What You Should Do in 2021 When You Lose Your Car Keys

Whether you drive a luxury car, a truck, a Jeep, a company car, or a rental, one thing is bound to happen sooner or later. You’re going to lose your car keys. You can almost count on it. 

Says Car Keys Pro, a car locksmith in Chicago, if you find yourself saying “I’ve lost my car keys,” or “I’ve locked my keys in the car,” or even, “I need a replacement car key,” you’re not alone. These are all too familiar scenarios. When they occur, you need a reliable, certified car locksmith who operates not on banker’s hours, but 24 hours per day, seven days per week, including all major holidays. A locksmith who also carries all the necessary equipment to reprogram transponder chipped keys, and who can repair jammed ignitions and door locks for reasonable prices. 

According to a recent article regarding losing your car keys, not too long ago, the unfortunate situation wasn’t all that big a deal. If you lost your key, you might have a spare that’s attached to the car under the bumper. But in 2021, cars are much more technologically sophisticated and so are the keys that start and stop them. What’s more, they can be very expensive to replace. 

Automotive professional Richard Reina, states that depending on what model, year, and make you drive, losing your key and replacing it in 2021 takes several steps and can cost upwards of several hundred dollars. It’s a best practice to have a backup already prepared and stored in a concealed place where you’ll be sure to find it. 

That said there are several types of car keys being utilized these days. Here’s what you can do if your key gets lost, stolen, or damaged.

Traditional Car Keys

Today’s standard car key is entirely mechanical in nature. You put it into the ignition and turn it to fire up your engine. 

If it goes missing, you can call a mobile locksmith who will come to you and make you a new one right where you’re parked. It’s possible that in the case of a much older car, a locksmith might not be able to help since you might need to replace the entire ignition cylinder. 

The Fob Car Key

Back when fobs were first introduced, they were engineered as a convenient method for locking and unlocking your car doors. However, you needed a traditional key to start the engine. 

If you lose your fob, don’t worry. You can use the traditional key to unlock your doors and start the car. Old fashioned fobs are available at local hardware stores and can be programmed easily. They cost less than $20 on average. 

The Fob Switchblade Car Key

Not long after the detachable fob was introduced, an engineer came up with the brilliant idea of combining both ignition key and fob into a single foldable device that was spring loaded like a switchblade. 

If your fob switchblade goes missing, plan on paying more to replace it than you would for just the fob itself. Aftermarket switchblade fobs are said to run around $125. You can get these online, but more often than not, you’llhave to get yours at a dealership. 

The Transponder Car Key

Designed in the early to mid-1990s as an auto-theft device, the transponder car key is engineered with a heavy-duty plastic head that’s got a computer chip embedded inside it. It works by means of a wireless connection between the key and the car to unlock your doors prior to getting behind the wheel and engaging the ignition. 

Should you lose a transponder car key and don’t have a spare, chances are you’ll need to have your ride towed to the nearest dealership. You might also need the proper paperwork proving you are the rightful owner of the car. Once that’s established the dealership representative will pair a new transponder car key chip to your car. The key will cost anywhere from $200-$250 plus the towing charges. 

The Smart Car Key

Welcome to 2021 where “keyless ignition” is now a part of your daily life. This type of key is engineered to work in association with you’re vehicle’s start button which is embedded in the dash. The smart key isn’t really a key at all in the traditional sense of the word since it’s a sensor that’s been paired with your car. It also locks and unlocks your car by pushing a button. 

If you lose your smart key, you’re not a happy camper. If you don’t have a spare key, you’re vehicle must be towed to the dealership. What’s worse, if your dealer doesn’t have your particular smart key in stock, he or she is going to have to order one for you. When it arrives it will be paired with your vehicle.It will cost you around $320 plus the towing charge.