If Your Car Keys Got Stolen, What to Do
If you lose your keys, it's a stressful experience. Take your time before you panic and walk through the day to check if you can locate them. They might be in your purse, or inside a bag that you took from your car.
Most importantly, contact your insurance company. If you report the loss of your car keys immediately they could pay for the loss.
Call Your Insurance Company
The most frequent reason for car thefts is leaving keys in the vehicle. Statistics indicate that a car is stolen every 32 seconds and costs Americans $8 billion each year. This figure shows why it's important to keep your key in a safe location. It's a good idea also to invest in top quality locks and keep spare keys in a safe place.
Contact the police if don't know where your keys are. The officers can check their records and provide suggestions on how to secure your vehicle. In addition, they will be able give you an identification number for crimes, which is necessary for filing a claim with your insurance company.
The next step is to decide whether it's worth making an insurance claim for keys that have been lost. The decision will largely depend on the kind of key you have and how much it would cost to replace it. Some modern vehicles come with electronic keys or smart keys which are more expensive to replace when compared to traditional turn-key ignitions.
The majority of auto insurance companies will cover locksmiths to visit your vehicle if you've been locked out. However, they don't pay for the cost of creating the new key for you, so you'll have to pay out-of-pocket for that. Remember that your insurance premiums could increase if you make an application. It's best to consider the benefits and disadvantages of filing a claim prior making the decision.
If your car is equipped with an upgraded key that needs to be re-sequenced with the computer of the car or re-paired to the barrels, you'll have go to your dealership to do this. Depending on the policy you have and the car dealer, this could cost you hundreds of dollars. If you lose a key with a high-end enhancement, it may be worth the effort to file a claim but only in the event that you have full coverage under your policy. Otherwise, it's not worth the additional effort and risk of premiums going up. If you don't have comprehensive insurance get in touch with an independent insurance agent to discuss adding it to your vehicle insurance.
Call the Police
In the past the loss of your car key was not a huge issue. You could simply call locksmiths and have a replacement key made right on the on the spot. It can be costly to replace keys that are lost or stolen in some cars because they have more sophisticated ignitions. There are two types of ignitions and keys available today: standard turn-key ignitions and electronic key fobs, also called smart keys.
The good news is that most insurance companies will pay for the cost of replacing a stolen or lost set of keys for cars regardless of whether it's a fob or standard key. It's crucial to notify your insurance company immediately to allow them to begin looking for your keys. You can also obtain a new set without having to pay out of your pocket.
If your car is parked on public property and you lose the keys, you must notify the police right away. This way, they will assist in preventing other people from driving the vehicle and could be likely to catch them in the act. If someone else uses your car and is later questioned by the police, then they could be fined, or even detained.
You should also contact your car dealer and inform them that you have lost keys. The majority of dealers have access to keys that can be used to replace the locks on a variety of models of cars and can usually help you out quickly. They can also rekey the lock and give you a key that disables the previous one so that it won't work anymore.
Another aspect to be aware of is that when your car keys are stolen, it's likely that the thieves may have also taken other valuables such as your wallet or purse. If this is the situation, you should contact your bank and credit card to see if there are any suspicious transactions in their records.
There are also a variety of apps for smartphones that can be used to track keys that have been stolen or lost. Tile and AirTag, for example, are popular options that connect to your keys with GPS technology. You can also ring them to hear your car key nearby or view their current location on maps.
Contact a Locksmith
Losing your keys to your car can be a nightmare. It's hard enough to go to work or school without a car, but when you lose your keys, it can make things incredibly difficult. If your car keys get stolen there are a few steps to prevent the most traumatic scenario.
The first thing you must do is call the police. This will help prevent thieves from stealing your vehicle or using it to enter your home. This will help you locate the person who has stolen the keys to your car.
The next step is calling a locksmith. A locksmith will be able to replace your lost car keys. They will need to verify that you are the owner of the vehicle before they are able to make a new key, so it is important to have your identification and registration in hand. The locksmith also needs to know the name of the vehicle and VIN.
In the end, you should contact your insurance company. Many auto insurance policies cover the cost of replacing a lost car key It's worth checking out your own policy before taking this step.
If you follow these tips you can reduce the damage to your vehicle and avoid headaches. Remember to be patient, and search thoroughly before giving up! If your car keys are stuck in the ignition, do not attempt to remove them. That could cause more harm than good!
If you have a traditional key, the majority of locksmiths can replace it immediately. If you have a modern key fob, such as an electric one, it may take a bit longer. You will need to visit the dealership. Bring evidence of ownership, like your registration or title, in the event that it is. This will speed up the process. It's also likely that you'll pay less for locksmiths than you would at a dealership. It's always better to be secure rather than sorry!
Call Your Car Dealer
Car keys are a vital piece of equipment for your car. Without them, your car won't start. However, it isn't common for thieves to take your keys as a way to gain entry into your car. Fortunately, there are steps you can do to prevent this from happening.
Report the theft immediately to police. This will allow police to locate the culprit and you will get an identification code for crime that you can use in the future. It is also recommended to contact your dealer, a locksmith or another mechanic to have your keys replaced.
If you have an electronic key fob that connects to the computer in your car, you may need to bring it into the dealership to have it deactivated. If you have lost your keys in public, such as a parking lot, or a shop, this will protect your vehicle from being stolen because the burglar won't have a functioning key to access your vehicle.
Some car dealerships offer services to replace keys that have been lost, based on the manufacturer and model of your vehicle. Dealers can take away your old keys and connect the new key to the vehicle. It's more complicated for a locksmith to create the replacement key rather than go to here the dealer.
The cost of replacing your car keys can differ, but you are likely to receive some assistance from your insurance company in the event that the loss is reported as soon as possible. Additionally, some insurance policies on property that offer personal possessions coverage may be able to cover the cost of purchasing a new set of keys as well.