3 DIY Tips For Emergency Car Key Replacement
Losing your car keys could be a traumatic experience. Fortunately, there are a few ways to assist yourself in this situation.
Look for obvious places such as your purse or pockets. Consider purchasing an extra one and keeping it in a secure location. This will prevent any future thefts.
1. Contact the police
If you've lost your keys and can't locate them, the best solution is to contact the police. They can assist you more than a locksmith or roadside assistance. They can also inform the general public that your car keys may be missing, which will help prevent people from using keys without authorization.
They can't open the door of your car unless it is an emergency. This is because they don't have the proper tools to do this and they don't want to cause damage to your vehicle. In certain circumstances the police may be able to use a slim jim to open the door, but they will need to have a good reason for doing so. If they find that a child or an animal is locked in a car in hot weather, they could break the window.
It's also a good idea to have an extra key somewhere in case you're locked out of your car. Some people keep spare keys in places that are easy to access such as their home or office. Others give them to family members or friends members to hold onto in the event of an emergency. If you have an extra make contact with it before calling authorities or taking more drastic steps.
Many cars have proximity remotes with a hidden emergency code. If yours is one of them, you may be able to open the doors from a distance using an instrument that only a locksmith will possess. It is a thin tool with a flat edge that can be used to pick a lock.
2. Call for a Tow Truck
Find a company that provides emergency car key replacement if you have lost your keys. It is recommended to keep their contact numbers on your phone under "Emergency," and spend some time researching the services they offer costs, coverage areas, charges, technology, and professionals.
This will help you make a well-informed decision if the situation arises. Whether replacement key for a car need an emergency locksmith or simply a new key, these companies can help you get back on the road with little hassle.
The best way to prevent losing your keys is to have a spare set, and when you can, have two or three sets. Keep one set at home, another with your important person and the third one in your wallet. This will ensure that you don't end up in a remote location.
A spare key could prevent you from needing to call roadside assistance. The cost of a new key for a traditional one is usually very affordable, but the price of a smart one can be quite costly. These keys utilize an electronic chip to operate the vehicle, therefore they'll require pairing with the vehicle by a dealer or manufacturer and can take several days.
It's a good idea, to make the process as easy and quick as is possible you keep the VIN number of the car in your pocket. It can be found on your car's paperwork or is often stamped on a metal plate that is located in the driver's side doorpost. This information will allow the technician to reprogram your old key so that it can work with the new key.
3. Try a Pump Wedge
It's always best to use a non-destructive method first particularly if you have children, pets or elderly people in the car. There's no need to worry about calling the number 999 or paying a big bill for an expert.
Air pump wedges are sold in auto lockout kits and by repo and locksmith professionals. They're made from durable, heavy-duty vinyl and are designed to be inflated for a short period of time, and then deflated. This lets you slide them between the door and the weather stripping without risking scratching or dinging the paint of the car.
You can make use of a standard wedge, or an angled one is more suitable for the majority of cars. The idea is to create space in which you can place an extremely thin rod to reach the locked door pin. If the hanger for your coat is thick enough, it might be able to work. You can also use a rod made of plastic or a blood pressure cuff. The rod should be put between the frame and the door to allow you to pull it to open the vehicle.
It is recommended to stay clear of these techniques unless you're in an emergency. If not, the police might need to employ an even more destructive method to enter your vehicle to rescue passengers or pets.
Keep a spare car key at home or with someone close to you to allow you to gain access to your vehicle when you lock yourself out. It is also important to determine if your auto insurance or roadside assistance policy covers the replacement of keys to your car.
4. Try Coathanger
The coat hanger trick is a classic, and you've probably seen it in a film. This is a great option for older cars that come with manual locks. It works as the slim jim. You only need a thin coat hanger with pliers and a thin wire.
With the pliers, untwist the coat hanger until it has one end hooked and one straight. Slide the hook into the gap between the window frame and door frame. This will give you a greater chance of finding the control arm that is connected to the rod for locking. Once you've found it push the lever upwards and your door will open.
Another method is to tie a string with an elongated slip-knot on the upper right corner of the driver's side door. Move the string in a back-and-forth motion (like flossing a huge tooth) to move it towards the inside lock rod. It is possible to use both hands, and it could take several attempts however, if it's successful, the lock will be released and you will be able to open the door.
You can also make use of the plastic strip bent into a shape to fit the gap between the door and frame. This is a more difficult option but it may be the only option if you can't locate your keys.
It is a good plan to keep a spare key somewhere you can easily find it in case of emergency. You'll need to contact road assistance or a locksmith in the event that you don't. Make sure you have the key code number and your personal identification in to ensure that the road assistance or locksmith can assist you quickly.