spare keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
Losing your car key can be a scary experience. Luckily, there are several ways to try before calling locksmith or roadside assistance.
Take a step back. This will help you locate your keys and provide you with an idea of where to begin before moving on to more drastic steps.
1. Retract Your Steps
You could be stricken by losing your keys. You may not realize that you've lost them until you're forced to get inside your home or start your car. It's a pain to get into your vehicle in the event that you don't have a spare.
It is important to remain at peace and go back to the steps you did. This will help you locate your keys faster and save you from having to call a dealer or a locksmith to get a replacement key. Most likely, the keys you lost are close by or dropped in the vicinity of things you've carried around. It's a good idea to look through your purse, pockets, and bags before you begin returning to your steps.
Another great way to find your keys that you have lost is to ask your friends or family members if they have seen them. You can get helpful information from them and they will guide you in the right direction. This is especially helpful if you have roommates or family members.
Check your car if you can't locate your keys after searching through your purses, wallets and bags. Sometimes, your keys are inside your car, and you must check the right place to see them. This simple action can spare you many headaches.
If your keys aren't inside the car, it's time to contact an expert. It's a bit expensive but it's well worth it to not worry about being locked out. In the future, you should think about getting an extra key made in order to avoid this issue completely. You can even put a brightly colored keychain to make them easier to see. This will ensure you'll always be aware of where they are and can find them quickly. This is a small but extremely worthwhile investment!
2. Empty Your Pockets
It's a stressful experience to lose your car keys. It happens more frequently than you might think and always happens at the worst time such as when you're late for work. The best thing to do in this situation is to remain calm and follow the steps below.
Retracing your steps is the initial step. This will help you identify the location and time when keys were lost. Then, go through your bag and pockets thoroughly. Also, check your jackets and other outerwear you might have worn. You can also ask the staff at any stores or restaurants you visited if the keys were in your possession.
It's easy to lose your keys in your clothing's pockets. This is especially true if you've got an extensive pocket inside a jacket or coat. In addition to coats and jackets it's a good idea to examine any bags that you carry. Bags, messenger bags, and backpacks can all conceal lost keys. Examine the inside of your car to determine whether you have keys.
It is a good idea to empty out all of the pockets of any bag you carry, as well as to empty your messenger or purse bag. This will help you see whether any keys are tucked inside the bag's lining. It's also an excellent idea to make use of a flashlight to shine into the dark areas of your purse or bag.
Another option is to walk around the house, shouting "car keys!" as loudly as you can. This might sound a little absurd, but research has shown that shouting the name of what you're searching for can boost the likelihood of finding it.
Contact a locksmith if are still unable to find your keys. They can assist you with a replacement car key and even install a new lock for your door in the event of need.
3. Check under the car
When you're in a whirlwind of errands - from school drop off and pick up, grocery stores and dinner with your kids, or an afternoon spent at the park - it's not unusual for things to get lost. It can be a debit card, a pair of your favorite sunglasses, or even something more important, like your car key. If you don't keep a spare, it can cause a lot of hassle and create a huge headache.
Take a deep breath and start searching 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 grab something from the fridge, but then closed the door and didn't think about them.
If you've cleared all of your purses and pockets (and in the event that it wasn't locked ask someone to help you search inside the car as well), went back through your day to see where they could be missing, and then wiped out every surface that you're likely to remember passing by when you leave the house, then it might be time to check under the car. You never know if the key fob was lost in the crevice between the cushion of the seat and the floor mat or if it was accidentally thrown out of your bag while you were reaching into your bag to take something out.
Of course the best way to avoid having a situation like this in the future is to establish a routine of keeping your keys in the same location after you return from work. It could take a few months to make it a habit, but the longer you can maintain this routine and the more easy it will be to find your car keys the next time you require them. To ensure that you're ready in the event of an emergency, it is beneficial to include GEICO's Emergency Roadside Service on your policy, which will save you the cost of a tow vehicle or replacing your lost car keys.
4. Take a look back at your day
Sometimes you get overwhelmed by the day-to-day shuffle of kids' activities, running errands meeting friends for dinner 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 make a mess of your plans.
Take an exhale before calling everyone you know and asking where your keys are. Do not panic. Once you've gained control of your emotions the first thing you should do is go back to where you started. What was the last time you saw your car keys? This will help you determine where they might have gone missing.
Then, make sure to empty your pockets and bags that you might have put them in. You should also look for places that you wouldn't normally think of, like the pockets of your jacket, shoes or the coat. Also, look around the area where you keep your keys to your car at home. You might have put them on a table or other than the house.
If you lose your car keys, it's not enjoyable. But if you use these tips, you'll be able find them quickly without calling an locksmith. You can prevent this from happening in the future by establishing a designated spot for your keys inside. It might take a little time to get used this however, after a few weeks it will become a routine and you won't have to be concerned about them getting lost.