What to Do if You've Lost Your Car Keys
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 8 months ago
5 min read
- Car ownership
FixMyCar explains the different options available to you if you've lost your car keys.
Losing your car keys is one of the most stressful experiences a driver can go through. This guide explains what to do to get back on the road as quickly as possible.
Contents
What to do if you've lost your keys
What to do if you've lost your keys
Even if you don’t have a spare key, there’s no need to panic. Here are the basic steps you should follow:
Search the area (providing your key has been lost rather than stolen).
Check whether your car is open; if it is, look inside.
Gather information about the vehicle.
Get a new key from an auto locksmith.
Make sure you get a spare key cut as well.
How car keys work
Most car keys contain three different methods of unlocking:
A mechanical key that releases the steering lock.
A coded electronic transponder chip that’s read by the car when placed in the ignition.
A remote control to unlock doors and turn off the alarm.
Some modern car keys offer keyless entry and remote keyless ignition, so a mechanical key is no longer needed.
Unfortunately, cars that use keyless entry can be more vulnerable to theft.
Most car remote controls use a radio transmitter, which sends a signal to the car. If your remote doesn’t work, try the following:
Check whether the battery is flat.
Try using the remote key closer to the vehicle.
If all else fails, use your mechanical key if you have one until you can get the remote working again.
Getting a replacement key
There are five ways you could potentially get replacement car keys:
Using an auto locksmith
Car dealership
Local garage
However, the best option is usually to find an auto locksmith who will have all the necessary tools to help you out. Regular garages might not offer this specialist service.
Whether you’ve lost the keys to your Vauxhall Corsa or it’s a lost Mercedes car key that you need to replace, the process is usually the same. Auto locksmiths are used to being called out to all sorts of different locations, and they can help with:
Replacement keys
A broken lock
A broken key
Keys that have been locked inside a vehicle
Following a break-in
To find an auto locksmith, simply enter your reg number into FixMyCar and we’ll connect you with the best mechanics in your area.
Should you change the locks on your car?
The answer to this question is that it depends, firstly, on the situation and, secondly, on your car type.
With modern vehicles that don’t have a manual locking system (e.g. a traditional mechanical key), you’re in luck. An auto locksmith should be able to reprogramme your car’s system so that it no longer recognises the old key and only recognises the new one.
However, the situation is more complex if your car has both a remote control and a mechanical key. Even if your car’s computer system is reprogrammed, anyone with your old key can still get into the vehicle thanks to its manual locks.
In this situation, you’ll probably want to consider the context surrounding your lost keys. If they were stolen, the thief likely knows which vehicle they belong to and may also know your address. Consequently, you’ll want to change your locks to avoid your car being stolen.
On the other hand, if you misplaced your keys, then changing your locks might not be necessary (though it certainly is advisable).
Lost car key insurance
Insurance for your car keys might come as part of your existing insurance policy, or you might be able to add it at an extra cost.
This type of cover is worthwhile considering the average cost of lock changing and key replacement, which can be well over £400 depending on the vehicle make and model.
Lost car key replacement near me
You need new keys pronto - after all, you rely on your car every day - but how do you find an auto locksmith in your area who is reliable? That’s where FixMyCar comes in. We work with the best mechanics across the country so you don’t have to spend hours searching for them.
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Written by Ellie
Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Writer. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers in a language they understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.