- USA Lock & Key
- February 3, 2023
Table of Contents
Have you ever encountered a lost car key and then found out that you have no spare?
That’s a scenario that happens to all of us, but for the best possible outcome, you need to act quickly. So what should you do when your car keys are missing?
If you’re like most people, it’s probably going to be an emergency: one that requires an immediate response. Fortunately, there are some quick and easy methods for getting back into your car that can help you out of this pickle.
When you’ve lost your car keys, you may be feeling a bit panicked. But don’t worry — you aren’t alone. Finding a locksmith in your area can help you out when you need it most.
Choosing a car key locksmith: what to consider
It’s important to select the right locksmith for the job if you have lost your car keys and have no spare keys available. Your local locksmith should be able to assess the situation quickly and offer advice on how to proceed with getting into your car without breaking into pieces.
1) The first thing that should come to mind is whether or not they serve all of your needs or just one specific type of service (like key duplication). If they only offer one type of service, then it might not make sense for them to handle other types of issues while they are working on yours. Make sure they have experience dealing with all types of problems that come up at any given time.
2) Does this company have experience dealing with issues like these? If not, then it may be better for them not to get involved in this type of situation until they can become more familiar with the problem.
3) Do they have the resources and tools necessary to handle this issue, Make sure they have all the necessary equipment and material to get the job done right.
What kind of keys do you have?
- Traditional car key
A traditional car key is – you guessed it – traditional. These keys look and feel like classic keys, and work by being inserted into an ignition cylinder and turned to start the vehicle.
But what if you’ve lost your traditional car key? What do you do then?
There are a few things to consider when trying to replace your lost or stolen traditional car key: whether or not you have a spare key, who made your car (and whether they’re still in business), and whether or not you are able to get a replacement made by a locksmith.
If You Have A Spare Key… The first thing to do when you lose or damage your traditional car key is called the dealership where you purchased the vehicle – they may be able to mail a replacement for free (or at least at a discounted cost). If not, contact an auto locksmith in your area and ask them if they can copy the original from another vehicle of a similar make, model, year, and mileage.
They will need access to both vehicles in order to make this happen – but if possible it can save time and money as opposed to having another one made completely new (which may take weeks).
- Transponder key
A transponder key is similar to a traditional key, but the difference is the head. At the top of the key is an electrical element that often contains buttons to lock and unlock your car, as well as open the trunk and set off an alarm.
This electrical element also contains a chip that’s necessary to start the vehicle. If this chip isn’t there or is damaged, you’ll need to replace it before starting your car again.
- Key fob with switchblade key
These kinds of keys include switchblade-shaped remote fobs with spring-loaded key mechanisms that can lock and unlock the car. With this dual system, the vehicle may be accessed remotely, and the key is sleeker, simpler, and folds into itself for transportation.
- Smart key
Smart keys are often called ‘keyless ignition’ keys. They’re used in place of actual keys. When used, drivers can unlock their cars remotely and use a push-start button system to start the car, not needing to insert a key into the ignition to get the engine running.
When you lose your smart key, you can still start your car using the push-start button. However, if you don’t have another way of getting into your car (eg: a spare key or another person with a spare set), or if your battery dies, you won’t be able to start the car again.
If you don’t have another way of getting into your car (eg: a spare key or another person with a spare set), or if your battery dies, you won’t be able to start the car again.
Gather your information
- Make of the car
- Model of the car
- Year
- Car registration
- Title
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
The details will enable the locksmith to decide what kind of key your car requires. The dashboard on the driver’s side or the driver’s door will include the VIN for your car.
These particulars are also necessary to demonstrate your ownership of the vehicle. The locksmith will need to confirm that you are the legal owner of the car before they start working
Can a locksmith make a car key without the original?
The answer is yes if you have the key code. The key code is a series of numbers that will allow the locksmith to make a new key for your vehicle. If you don’t have this number, however, then it’s possible that your car may be locked forever.
If you’re wondering how this could happen, let me explain: most vehicle manufacturers use an electronic system called “smart keys” to lock and unlock their cars. When these smart keys are paired with the vehicle’s computer system, they can automatically unlock and lock the doors without having to insert them into the ignition or press any buttons on the dashboard.
However, when these smart keys are lost or stolen (or in some cases broken), they cannot be programmed by themselves since they lack those electronic components found inside the car’s bodywork itself – which means they cannot be used at all without first being paired with another working key.
So what can we do if we’ve lost our only key? Well luckily there are options available that will allow us access once again – but these options will vary depending on whether or not we still have access to our car itself
Here are some suggestions for finding a lost car key
1) Check the obvious places first: the kitchen counter, the coffee table, and next to your favorite pillow on the couch.
2) Look around where you were last using them. Did they fall out of your pocket while you were washing dishes? Did they slip out of your hands while you were walking down the street? Did they tumble out of your purse while getting into a cab?
3) Search in all the places where they might have fallen out of your pocket or purse—under cushions, behind and under things like plants and furniture pieces, and under rugs and carpets (especially if these things need cleaning).
4) Check them outside! Sometimes keys get dropped when taking out trash or recycling bins; sometimes they fall off when unloading groceries from the car; sometimes they slip out of your hands when you’re walking down the street.
5) Call any places that might have them, like hotels or restaurants where you stopped for a bite to eat recently, as well as any friends who might have seen them fall out of your pocket or purse (if they are not at home).
6) If all else fails, call a locksmith.
When everything fails, choosing the right locksmith must consider
-Locksmiths are able to help you with any type of lock or key problem. Whether it is an ignition key replacement or a lock repair, they will be able to fix it for you.
-When looking for a locksmith, look at their reputation first and then decide whether they will be able to help with your problem or not. If they have positive reviews from previous clients then they should be able to do an excellent job for you as well.
-The other thing that you should consider when hiring someone is whether or not they have insurance coverage in case something goes wrong while working on your car or home. This way if anything does happen during the process then there will be no issues later on down the road as long as everything went according to plan initially.
In Summation
I hope that reading this was of some use to you if you have lost your car keys and don’t have a spare. You should ideally have a rough notion of the approach you can take. I wish you never had to say, “I misplaced my car keys,” Always keep in mind that if you lose your car keys in a circumstance where you believe your life is in danger, you should not attempt to read this page quickly. If you require immediate assistance, contact the relevant agencies; if not, call us.
Lost car key recovery is one of our specialties at USA Lock And Key Charleston.
We know that our customers have a wide variety of options when it comes to finding a locksmith, and we want to make sure that you can always count on us for quality service at an affordable price. Whether you’re searching for local locksmiths or simply looking for a reliable long-distance service provider, we’ll be there when you need us most.
Our prices are fair and reasonable, so you can trust that we’ll always provide the best value possible for your needs.
We offer our services around the clock, seven days a week, so you can rest assured that when you need us, we’ll be there.
USA Lock and Key support a wide array of car models. On a Really affordable reasonable price.