According to the RAC, around sixteen million drivers around the country will misplace their car keys regularly. If you have lost your car keys or if they have been stolen, you may be covered by your insurer. However, your insurer might not pay the costs if you have given your keys to a family member or friend who has lost them. If your car keys have been stolen, then the first thing that you should do is report the crime to the police and get a crime reference number before putting in a claim with your insurer. Your insurer will not cover you if you have left the car keys in the ignition and the car has been stolen.
Claiming on Your Insurance Policy
If your car keys are lost or stolen, then you may be able to claim for the cost of replacing your keys on your car insurance policy. Some comprehensive car insurance policies include key cover as standard, so it’s a good idea to check if you have it. It will not usually be included on a third party, fire, and theft policy unless you have chosen it as an add-on. Your insurer may be able to pay out for the cost of altering the engine control unit and alarms since these will need to be reprogrammed for the new key.
If You’ve Locked Your Keys Inside the Car
If you have locked your keys inside the car, then there are a few things that you can do. If you have a spare car key that you can access right away or have somebody bring to where you are, then this is the easiest way to get into your car and retrieve the keys. If you have a breakdown policy, then most breakdown services will cover getting into your car with the keys locked inside. You can also call for an auto locksmith Hertfordshire such as Speedy Auto Locksmith to help you get back into your car and retrieve the keys. Speedy Auto Locksmith serve all Hertfordshire towns and can help get you back on the road if your car key is locked inside your car, broken, lost, or stolen.
Getting a New Set of Keys
If your car keys are gone for good, or they are completely broken, then you may need to buy a new set of keys. This will usually cost between £200 and £500 depending on the make and model of your car since programming and re-coding will need to be performed to ensure that the new keys work with your car. You may need to wait between five and ten days for you replacement keys. Your new key may need to be programmed to control the alarms, remote locking, and keyless entry. You may need to have new car keys fitted with new programming chips, immobilisers, and ignition software.
Losing your car keys is easily done, or you may have them stolen. Whether you’ve been the victim of a crime or have accidentally locked your keys inside your car, the good news is that there are several things that you can do to get back on the road again.