What to Do If You Lose Your Only Car Key
Lost your only set of car keys? Here's exactly what to do — step by step — and why you don't need an expensive dealer tow.
Step 1 — Stop and check the obvious
Before you panic, retrace the last 30 minutes. Most "lost" keys turn up in jacket pockets, between car seats, or on counters at the last place you stopped. If the vehicle is unlocked, peek under the seats and floor mats. About 1 in 5 "lost key" calls we take are recovered before we arrive.
Step 2 — Don't call the dealer first
Dealers will tell you the car has to be towed in, you'll wait days for a key to be ordered, and you'll pay hundreds in tow, labor, and key fees. For most modern vehicles, a mobile automotive locksmith can come to you, cut a new key on-site, and program it to your immobilizer the same day — often for less than half the dealer total.
Step 3 — Gather your information
When you call us, have ready: the year, make, and model of the vehicle; the VIN (visible through the windshield on the dash); and ideally proof of ownership (registration or title). NASTF-registered locksmiths can pull factory key codes when needed.
Step 4 — Ask about "all keys lost"
If you have no working keys, that's called an "all keys lost" or AKL job. It takes a little longer than a duplicate because we have to originate a brand-new key from scratch and pair it to your vehicle's immobilizer. Most AKL jobs at Keys R Us LLC start at $99 plus any dealer/key-code costs the vehicle requires.
Step 5 — Get a spare cut the same day
While we're already on-site programming your new key, ask us to cut a second one. Spares are dramatically cheaper to make in the same visit, and they prevent the exact situation you're in right now from ever happening again.
Lost keys aren't an emergency that requires a tow truck. A NASTF-registered mobile locksmith can usually have you driving again the same day — and a spare key cut at the same visit is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy.
