Most people don’t think much about their keys—until they lose them.
A missing house key can leave you standing outside your home. A lost vehicle key can leave you stranded in a parking lot. And with today’s automotive technology, replacing the only key to a vehicle can be considerably more complicated than simply cutting another piece of metal.
We regularly help customers after keys are lost, damaged, stolen, or accidentally locked inside. One of the simplest ways to avoid turning these situations into emergencies is to have a properly made spare key before you need it.
Modern Car Keys Aren’t Just Keys Anymore
Years ago, making a spare car key was usually straightforward. Today, many vehicles use transponder keys, remote-head keys, proximity smart keys, and push-to-start fobs.
These keys are part of the vehicle’s electronic security system and often need to be properly programmed before they will start the vehicle.
When you already have a working key, getting a spare made is generally much easier than waiting until every key has been lost.
An “all keys lost” situation can involve gaining access to the vehicle, determining the correct key or key code, cutting the new key, and programming it to the vehicle. Procedures vary considerably between manufacturers and models.
That’s why we encourage vehicle owners to check something simple today: Do you have two working keys for your vehicle? If you only have one, consider getting a spare now.
Having a backup can be especially important when multiple family members drive the same vehicle. It also gives you another option if your everyday key is lost, damaged, or stops functioning properly.
Don’t Forget About Your Home
The same principle applies to your house. A spare house key can save you from an inconvenient lockout and provide access for another trusted member of your household when necessary.
But where you keep that spare matters.
Leaving a key under the doormat, beneath a flowerpot, or in another obvious location outside your home can create an unnecessary security risk. Keep spare keys secure and only provide them to people you trust.
Homeowners should also consider rekeying their locks after moving into a new property.
You may receive a few keys when you purchase or rent a home, but you may not know how many copies were made previously or who still has them. Rekeying changes the locks so the old keys no longer operate them while allowing you to continue using the existing hardware in many situations.
Once your locks are rekeyed, make the appropriate number of spare keys and keep track of who has them.
Preparation Is Usually Better Than an Emergency
Lockouts never seem to happen at a convenient time. They happen when you’re trying to get to work, picking up your children, arriving home late, or rushing to an appointment.
A spare key is a small investment that can prevent a much larger inconvenience.
Take a moment today to check your household and vehicle keys. Make sure you have working backups and know exactly where they are stored.
If you need an extra house key, automotive key, remote, or smart key—or would like your home or business rekeyed—Auburn Safe & Lock is here to help.
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media LLC (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses, or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
