What To Do if You’ve Lost Your Car Keys

If you’ve ever experienced the panic of trying to find your car keys, you’ll know that actually having lost them can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety. Not only are you suddenly without access to your main mode of transport without your keys, but you also have an additional concern over the security of your vehicle. 

So, what should you do if you’ve lost your car keys? 

That’s exactly what we’ll be looking at this month, covering all the common questions around this topic to help take any fear out of the situation and get the problem resolved.

Let’s start by figuring out which car key type you use.

Types of car keys

Most modern car keys are probably less of a key and more of a fob, but here are the most common types of car key configurations:

Transponder keys 

Used to unlock doors and start the ignition, they contain a transponder chip that is programmed to your car.

Separate fob and key

The fob can unlock the car doors, while the key is required to start the ignition.

Remote fob with key integrated 

Just like the above, but combined — the key usually flicks out so that you can use it to start the car.

Remote fob

Known as keyless systems or smart keys, where the fob is used to unlock the car and start the engine.

Knowing which type of car key you use can help get you back into your car sooner when you need to contact a professional auto locksmith.

Lost car keys and no spare

Sometimes, losing your car key might not be the worst thing in the world if you have a spare. But if you don’t have a spare, you can get specialist help from an auto locksmith. At Lock & Key Centre, we’re members of the Auto Locksmiths Association and can cut keys for cars, vans and trucks. We can also help with car key programming if you use a fob for your vehicle and don’t have a spare — along with reprogramming your car so that thieves can’t use your old fob to gain access.

What do you need to get a replacement car key?

An auto locksmith can help you if you’ve lost your car keys. To assist you, they’ll need you to present a few things to confirm that you are the registered owner of the vehicle. This includes providing your vehicle identification number (VIN), which you can find in your logbook – or a VC5 form with your name on it – plus a valid form of identification such as your driving licence.

Should you call the police?

Most of our advice so far has been for those misplaced or lost keys. If, however, you believe your car keys were stolen, you should contact the police to inform them, as this allows for a report to be filed. It’s not guaranteed that they will find the culprits, but it may put your area on alert for this type of criminal activity which can help.

As soon as you’ve alerted the police, you should get help from an automotive locksmith to help you get back into your vehicle and to prevent your old key or fob from being used.

Are lost car keys covered by your insurance?

Some insurance companies offer cover for replacement keys as part of your policy, so start by checking exactly what you’re covered for. This is often a good way to save yourself the expense outright, but the package offered can vary from just the key replacement to a replacement hire car while you wait for new keys.

Separate from any special upgrade, you should check whether your policy covers lost keys. If you are covered but a claim would affect your no-claims discount, you’ll need to weigh up whether it’s worth simply paying outright for the replacement keys in order to keep your future insurance premiums down.

Always check the terms and conditions of your insurance policy before going through this process.

How much does it cost to replace car keys?

With the insurance conundrum above in mind, it’s probably worth noting how much it costs to replace car keys. Unfortunately, it’s hard to give an accurate answer to this question without knowing two things: the vehicle model and the key type.

As a rough estimate, you could pay anywhere between £30 to £200. While the price can vary from vehicle to vehicle, you will likely find that using a professional, local auto locksmith works out cheaper than using your local dealership or claiming on insurance if you’re not specifically covered.

At Lock & Key Centre, we’re professional automotive locksmiths on hand in Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire. We have over 40 years of experience and all our staff are DBS checked for your peace of mind. So when you’ve lost your car keys, you can count on us to save the day! 

Call us today for expert advice and exceptional service when you need car key fob replacement, car key programming or mobile key cutting.