Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
The loss of your car key could be a terrifying experience. There are a few things you can do before calling roadside assistance or a locksmith.
Follow your steps. This will help you locate your keys and give you a place to start before you take more drastic measures.
1. Retract your Steps
Losing your keys is one of those things that can really make you feel stressed. You might not even realize you've lost your keys until you have to get into your home or start your vehicle. If you do not have a spare, it could be a bit of an issue to get back in to your vehicle.
Be calm and retrace the steps you have taken. This will allow you to locate your keys quickly and save you from having to call a locksmith or head to the dealership for a new key. The keys you lost will typically be close to you or in proximity to something you've been carrying. Before you start going back to trace your steps, it's a great idea to look through your purses, pockets and bags.
Another way to locate your lost keys is to ask your friends or family members if they have seen them. They may be able to provide you with helpful details and point you in the right direction. This can be especially useful when you have roommates or family members.
Check your car if are unable to find your keys after rummaging through your purses, wallets and bags. Sometimes, your keys are inside the vehicle and you have to find the right spot to see them. This is a simple procedure that will save you a lot of headaches.
Contact a professional if you suspect your keys aren’t in the vehicle. It will cost you money, but it's well worth it to avoid the stress of being locked out. It is recommended to have an extra key in order to avoid this problem in the future. You could also attach a colorful keychain to make them easier to spot. This will help you to always know where your keys are, and also locate them quickly. This is an investment of a few dollars that will pay off big time in the long time!
2. Empty Your Pockets
It's a stressful experience to lose your car keys. It happens more often than you imagine, and it always happens at the worst time possible, like when you are late to work. In this situation it is best to remain calm and take these steps.
Retracing your steps is the first step. This will help you identify where and when you lost your keys. After that, search your bag and pockets thoroughly. You should also look in the coats and jackets you might have worn. You may also ask the staff at any establishments or stores you visited to see if the keys were in your possession.
It is easy to forget your keys inside your clothing's pockets. This is especially true if you have a deep pocket in a coat or jacket. In addition to coats and jackets it's a good idea check any bags you have with you. Messenger bags, purses and backpacks could all be places to hide keys. You should also look around the inside of your vehicle to see whether keys are there.
It's a good idea empty all the pockets in any bags that you carry around and to completely empty your messenger or purse bag. This will help you see the presence of keys in the bag's lining. It's also an excellent idea to utilize flashlights to illuminate the dark areas of your purse or bag.
You can also stroll around your home shouting louder than you could ever "car keys!" It may sound silly, but research has revealed that shouting the name of the item you're looking for can increase your chances of finding it.
Contact a locksmith if are still unable to find your keys. They'll be able assist you in obtaining an alternative key for your vehicle and may even install a new lock for your door, should it be needed.
3. Check under the car
If you're caught in a frenzy of errands, from school drop off and pick up, grocery run, dinner with the kids, or even an afternoon spent at the park - it's not unusual for things to get lost in the shuffle. Sometimes it's a debit card, or your preferred pair of sunglasses, but other times it could be most important items, like your car keys. If you don't have a spare, it can cause a lot of inconvenience and be a big headache.
Relax and begin searching for your keys. It's always best to start with the most obvious places first. For instance did you place them on your coffee table when you were heading out the door? Or maybe you put them on the kitchen counter to grab something from the fridge, but then closed the door and forgot about them.
Make sure to check under the car to see if you've used up all your pockets and purses and then walk around your day to see if it's possible to recall where you passed by on your way to the house and emptied every surface you may have seen. You never know when the key fob slipped down into a crevice between your seat cushion and floor mat or if you accidentally dropped it out of your bag when reaching inside to grab something.
Of course the best way to avoid a situation similar to this is to develop a routine of putting your keys in the same place when you come home from work. It may take a few months for the habit to become ingrained, but the more you stick to it and the more easy it will be to locate your keys the next time you'll need to. If you're looking to be prepared for an emergency, you could also include GEICO's Emergency Roadside Service to your policy. This will help you save money on towing costs or replacing keys that have been lost.
4. Look back over your day
Sometimes you get caught up in the day-to-day 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 link home is one of those events that can cause a disruption to all of your plans.
However, before you begin calling anyone you know to ask whether they know where your car keys are take a deep breath, and be careful not to get stressed. Once you have regained your confidence, you can retrace the steps you took. What was the last time you looked at your car keys? This will help you determine the place they went missing.
Then, empty any pockets or bags you may have used to store them. Also, you should check places you would not normally consider, like the pockets of your jacket or shoes or coat. Also, look around the area where you keep your car keys at home. You might have put them on a table or else when you entered the home.
If you lose your car keys, it's never fun. But if you use these tips, you'll be able find them quickly and without calling an locksmith. You can prevent this from happening in the future by having the designated place for your keys inside. 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.