The Essential Guide to Replacing Lost Keys

Have we all ever been there? Just as you are ready to unwind and watch your favorite show, but you cannot seem to locate your keys?

Panicking won’t get you anywhere; try to stay calm and use logic. Retracing your steps or employing an elimination process should get you on track to finding them again.

Identify Your Keys

If you find that you have misplaced your keys, don’t panic – first take a deep breath and try to relax before recalling when last you had them in hand and working backwards from there. Chances are they’re only a few steps away from being found again with some thorough searching – the sooner that happens the sooner your key could be back with you!

Before beginning to search, remove any non-keys (such as membership cards or miniature tools) from your keychain that don’t directly pertain to finding keys – this will make identifying what key you’re after easier.

Once you have removed all items that aren’t keys, take your time searching everywhere you would typically search – including pockets of the coat and pants you were wearing when leaving, the bag you usually bring with you when shopping and places like the back seat of your car that may normally go overlooked.

After extensive searching, it may still prove futile; should this happen to you, consider ways in which they could prevent themselves from getting lost again in future.

If you don’t already own an extra set of keys, get them made immediately so if one should go missing you won’t have to worry about cost or hassle of replacing them.

Keep your keys stored safely at all times in one designated spot to make them easy to locate and identify – especially if there are multiple sets with similar colors and designs. Establishing this as a habit may take some time; on average it takes approximately 66 days for new behaviors to become established habits. So if you’re willing to give it a go, placing keys on an entryway table or hook by the door should become second nature to you in no time at all. Additionally, consider making your house keys more easily identifiable by adding a layer of clear rubber over their current key head. This will enable you to identify it more quickly – especially in low light situations – enabling quicker recognition.

Make a Copy of Your Keys

Not so long ago, losing your keys wasn’t such an inconvenience; just make a copy from your house or car key and copy that. But now more people than ever are finding themselves without an extra key they could duplicate when one goes missing; making one is easy and almost anyone can do it themselves! Creating a spare key ahead of time may prevent this situation altogether and is the only surefire way of making sure there will always be one when necessary.

There are various methods you can take to copy keys quickly and cheaply, from making a quick hand copy to using a key duplication machine. If time is of the essence and no locksmith is immediately available to duplicate them for you, these machines can also help. Hardware stores, home improvement centers, convenience and drugstores often carry these machines that allow you to copy most basic house, padlock and door lock keys as well as RFID chipped car keys; though for these last ones professional programming should still be sought out separately.

For a quick, straightforward key by hand, start with an old credit card or similar thin material that won’t break in your lock. Use a lighter to heat up the head of your original key until it turns black from soot buildup, pressing it against tape to transfer its outline, then remove tape, cut out shape of key and duplicate duplicate copies for emergencies.

However, this type of key should only be kept for temporary use; should it become lost and only copy available, it won’t function and could damage your lock. For a more reliable solution, visit a locksmith to have an actual duplicate made using special tools; some locksmiths even specialize in making car key duplicates that cannot be replicated elsewhere such as newer car keys.

Home improvement centers and car dealerships may also provide this service; however, they may not have access to all the same blanks available as professional locksmiths or be capable of duplicating modern transponder chips in car keys.

Call a Locksmith

Losing your keys is often one of the most inconvenient moments, be it when loading groceries into your trunk or leaving home after work. Properly securing your business is essential as well. But unfortunately, over 20 million keys are lost every year in the United States alone! Although it can be extremely distressing when this occurs, there are steps you can take to protect them and make sure that they don’t fall into unscrupulous hands.

At first, try searching your vehicle for keys. Check in the glove compartment, under seats and trunk – any potential hiding places might help if they can’t be found! If that fails, call friends or family to help search further locations where they might have been stashed.

Subsequently, contact a locksmith to create new keys for you. Although car dealerships and automotive stores may provide keys that match what you require, their prices could differ significantly than auto locksmith services. Your locksmith will need the year, make and model of your vehicle along with its VIN (vehicle identification number), which is typically located on its dashboard or engine bay or can be found within registration or title documents.

Locksmiths typically come equipped with kits to rekey locks on-site and provide new keys instantly, offering a cost-cutting alternative to replacing entire locks altogether and saving both time and money in the process.

Roadside assistance may also provide help if your key has been lost; however, they will typically require that you come directly to them instead of offering savings through automotive locksmithing services. They may also take longer than an automotive locksmith to arrive onsite if your location has traffic issues or other delays.

If you suspect someone might have your keys, especially if they were misplaced in public spaces where people might not understand their importance in protecting personal belongings, changing locks may be less costly and easier than buying an entirely new set. Most times you can do it yourself too!

Replace Your Keys

Even the most organized person can misplace their keys from time to time, be it when in a rush and forgetting they left them in the car, or accidentally leaving them on top of the fridge at home. While losing keys can be very stressful and inconvenient, luckily there are steps available to quickly replace them without delay.

As soon as you lose your car keys, the first step should be searching for them in all possible areas where they might have been left. While this may be challenging in an anxious state, try remaining calm and retracing your steps. Additionally, using mental cues such as “I saw them come in from the front door” might help remind you where they may have gone.

If you still can’t locate your car keys, calling a locksmith could be beneficial. In many instances, locksmiths will be able to make you a new key or unlock the car without one in most instances; in others – particularly with older or unusual cars – however they may be unable to assist; this means visiting the dealership in order to have new keys made.

Overall, the best way to prevent losing car keys is to make sure you have a spare and store it somewhere other than on your keychain. Also important is setting aside a specific spot where your keys will always go after using them until it becomes part of your routine. Also important is writing down your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) prior to needing replacement keys so it will be easier for professionals to identify both your car and find keys suitable for it.