A Retrospective: How People Talked About Car Key Spares 20 Years Ago
Car Key Spares Save Time, Money, and Anxiety Anyone who is at risk of losing their car keys will find spare car keys useful. They can help save time, money, and anxiety in the event of a need. It's a nightmare scenario You're late for work, trying to drop off kids at school and errands on the weekend and then you're locked out of your car. Lost Keys If you put your keys down when taking groceries out of the trunk or left them in the pocket of a coat after leaving work, misplacing your keys is among those dreaded experiences that can make you feel lost and helpless. It's easy for you to blame others or yourself for your mistake however, most times, it happens on accident. There are, however, ways to prevent future incidents. If you're unsure where your keys went, the first step is to retrace your steps. Examine the places you know they were at, like your office, home or any other places you've visited. Find them in obvious places, as well as under couches and in stacks of mail are the most common places to lose keys. Take out your bags and pockets. If you have spare keys keep them in a place that you know you'll be able to locate them. Give them to someone to keep until you can locate them. You should also keep a spare key set somewhere else. For example at work or with a close friend. This way, you'll always have a backup set in case your original keys are lost. Make sure your spare keys are easily accessible and think about using bright colors or a ribbon or other item that makes the whole key package more noticeable. Install hooks near your door, and hang your keys on it so you never forget where they are. Based on need a spare key for my car of key you have and how easy it is for you to replace, replacing your car keys can cost you a lot. Keys that are older and look like house keys are much easier to replace, however modern cars come with transponder fobs that require a trained locksmith to replace. It is best to weigh the cost of getting extra keys against the inconvenience if you lose the keys before deciding if it's worth it buy a second set in advance. Once you do, keep them in a location that you can find them and remember that even the most frustrating losses can usually be fixed! Lockouts A lockout could be caused by a lack of attention or a mechanical issue with the door locks and key fob. Preventing these situations by using preventative strategies is the best way to deal with these situations. Create a designated key location: By establishing a consistent place at home and at work for your keys/fobs you can reduce the risk of losing them. For this purpose, many people use the key holder or a small drawer. But consistency is important. Check that you have your keys before locking your car. This is especially important if you're prone to forgetfulness. Spare Key Strategy: Keeping a spare key in a safe location outside your vehicle can be a lifesaver in case you need to lock yourself out of the car. The spare key should be stored in a place that only you or someone you trust access (such as a key case hidden from view or locked drawer, or a secure key lockbox). Consider entrusting the spare key to a trusted family member or friend for more convenience and security. Key Finder Technology – Consider investing in Bluetooth-enabled devices that connect to your phone and make it easier to locate your keys. These devices are a practical and affordable accessory to your car's equipment. Mechanical Problems: A malfunctioning key remote or fob could be a frequent cause of an auto lockout. This is why routine maintenance and professional repairs are so crucial. In the event of an emergency, a locksmith will assist you in opening your vehicle and get any items lost or stolen. As you can see the best way to avoid the annoyance of being stranded in your car is to prevent these issues. Through simple but efficient changes to your daily car-related habits, you can dramatically reduce the risk of getting locked out of your car. So, begin implementing these suggestions to get the maximum benefit from your car and its features! Damage to your original keys Over time, keys to cars will wear out. This doesn't mean they've broken into pieces, but they might be damaged to the point that they're no longer functioning properly. This is particularly true for older vehicles or ones that see lots of rough use. In a lot of instances, the damage isn't evident until it's too late. A good method to avoid this is to carry a spare key with you. If you lose your original key, you can use the spare key to gain access to your car. Be extra cautious when carrying your keys, and be careful not to open bottles or place them in your pockets. This can cause damage over time. A spare car key could also save you money if you require a replacement key. If you lose a traditional car key, you'll be able to obtain a replacement from a local locksmith for less than it would cost to replace it at the dealership. This is because traditional car keys aren't often equipped with advanced transponders or other features that make them more expensive to replace. You might be able to get your key replaced at no cost in the event that you are a member or have a warranty for your vehicle. The best way to determine how to go about this is to go to your dealer or contact the manufacturer's customer service department. The procedure you have to follow depends on the type of keys you own and the age of them, as well as if they have fobs. Generally speaking, you'll need to bring your registration for your car or driver's license along with other evidence of ownership to the locksmith or dealer to get your key replaced. This is to ensure that the person asking for replacement is actually the owner of the vehicle. This is a security measure to avoid theft and fraud. If you are using a smart key however the procedure will be more complicated and could require you to go to an authorized dealer or bring your car to be repaired or towing before a new key can be programmed. Anxiety Imagine that you're running late for work or a major event and you discover that your keys are locked in the car. This is a huge amount of stress to manage in a short amount of time and it can really take the luster off your day. A spare key can help you avoid this situation and provide you with peace of mind. Spare keys are also great for people who share vehicles with spouses, family members or roommates. A spare key will save you from calling locksmiths to unlock your car, or having a friend come to help you when someone has keys from another person in their pockets. A spare key will assist in reducing the wear and tear on your keys. Over time keys are all susceptible to some degree of damage whether it's dings from the keychain or scratches and dirt from everyday use. By having a spare, you to switch off between the two keys frequently, minimizing the wear and tear on your original key and protecting it for a longer period of time. It may seem like an insignificant problem however, you could save money by not paying for costly repairs.