If you lose your car keys, search the likely places, use the spare, check the key cover and call a mobile auto locksmith for a new key. A new key costs £150 to £400 or more when every key is lost. A spare costs £80 to £220.
Keys gone and the car is stuck? Call 07830249408 in Devon, Dorset or Somerset. I make the new key at the car and confirm the price before work.
The sections below give the 6 steps after losing car keys, the 3 routes to a new key, the cost and the documents.
After losing car keys, search, use the spare, report stolen keys, check the cover, call a locksmith and have the lost key deleted. A new key costs £150 to £400 or more.
What Are the 6 Steps if You Lose Your Car Keys?
The 6 steps if you lose your car keys are a search, the spare key, a report for stolen keys, a check of the cover, a call to a locksmith and the deletion of the lost key.
Search the likely places
Check pockets, bags, the door lock, the car and the last place visited.
Use the spare key
A spare at home or with a relative keeps the car in use.
Report stolen keys
Stolen keys are reported to the police, and the crime reference goes to the insurer.
Check the cover
Read the car insurance and the breakdown policy for key cover.
Call a mobile auto locksmith
Give the make, the model, the year and the place where the car is parked.
Have the lost key deleted
The lost key is deleted from the car, so it no longer starts the engine.
Who Replaces Car Keys After You Lose Them?
Car keys are replaced after you lose them by 3 routes, which are a mobile auto locksmith, a main dealer and a breakdown provider with key cover.
| Route | What Happens | Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile auto locksmith | The key is made at the car, with no towing | Arrival in 20 to 60 minutes |
| Main dealer | The key is ordered and the car goes to the workshop | 5 to 14 days |
| Breakdown provider | The provider sends a key service when the policy covers keys | Set by the provider |
What Does a New Key Cost After You Lose Your Car Keys?
A new key costs £150 to £400 or more after you lose your car keys with no spare, and £80 to £220 as a second key from the spare.
| Vehicle Type | Lost Key Price |
|---|---|
| Budget hatchback | £150 to £220 |
| Mid range family car | £180 to £280 |
| German premium car | £250 to £400 |
| Prestige car or SUV | £300 to £500 or more |
| Commercial van | £180 to £320 |
A main dealer charges £250 to £400 or more for a Ford or a Vauxhall key and £400 to £700 or more for a BMW, an Audi or a Mercedes key.
Which Documents Are Needed After You Lose Your Car Keys?
The documents needed after you lose your car keys are proof of ownership, which is the V5C logbook, the insurance documents or a DVLA record, and a photo ID.
With the documents ready, the new key is made in 1 visit. Lost car key replacement is done at the car across Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
Does Insurance Cover the Cost if You Lose Your Car Keys?
Insurance covers the cost if you lose your car keys only when the policy includes key cover, and a claim often carries an excess. The guide to car insurance key replacement lists the checks before a claim.
What if a Keyless Car Key Is Lost?
A lost keyless car key is replaced in the same way, and the lost key is deleted from the car at the same visit. A deleted keyless key no longer unlocks the doors or starts the engine.
How Do You Avoid Losing Your Car Keys Again?
The 3 ways to avoid losing your car keys again are a fixed place for the keys at home, a tracker tag on the key ring and a spare key.
- A fixed place. A hook or a bowl away from the front door.
- A tracker tag. A tag on the key ring rings from a phone.
- A spare key. A spare car key costs £80 to £220 and ends the next search in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Losing Your Car Keys
With lost car keys, search the likely places, use the spare and call a mobile auto locksmith for a new key.
With lost car keys and no spare, a new key is made at the car for £150 to £400 or more. The guide on lost car keys with no spare gives the 4 steps.
Lost car keys are found most often in the first places to look for missing car keys, which are coat pockets, bags and the door lock. The guide to the 8 places to look for missing car keys lists each place.
A lost car key is tracked only when a tracker tag is on the key ring, which lets a phone find the car keys. The guide on how to find car keys with a phone lists the tags and the apps.
Losing car keys is a big deal only when no spare exists, because the car stays parked until a new key is made. A new key is made at the car in 1 visit.
A lost car key replacement costs £150 to £400 or more in the UK. The guide to the car key replacement cost in the UK gives the price by key type.
A spare car key is kept inside the home, away from the front door, after a lost key. The guide on where to keep a spare car key lists 6 safe places.
Dean answers in plain words
Do I have to bring the car to you?
No. I come to your home, your workplace or the roadside. No towing and no booking in.
How do I get a price?
Call with the make, model and year. The quote is free and you get it before I travel.
Based in Honiton. Working since 2009. Dealer level programming equipment on the van.
Free upfront quote. Available 24 hours a day.