If you have ever lost car keys at any point in time, you must know the level of panic it can trigger. You can’t open, let alone drive, a car without your keys. However, panicking is not a solution to this problem. First of all, you need to know that you aren’t the only person to lose your car keys. That happens quite often with a lot of people, and there are ways to solve the issue without much hassle.
Let us take you through effective solutions to the lost car keys problem.
What to do if You Have Lost Car Keys
To begin with, act calmly. Yes, losing car keys can cause a lot of tension, but start by staying focused on the problem.
Following are some solutions to lost car keys problem. Naturally, they depend on the type of car key you use:
Lost Car Key Fob
As history of car keys has it, keys evolved over time.
The key fob has a transponder chip and a sender. If the battery inside the key fob dies, the car won’t be able to detect it. In such a situation, you can call an auto expert to use a mechanical key in order to open the driver’s door.
That said, a number of cars with keyless entry don’t have an ignition lock for a mechanical key. They only have a start button. If you lose the car key fob, you will have to call the car dealership for a solution.
Lost Traditional Car Keys
Traditional keys are usually available with manual cars. Follow these tips if you lost a traditional car key:
Use a Spare Key
If you could not find the lost car keys by looking around, you can retort to using a spare key. Case in point: when you buy a new manual car, you often get a spare key. If that is the case, you can just call someone at home and ask them to drop off the spare keys at your location.
However, this is only applicable for manual cars. For, automatic car keys with key fobs or smart car keys, you will have to go to the dealership in case the key is lost.
Call an Auto Locksmith
Another solution for traditional lost car key emergency is to call a locksmith.
Well-established locksmiths or vendors can create spare keys effectively on the spot. Such locksmiths usually develop another car key replacement from the structure of the keyhole.
Moreover, key vendors operating in various areas can quickly reach the site with a single phone call. In many cases, they can respond faster than asking the dealer. If we take a rough estimate, any auto locksmith near your location can reach in approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Moreover, it will not take them more than an hour to develop a spare key unless your car model is really old or uncommon.
That said, unlocking and creating a spare key can only be possible if you can confirm that you are the owner of the car.
You will often be asked to show your driver’s license or vehicle verification in your name, so be prepared in advance. If the vehicle verification is in the vehicle, you may inform the locksmith and present it after unlocking.
Lost Smart Car Keys
Smart keys have more features when compared with standard key fobs. Smart keys enable users to lock or unlock car doors depending on the car’s proximity without pressing a button.
The chip in a smart key may also save settings and preferences depending on the last user that used the fob.
If you lose smart car keys, your vehicle needs to be reprogrammed. You will have to call someone in the dealership. They will then pick up your car and take it to the dealership, where a newly programmed key will be matched to your car to create a smart key connection.
Lost Transponder Car Key
Also known as chipped keys, transponder keys have an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip inside the head of the key. Such keys have become an industry standard for vehicle manufacturers, owing to the extra layer of security added to the vehicle’s ignitions, thanks to the RFID chip.
If you have lost car keys that were chipped you can go to the dealership, where you will be provided with a genuine duplicate key. That said, you can also go to an auto locksmith. They use special computer software to set the current setting of your car on a blank chip to create a duplicate car key.
If you are looking for an auto locksmith in Dubai, explore this list of places offering car key programming services in Dubai.
Besides, if you completely want to avoid the problem of losing keys, you can look into biometric entry systems in cars. With the help of this new technology, car owners can access their cars without keys through their fingerprints.
This concludes our guide about what to do in case of losing car keys.
To keep up with everything about the automotive industry, stay tuned to UAE’s leading auto blog.
Related Posts
