Lost Car Keys and No Spare: What to Do in this Situation?
Lost car keys can frustrate us so much that our day is practically ruined. Do you know what’s worse than lost car keys? Realizing that you don’t have a spare. Just what are you going to do in a situation like this?
If you’ve misplaced your car keys and are unable to find them, then you may think already that you’re going to go through quite an expensive ordeal to get another set made. Don’t worry if you feel so miserable about not keeping a spare. It happens to the best of us. So, let’s get going and see what you can do about it.
Identify What Type of Car Keys You’ve Lost
Some time ago, car keys weren’t complicated things. There are pros and cons to the technologically-advanced car keys that we have now. At this point, don’t panic if you can’t find your keys. That won’t help. Instead, focus on identifying the type of car key you had.
Transponder Key
This type of key is the usual type for modern cars. It’s highly likely that the key you had was a programmed transponder key. It may also have a keyless remote. If your car was made in the late 90s then chances are that it had a transponder key.
The transponder key type is different from a traditional car key. Its pairing process for the car is taken to a higher level because it’s more secure. With that being said, figuring out a solution for lost car keys of this type can be difficult.
Keyless Entry Remote
This car key type is also called a key fob. There are vehicles that have a pair of transponder keys and key fobs. But in recent years, newer models no longer need transponder keys. Such models relied solely on key fobs.
Keyless entry remotes constantly communicate with your car. It makes the car even more accessible to the owner. Key fobs are advantageous in many ways until you lose them and realize you have no spare. Replacing key fobs are more expensive compared to traditional keys.
Traditional Car Keys
This car key type is the easiest to duplicate or replace. If you have an older model, then you’re going to have an easier time finding a solution for lost car keys than if you had a newer one. It is mainly because you don’t have to pair the key with any of your car’s internal electronics. Nevertheless, traditional car keys are not as secure as the other types. So, that’s a disadvantage.
What to Do With Lost Car Keys and No Spare?
By now, you already know what type of car key you’ve lost. It’s time to troubleshoot the situation. Let’s go through the steps that you can take. Hopefully, you’ll be able to figure out what’s the best solution to your current predicament.
Search for Lost Car Keys One More Time
The first step in finding lost car keys is to calm down and not panic. It will help you think more clearly. You may have searched for your car keys so many times already. But now that you’re calm, search for it one more time.
Check your bags, your desk drawer, office, or wherever you may have placed the car keys. This step is important even if you think that you’re completely sure that you’ve lost your keys. Just give yourself enough time to search for it. You’ll save a lot of money if it turns out that you just left it in the bathroom for some reason.
Check Your Car if You Left the Keys Inside
If the keys are nowhere to be found in your immediate surroundings, then try checking your car. Maybe you left the car keys inside. If you see that the keys are indeed just inside the vehicle, then you won’t have to worry about getting new keys or the fact that you don’t have a spare. Just remember to get a spare after this so you don’t have to go through all the trouble again.
So, the next step now would be to call a locksmith. The locksmith will be able to open the car for you and you can get your car keys. Then hopefully, you can go home or go wherever it is you planned to go.
Get the Vehicle Information
If the keys weren’t in the car when you checked, then it’s time to prepare the necessary information so you can ask help from a locksmith. The vehicle information that you will provide the locksmith or the dealership where you got your car will allow them to get you the correct key.
The first thing to tell them is the kind of key you’ve lost. Another important information is your VIN or vehicle identification number, the make and model, and also the year of your car. You can check your insurance card or the document of your car registration for this.
If in case those documents are locked inside the car, call a professional so they can check the car door. They will be able to determine the kind of key that you need.
Assess If You’re Going to the Locksmith or Dealer
At this point, it’s clear that you need professional help so you can get a new set of car keys. The decision you have to make by now is whether you’ll ask help from a locksmith or the dealer. Let’s try to assess which of the two will be able to provide you with the best assistance.
If you have an older vehicle, your best bet is calling a locksmith. You can forego the dealership because their services for this can be really expensive. With a locksmith, getting a replacement key will be easy. Since it’s an old model, there’s no need to program the key.
Now, if you have a newer model, then you already know that the keys to those cars are more intricate. You may want to check the dealership for this. But again, it’s going to be costly. A good option is to find a locksmith who is an expert in car key replacement and who can also program the key. It won’t be as expensive as going to the dealership. It will also be much quicker.
Get a Spare Key Made
Once you’ve decided whether to go to a locksmith or a dealership for the replacement of your lost car keys, request for a spare to be made. Take advantage of this situation to get a spare key. You wouldn’t want to be in a situation where you have to go through all of this again. It’s going to cost you some money. But if you compare that expense to going through the trouble and frustration of being locked out of your car, getting a spare key now is worth it.
Final Thoughts
Lost car keys are a pain. Hopefully, along the way you’ve found your keys or remembered where you placed the spare. If not, then go ahead and call the best locksmith in your area so you can get a car key replacement. Don’t forget to have spare keys made!