Let’s be clear: losing your car keys is a horrible experience. Not only does it leave you with no means of driving, which you probably need for work. It also leaves you with the worry that your car keys could be used against you. If your car keys have been stolen, there is always the risk that someone can use your keys to take your car for a joyride. Who wants that?
There is also the emotional impact of losing your car keys. It’s easy to feel embarrassed or ashamed. However, it might cheer you up to know that, according to UK data, as many as two hundred callouts happen every day for car key problems. Not all of them are stolen or lost, of course, but it lets you know that you are not alone in having this horrible experience!
If you happen to have lost your car keys, and you do not have a spare set of keys, you need help. And you likely need it today. To help you understand the process for dealing with your lost car keys, read on. Our expert Doncaster Locksmith will help you to understand what to do next so you can get back on the road without any worries.
Should you join one of the 200 or so people who call locksmiths across the UK every day for car key troubles, here is a step-by-step guide to restore order after such a scenario unfolds.
Always Hire A Professional Auto Locksmith
Look, we all know that local character who can get you anything for ten pounds. Our advice? Avoid relying on anyone to fix your car key conundrum who is not a verified auto locksmith. A lockmsith who has auto skills can resolve your problem for you on the same day you call them. Local companies offer 24/7 emergency services, as do many other locksmiths.
Hiring an auto locksmith means they can get you new car keys ASAP. More than that, though, a professional locksmith can also help you with issues like:
- Fixing the transponder in your car keys if it happens to break
- Reprogramming your keys to get them working once again
- Cutting a new set of keys that are unique to your car
- Swapping out your car’s locks for new, better locks
- Creating duplicate keys so you always have a spare
An auto locksmith can fix ANY kind of car lock, by the way. It is not just a specific brand or car/van type. Whether you have a van, a lorry, a jeep, a car, a scooter or a motorbike, they can help you. They can even change the locks on your caravans and trucks if you happen to need that service!
What Details Do I Need To Give An Auto Locksmith?
If you have lost your car keys for your vehicle, then you will need to contact a local locksmith. They will want some specific details from you to help them quickly resolve your issue. Most of the time, you will need to provide them with details such as your car’s make, model, registration, vehicle ID – you can find this via your vehicle’s log book – and also your ID and address. A locksmith will need to verify you own the vehicle, too, which can take a little bit of time.
With that information, though, just about any locksmith who can handle vehicles can get to work.
What Kind Of Car Keys Did You Have?
Of course, there is another important question that your auto locksmith will ask: what kind of keys have you lost?
That might sound obvious, and you might think ‘well, my car keys…’, but you get varying types of keys. For one, you can have your standard car key that goes into the lock, or you can have a remote fob that you can use to open your car without needing a key.
Remote Car Keys
The most common types of car keys today are remote car keys, or fobs as they are known. You might have both a key for the door and a remote fob that you can use, or one of the remote fobs with a key cut into the fob itself. Or, you might have a keyless entry system that lets you unlock the doors, manage your alarm and manage your immobiliser.
The majority of car keys in the UK today have both remote functions and a standard key built into the fob. Of course, this means that if you lose one, you lose both. Some prefer to have both the fob and the traditional key, so that in an emergency like this, you can still drive the car.
Standard Car Keys
Far less likely today are just a standard car key – most older cars before the tech-savvy era we live in now will have a traditional key. These do not come with features like remote locking or control functions that you would get on a modern car key. Still, they do the job; you put the key in the lock, turn it, and the door opens. They are simple but effective.
What Happens If My Car Key(s) Break Rather Than Get Lost?
In many ways, having a broken car key is better than having a lost set of keys. At least you know where they are, right!?
Still, broken keys are like a chocolate teapot; useless. Most of the time, when your car key(s) break, it means you cannot open the doors or turn on the ignition. When that happens, you need to get the keys repaired by an auto locksmith. The process is the same; you still need professional support.
Most car keys today have a transponder chip within them, which ‘talks’ to the car’s immobiliser to turn it on/off. If your transponder microchip dies out – which can happen for all kinds of reasons – then the key will be rendered useless. Transponder keys could be damaged due to physical damage, wear and tear on the key itself, water damage, or even something as simple as the battery in the fob dying out.
For the most part, such a situation requires the help of a professional locksmith. They can replace the transponder, change the batteries, or, if needed, replace the key/fob entirely. Most locksmiths can also offer a duplicate key creation service, meaning you always have a spare set if the transponder dies or the key snaps again.
