What to Do If Your Car Keys Are Stolen

It can be a hassle to lose your car keys. However, it's important to keep calm and not get stressed.

First, try to retrace your steps. This will allow you to determine if the keys to your car were stolen or lost. Call your insurance company. You might be able to file an insurance claim based on the circumstances.

Inform the police

Reporting the theft of your car keys to the police is the first step. This will give you a crime reference number, which can be used to trace the keys and your vehicle. The police may also offer advice about protecting your vehicle, such as using an ignition lock for your wheel.

The next step is to try and locate the keys. Check every pocket, bag and other possible places where they may be. Check places you might not typically look, such as under the seat or inside your shoes. You can also use an app to locate your keys. Examples include Tile and AirTag. These apps can ring your keys or display its last known location but only if the keys are within your phone's reach.

If you have an older key that doesn't have any fancy chips, you can easily replace it at the local locksmith. However, if you own an electronic key or remote start, then you'll need to go to the dealership to get one. It is a good idea to see if your insurance covers the cost of replacing a lock and key.

The number of car thefts that occur because people leave keys in their vehicle is on the rise. It is essential to keep your keys secure at all time. Thieves can employ the relay attack to copy the signal from the key fob of a car, then wait for an accomplice to appear with a device that can unlock the vehicle. This is a common way of getting cars stolen in cities where thieves have the ability to access sophisticated equipment. You should always leave an extra set of keys in a different location than inside your car. You should also never leave your insurance card or your license in your car, as these are valuable tools for identity thieves. If you lose your keys, you should contact your insurance company as well as the police immediately.

Contact your insurance company

If you have comprehensive car insurance it is essential to inform your company immediately about the keys missing. This will help ensure your safety and stop other people from using your vehicle. Most insurance policies will reimburse you for the cost of a locksmith or even the dealer who will create a new set of keys.

It can be extremely stressful to lose your car keys, the worst thing you'd want to do is for someone else to have them! Contact your local locksmith and ask them to make a duplicate key. They can also program the keys to ensure that the keys you lost not work anymore.

Notifying your keys that you lost to the police as quickly as you can is recommended, especially in the case of a smart key. Police can provide you with an identification number for the crime and offer further advice on how to keep your car secure, including installing wheel locks. They might also be able to advise you on where to buy an additional key.

Before you contact your insurance company, you should make sure that you've checked your pockets and bags for the keys. It's easy to lose keys if you place it in a place or you reach into your bag to grab something and knock your keys out of it. If you have searched and still cannot find your keys, it's time to call your insurance company.

The decision of whether to make an insurance claim after the loss of a car key is based on the kind of key you have and your deductible. The majority of old-style mechanical keys aren't expensive, and can be easily replaced by a locksmith for an expense less than your insurance deductible. The latest keys, however are more expensive and need to be purchased directly from the dealer or manufacturer. In certain instances the cost of a new key can exceed your limit on deductible.

It's also important to note that if you're in a position to incur significant debt, an insurance company might conduct a credit check to determine if there's an opportunity for fraud. This could result in your claim being denied or scrutinized, which is why it's important to report the theft of your keys immediately.

Get a new set of keys

It is crucial to remain at ease and plan what you will do next when you lose your car keys. There are many ways to obtain new keys. The majority of options are less expensive than you think. You can also make use of Bluetooth key trackers to ensure that your keys are safe and easily accessible. This is a great choice in case you lose your car keys often. They are available online or in most electronics stores.

The first step is to determine the type of key you have. If you have a conventional or mechanical key you can replace it with one from the locksmith or hardware store. These keys are not equipped with any extra features, and can only be used to lock or unlock the vehicle. If you own transponder keys, which are an advanced version of key that is usually found in the key fob or key chain, you may need to visit an auto locksmith or dealer to purchase a replacement.

Most vehicles in the United States that are manufactured after 1990 have a chip in their keys that is tied to the vehicle's computer. This means that you will need to have the VIN number for your car in order to get a new key. Dealers can also create keys for your vehicle, but it could cost more than going to a locksmith.

Whatever type of key you have it is an excellent idea to have a spare just in case. In this way, you'll be able to immediately return to your vehicle without waiting for a locksmith to arrive. Additionally, you will be able to avoid paying for tows and calling roadside assistance.

It is essential to check the pockets of your clothes before you leave and also to look in places where that you don't typically look for keys for example, in your shoes if you're wearing them or in the fridge if you have had a drink. You can also leave an extra key with a family member or trusted friend. If you wish to keep your car get more info keys secure and easy to locate you might want to consider a Bluetooth tracker.

Get your car repaired

There are a few different ways to go about it if your car keys are stolen. You could make an insurance claim to pay the cost of replacing a key fob and get your car locks changed in the event that you don't have a spare, or you can purchase the new key from a hardware store for much less than what it might cost to file an insurance claim.

You may have to visit your dealer to replace the key, depending on whether your car has an electronic fob or a conventional key ignition. The dealer may need to order a key chip and pair it to your vehicle. This could be costly. However, your roadside assistance coverage might cover towing the vehicle to a dealership or service shop that could make an entirely new key, according to Reina.

Locksmiths can be scammers who will charge you more for services already covered by your auto insurance. There are also those who have been known to use "key phishing," a technique where they make the owner believe that their car manufacturer has sent them a message asking for them to reset their codes. These scams can be very difficult to detect, but you can look out for them by only entering your code through the car manufacturer's website or app.

Check with your home insurance provider to see if there is any additional coverage available for keys that are lost in the car. American Family, for instance, offers coverage for garage door openers and dwelling keys without a minimum deductible. This coverage isn't available for all insurance companies however it's worth a look to see if this coverage is available at your current provider or whether you might be capable of adding it to your insurance policy.