Lost Car Key? Here’s What To Do Next

Lost car key? It’s one of the worst feelings! That moment when you have to rush off to work in the morning, but as you reach for your keys, you find that they’re not where they’re supposed to be! You start frantically searching for them, losing precious time, overly aware of the frustration building in your chest.

We get it. There are few things as frustrating as losing your car keys, especially amidst the chaos of a busy morning. So, instead, familiarise yourself with our easy guide to save time and trouble when disaster strikes.

Find My Keys

First things first, just take a deep breath. Acting out of frustration will simply make things worse and will make it difficult for you to think straight. Calmly retrace your steps of when you last used your keys. 

Ask yourself a few helpful questions when you’ve lost your car keys:

• Where do I usually put my car keys?
• When is the last time I remember holding my car keys? Where was I?
• What do I usually do after putting away my car keys? Perhaps you go straight to the kitchen from the garage. Start by looking there.

As you replay events in your mind, the chances are that you’ll end up finding your keys, albeit in a random spot. Did you open the fridge straight after coming home? You wouldn’t be the first person to chill their car keys accidentally!

Check overly cluttered spaces, like desks and tabletops, and the pockets of your clothing items to rule out all possible hiding places.

Spare Key

Let’s say your car keys have disappeared completely. What do you do? Spare car keys were made for these exact scenarios. 

Protecting Your Spare Key

Make sure you allocate a safe, easily-accessible space to store your spare key. In times of desperation, such as when you’re late for work and you’ve lost your keys, you’ll know where to look!

Replacing Your Spare Key

Now that you only have one key for your car, making another one should be your first priority. Modern car keys are fitted with an electronic chip for anti-theft purposes, so a locksmith or dealership will need to cut and program the new key to your vehicle.

Car Remote Key Replacement

If you find yourself searching phrases like “key replacement for car” or “key cut near me” on Google, chances are you’ll find a local business that can assist with car remote key replacement. But before you contact them, here’s all you need to know about replacing your car keys.

Key Fobs

Your car’s master key is explicitly programmed for it, operating everything in your vehicle. All vehicles generally come with two master keys or key fobs. A key fob is a small handheld remote control device that controls a remote keyless entry system. 

Older Car Keys

Older-style remote car keys also have a physical key that can open the doors and start the engine even if the remote is damaged or its battery is flat. These are the least expensive electronic keys to replace.

Push-Button Car Keys

If you have a vehicle with push-button or keyless ignition, you won’t need the metal key every day, and therefore the key is often hidden inside the fob. The metal key is there for situations such as when the remote’s battery fails.

Proximity Keys

Proximity keys can open the doors and boot when someone touches the door handle or boot button while keeping the key fob nearby. 

Who Can Replace My Car Keys?

When it comes to replacing your car keys and car key cutting, you have two options.

Mobile Locksmith

Since you can’t start your car, you won’t be able to drive somewhere to have another key made. This is where a mobile locksmith comes onto the scene. Call a mobile locksmith to see if they can cut and program a new key for your car.

If they can perform this service, you can expect them to charge you up to a couple of hundred dollars. They might even need to order your key into stock, so there might be a delay before getting your hands on it. 

The Dealership

If a locksmith can’t help, you’ll need to contact the car dealership. Call a tow service to have your car brought in. The dealership’s service department will supply new keys for your vehicle based on your VIN and program those keys to your car.

How Much Will Replacement Car Keys Cost?

Replacing your car keys may cost you anywhere from $70 to $3000, depending on the vehicle you drive. The more advanced your car’s options, the more expensive your replacement keys will cost. Phone your local locksmith or dealership to determine how much a replacement will cost you.

Car Key Battery Replacement

Although a car key battery can last from two to five years, the batteries in your key fob may die at any given moment, leaving you unable to start your car. Thankfully, car key battery replacement is simple and can be done at home or a local locksmith or car dealership.

What If My Car Keys Are Locked Inside My Car?

You’ve searched everywhere you could think of, retraced your steps and lost precious time. The good news? You’ve found your car keys. The bad news? They’re locked inside your car. What do you do?

First of all, call your vehicle assistance provider, locksmith or even the dealership for help. These professionals possess the expertise to guide you through the process. 

We understand that you might not have the luxury of time, and, under extreme circumstances, you may need to invoke some damage to your car window to retrieve your car keys from the inside of the vehicle. In this case, you’ll need to replace your car window as soon as possible. 

Car Side Window Replacement

Dean’s Autoglass repairs and replaces car windows and windscreens at the best prices in record time. If you’ve locked your car keys inside your car and had to damage your window to retrieve the key, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a quote.

Lost Keys? Don’t Lose Sleep

While losing your car keys can be inconvenient and time-consuming, it’s important to remember that it could happen to anyone. Losing your car keys doesn’t mean that you have to lose your mind! By remaining calm and following the advice in this guide, we’re optimistic that your problem will be solved in no time.