Should I Go To My Dealership Or Call A Locksmith?
We recommend calling a locksmith first. They can often respond to you quickly, come to you in your area and tend to offer a quicker, more cost-effective service than going to your dealership. So long as you use an accredited auto locksmith, you should have no worries about the validity of their work.
I’ve Lost My Only Set Of Keys! Am I In Trouble?
So, the challenge with losing your sole set of car keys is that there is now nothing to use as a base to copy your keys from. That is a problem in some cases, but most auto locksmiths have experience in this exact situation. A locksmith can program a new set of keys for you from scratch. Not only that, but this will make your old keys useless as they will no longer interact with the car’s in-house systems. That means that if your old keys were stolen as opposed to lost, you do not have to worry any longer.
A professional auto locksmith will deprogram the old keys and make sure that your locks and car systems only respond to the new key(s) they cut for you. To do this, they use bespoke diagnostic tools to determine what your car uses to verify that the keys being used are correct.
If your car keys have been stolen or cannot be found, it is best to have your car reprogrammed. A locksmith can make sure that your old keys are no longer compatible with your car, and they can also, if needed, reconfigure or replace your car locks and the ignition barrel to make sure your old keys are rendered obsolete.
How Much Will Replacing My Car Keys In [LOCATION] Cost?
Unfortunately, the cost of the service is going to be hard to determine. For a simple key repair service, you might pay as little as £25 to £30 to get the job done. However, for more extensive works such as lock replacement and reprogramming of your key(s), you could be into the £200+ range.
Various factors determine the cost of your work, from the vehicle model you own to the kind of key(s) you have broken/lost. The model of your car and the kind of keys that are compatible will determine the cost; as you might imagine, high-class, more modern vehicles will cost more to have work done.
Not happy with the price you have been quoted by a locksmith? Call around. Speak to various locksmiths in your local area. We suggest you get three to five price quotes from local locksmiths. Even the most expensive locksmith, though, is likely to be more cost-friendly than going to the dealership you bought your car from.
Should I Claim My Insurance For My Lost Car Keys?
Hmm, we would say no. Not only can this impact your future claims, but it can leave you without that juicy no-claims bonus most auto insurance providers offer. The cost of repairing or replacing your car keys, even at the most expensive, is likely not to be worth the impact on your insurance premiums in the future. For the price you pay, we would recommend taking the hit personally rather than claiming the key repairs/replacements on your insurance.
Some insurance policies provide add-ons for car key replacements and repairs that will not impact your no-claims validity. We recommend finding out about this by reviewing your policy before you call, though. Most of the time, though, it is better to resolve this issue on your own.
How Long Will Repairing Or Replacing My Car Keys Take?
There is no cut-and-dried timeframe, but most emergency locksmiths in [LOCATION] will endeavour to get the problem resolved on the same day you call them. Most locksmiths have black keys and fobs they can program, so that should reduce the time it takes to get the job done as well. The type of key you need repaired/replaced, the make of your car, and stock levels will all impact the time it takes.
Just about any locksmith worthy of hiring will be able to give you a time and cost estimate for the job upon their arrival. Most auto locksmiths can repair/replace keys for pretty much every vehicle brand in the UK. From Audi to BMW, Fiat to Ford, Mazda to Mercedes, and Vauxhall to Volkswagen, you should be fine. Unless you drive a highly unique car brand, you should be OK!
While You Wait: Tips For Protecting Your Car From Theft
There are some useful tips that you can put to good use to prevent your car from being stolen. Whether this is in advance of losing your car keys or in the midst of such a scenario, you should:
- Use a service to have your vehicle’s registration number etched into the window. This makes stealing and reselling your car more troublesome for the criminals who stole it.
- Install a GPS tracker in your car so that it can be located if it is lost or stolen. Contact your tracking device provider in the event your car goes missing for further support.
- Call the DVLA. Verify that your vehicle was taxed and roadworthy. Councils or the NSL might have moved your car to a pound if it has been found not to be properly taxed, etc.
- Call TRACE. This service is for those who think their vehicle might have been moved by the council or a similar body. If so, TRACE can tell you where the vehicle is impounded.
Get The Professionals Involved
With the above, you should now have a much clearer idea of what to do in the event that your car keys break or are stolen. Look, this is never a nice situation. It can be a drain on your day, mood and your finances to have the problem fixed. Still, with so many locksmiths, finding a solution should not be a challenge. With most auto locksmiths also being emergency providers, you can usually get the problem resolved on the same day. A day is lost, but that is better than losing your car
