Visiting your local dealership can be a great option for replacing lost car keys.
How to Replace Lost Car Keys
Every once in a while, we misplace our car keys, but usually we are able to retrace our steps and find them again. Sometimes, however, something worse happens and we lose them for good, but even in those situations, most drivers will have a backup set of keys that came with the purchase of their vehicle. In more extreme cases, however, both sets are lost and a driver is left wondering how to replace lost car keys.
If you’re in this situation, the first thing to do is to relax and don’t panic. Losing your car keys can be a worrying experience, but the solution may not be as difficult as you expect.
With modern technology, keys for many new vehicles allow for keyless entry and many have anti-theft technology. Because of the level of technology involved, replacing your vehicle’s keys isn’t as simple as it once used to be. Don’t worry, however, we are here to help.
Should you ever lose your vehicle’s keys, one of the best things to do is to contact your local dealership. You will likely need to provide information about your vehicle, such as the VIN number and proof of ownership. You can often easily find the VIN number without having to enter the vehicle by looking through the windshield to your vehicle’s dashboard. For obvious reasons, it is important for a dealership to know that you are the one who owns the vehicle.
Once this is taken care of, a new key can be created and programmed to your vehicle. Learning how to replace lost car keys is not as much of a hassle as it may seem, but it certainly is not ideal. Thankfully, there are simple steps you can take to avoid losing your car keys in the future.
1. If your vehicle only came with one set of keys, have a replacement set created right away. That way you are prepared in case you do lose your keys in the future.
2. Treat your keys like a diamond ring or other expensive item. Store it in a designated place at all times so that you always know where it is located.
3. Purchase one of the many gadgets that can attach to your keys. Many of these high tech gadgets can help you find them if they are lost.
4. Don’t share your keys with anyone. If you only have one set, it’s best to make sure you hang onto your keys at all times.
Implementing our tips can help keep you from losing your keys, but if it does happen, we can show you how to replace lost car keys. As always, feel free to contact us at Mazda of Lodi with any questions.
Thanks for explaining what the process is like for replacing car keys. It’s good to know that you should get a replacement set quickly if the car only had one set of keys. I’m kind of interested to learn more about what this process is like and how long it could take.
I really liked it when you said that I should have another set of keys made in case the dealer of the car only gave me a single set of keys. Then I will be sure to look for a locksmith as soon as I can. I recently bought a car and the dealer only gave me one key. Since I am prone to misplacing things, I might as well be prepared as early as now. Thanks!
I bought my Mazda 3 new from the dealer but had them make and program a spare (3rd) key just to have on hand. I mainly use it when I leave the car for service at the dealer.
Unfortunately keyless start remote not as easy to duplicate as old non-chip or even chip keys were. For our Subarus we just had cloned chip keys without remote made at a hardware store.