest. Many lack the specialised equipment required to re-programmer keys. Some will even hire a professional vehicle locksmith, but they will almost certainly add a profit margin to cover their costs.

What are they going to do?

In many ways, not having a physical key is a significant benefit. A professional locksmith can configure a blank key fob so that it works with your vehicle. They will also be able to remove the lost key, making it useless.

However, they'll require confirmation that the vehicle is yours before they can programmer a new key. You'll most likely need to show them the V5C registration certificate as well as the vehicle's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Obviously, you won't go out of your way to lose your car keys. However, it saves a lot of time and frustration if you don't lose them in the first place!