Lost Keys to Car No Spare? Here's What to Do
Losing your car keys can be a frightening experience. There are a few things you can do before calling roadside help or a locksmith.
The first thing to do is to trace your steps. This will assist you in finding your keys and provide an area to begin before you take any more drastic steps.
1. Retract Your Steps
You could be stricken by losing your keys. You may not realize that you've lost your keys until you need to get into your home or start your car. If you don't have a spare it could be a bit of an issue to get back into your vehicle.
It's important to stay calm and first take a second look. This will allow you to locate your keys quickly and save you from having to call a locksmith or go to the dealership for new keys. Your lost keys will usually be near you or near something that you have been carrying. It's a good idea look through your purse, pockets and bags before you start retracing your steps.
Another great way to find your lost keys is to ask your family or friends members if they have seen them. You can obtain useful information from them and they will help you find the right direction. This is especially helpful for those who live with roommates or family members.
Make sure you check your car if are unable to locate your keys after searching through your wallets, purses and bags. Sometimes, your keys are inside the vehicle and you have to find the right spot to find them. you can try these out can spare you many headaches.
If your keys aren't in the car, it's definitely time to call a professional. It's going to cost you money but it's worth it to not have to worry about being locked out. You should get a spare key to avoid this problem in the future. You can put a keychain in a bright color on your keys to help you find them. This will ensure you'll always know where they are, and can locate them quickly. This is a tiny but very worth it investment!
2. Empty your Pockets
Car keys lost and having no spare keys is a very stressful experience. It happens more often than you imagine, and it always happens at the worst times such as when you are late for work. In this situation, it's best to stay calm and adhere to these steps.
The first step is to trace your steps. This will help you identify the location and time when keys were lost. Afterwards, make sure to thoroughly look through your bags and pockets. You should also look in any jackets or coats that you might have worn. It's also a good idea to ask the staff at any restaurants or stores that you visited if they've noticed your keys.
It is easy to forget your keys inside your clothing's pockets. This is particularly true if you have a deep pocket in a coat or jacket. Also, you should be aware of any bags you carry. Purses, messenger bags and backpacks could all be hiding places for lost keys. Check the interior of your vehicle to determine whether you have any keys.
Clean out all pockets of any bags you have on you. Also empty your messenger bag or purse completely. This will help you see the presence of keys in the lining of your bag. It's also recommended to use flashlights to illuminate the dark corners of your purse or bag.
You can also wander around your home shouting as loudly as you can "car keys!" It may sound silly but shouting out the name of the item you are looking for will increase the odds of locating the item.
If you're still unable to locate your keys, contact a locksmith. They'll be able help you obtain the replacement key for your car, and may even install a new lock for your door, if needed.
3. Check Under the Car
When you're running a series of errands - from school drop off and pick up to grocery run, dinner with the kids, or even an afternoon in the park - it's uncommon for things to get lost in the shuffle. Sometimes it's a debit card or your most loved pair of sunglasses, but occasionally it's most important things like your car keys. If you don't keep an extra, it could cause a lot of trouble and cause a lot of stress.
Before you get scared, take a deep breath, and begin searching for your car keys that you lost. It's always a good idea to start with the most obvious places first - for example did you place them down on the coffee table as you were walking out the door? You might have set them on the counter in your kitchen while you were heading to the refrigerator, but then closed the door and forgotten about them.
Examine the underside of the car if you've exhausted all your purses and pockets, walked through your day to see if it's possible to remember where you went on the way to your house and emptied every surface you may have encountered. You never know if the key fob slipped down into a crack between your seat cushion and the floor mat, or if you accidentally knocked it out of your bag when you reached for something.
Of course the best method to avoid a situation like this in the future is to develop a routine of keeping your keys in the same location when you come home from work. It could take a month or so for it to stick, but the longer you can maintain this routine and the more easy it will be to locate your car keys when you need them. To ensure you're prepared in case in an emergency, it helps to include GEICO's Emergency Roadside Service on your insurance policy, which could help you avoid the expense of a tow truck, or replacing your lost car keys.
4. Walk Back Through Your Day
It's easy to forget important details when you're occupied with your day-to-day activities. This includes running errands or having dinner with friends. The loss of your car keys could be a major disruption to your plans.
Before you begin calling anyone you know to ask whether they know where your car keys are, take a deep breath and take a step back and try not to get stressed. Once you've gained control of your emotions, the first thing to do is retrace your steps. When was the last time you remember having keys to your car? This will help you figure out where your keys might have disappeared.
Make sure you empty your bags and pockets that you might have put them in. It's also an excellent idea to look in places that you would not normally look, such as your shoe or the pocket of a jacket or coat. You should also check where you keep your keys at home. They may have been placed on a table or away from view when you came inside.
The loss of your car keys is never enjoyable, but if you adhere to these guidelines, you will be able to locate them quickly and easily, without having to contact a locksmith or family members for help. You can avoid this issue in the future by making a designated spot for your keys inside. It might take a little while to get used to this however, after a few weeks it will become a habit and you won't have to be concerned about them getting lost.