By Akram Mondal
Today, car retailers typically offer a spare key to the vehicle whenever a car is sold.
So, if you’ve purchased a new car, it is likely that you have a spare key lying around at home.
However, if you have bought a car from the second-hand market, you may or may not have the spare key. Whatever may be the case, it is important to safeguard the key to your car, since this component is crucial to get your car started.
That said, even when you take extreme care to keep your car keys safe, you may occasionally lose them or forget where you placed them.
It is natural to panic in such situations, but here are a few practical ideas that can help you during this emergency.
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1. Carry out a thorough search
Retrace your steps and think back on where you may have placed or misplaced your car keys. This is the first step you should take, so you can avoid the costs of purchasing a new key or the hassle of filing an FIR.
Check the places in which you normally keep your keys and go over the areas you may have visited recently. Think of the last time you remember having your keys and working them out from that point. In many cases, you may end up finding your original keys.
2. Make use of your spare key
If you are unable to find your original key, there’s still no reason to panic as long as you have your spare keys. Most car makers offer a spare key precisely for such emergencies. However, if you bought your car in the second-hand market, your seller may or may not have offered a spare.
Alternatively, if you already lost your original keys earlier and were using your spare, you may not have another replacement key handy. In such situations, you will have to resort to other ideas like getting a new key altogether.
3. File an FIR
If you suspect that your car keys may have been stolen, or if you are concerned you lost them in a public space where other people may end up finding them, it is essential to file a First Information Report (FIR).
You will have to state the time and place of the incident in your FIR. Additionally, if you have an insurance plan that offers key replacement coverage, you will have to submit a copy of the FIR to your insurance provider too.
4. Avoid using unauthorized keys
It is not advisable to use unauthorized keys to attempt to open your car. The keys from a similar car cannot replace your car’s original keys. Trying to use unauthorized keys can damage the lock in your car, and it could also breach the warranty offered by your car manufacturer.
In case your car uses a traditional key, you may be able to seek help from a locksmith to make a new key. However, this may not always be a good idea, because it can lead to a breach of safety for your car. Also, if the keys are not made correctly, it may do more harm than good.
Conclusion
Depending on the type of key you have, you can make use of the ideas outlined above and attempt to unlock your car.
Additionally, to protect yourself from the financial implications of such a situation, it is advisable to get a pocket insurance plan like a key insurance cover.
You can find this kind of insurance on Bajaj MARKETS. Check out your options and invest in this cover today, so you can enjoy benefits like reimbursements on lockout and key replacement coverage.
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