I lost my keys and have no idea where, what should I do first?
Take ten minutes to retrace your last few stops and check the usual hiding places — coat pockets, the car, a bag, the door you came in through. If they do not turn up and anything on that ring could point someone to your address, treat the keys as gone and arrange to have the locks rekeyed so the lost keys no longer work.
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The nuance is what else was on the ring. A car key, a mailbox key or a shared-entry fob turns one job into two or three, so make a list of everything that was attached before you call anyone.
Why rekeying is usually the answer
A lost key is only a problem if someone can match it to a door. Keys lost with a luggage tag, a store loyalty card, a wallet or anything else showing your address should be treated as keys in a stranger's hands, and finding them again a week later does not undo that.
Rekeying changes the lock so the old keys no longer operate it, and you keep the hardware you already have. It is the usual answer when the locks are sound and you simply need the lost keys retired. Where a lock is worn, damaged or of a type that cannot be rekeyed, the cylinder is replaced instead.
It is also a good moment to bring every exterior door onto one key. Many homes end up with three different keys because locks were changed one at a time, and a single key for the whole house is easier to live with and easier to replace next time.
What you can check yourself
- Retrace the last hourThink through every place you stopped and every bag or pocket you opened. Most keys turn up within a few steps of where they were last used.
- Call the places you visitedShops, restaurants, gyms and transit offices keep lost property. A quick phone call costs nothing and often ends the search.
- List what was on the ringWrite down every key and fob — house, back door, garage, mailbox, shared entry, car, work. This decides how much work is needed.
- Check whether anything identified youA tag, a card, a label or a fob with an address or a unit number changes the picture. If something on the ring points to where you live, plan on rekeying.
- Tell anyone who shares the keysA spouse, roommate, landlord or building manager may hold a spare you can use in the meantime, and will need to know the locks are changing.
When to call a locksmith
Call once the search has run out of places to look, or straight away if the keys were lost with anything showing your address. Call too if you are now standing outside with no way in — that is a lockout as well as a lost key, and both can be handled in one visit.
On any lockout the locksmith asks for identification and proof that you are entitled to enter before opening anything — a driver's licence with the address, a lease, a utility bill, or a neighbour or manager who can confirm it. One Call Locksmiths arranges the visit with an independent locksmith in all fifty states. The estimate is free: the locksmith looks at the locks, gives the price, and work starts only once you agree it. Call (866) 690-5848.
What the locksmith will do
- Rekey the locksThe existing locks are rekeyed so the lost keys no longer operate them. The hardware on your doors stays where it is.
- Replace cylinders where neededWhere a lock is worn, damaged or cannot be rekeyed, the cylinder is replaced instead and the door is left working on the new key.
- Bring the doors onto one keyFront, back, side and garage doors can be set to work on a single key, so there is one key to carry and one to copy.
- Cut new keys for the householdFresh keys are cut on the spot for everyone who needs one, so nobody is left short.
- Deal with the rest of the ringMailbox and shared-entry locks that were on the same ring are addressed where possible, and a lost car key can be cut and programmed as part of the same visit.
Related questions
- Should I still rekey if I find the keys later?
- If the keys were out of your hands and anything on the ring pointed to your address, finding them again does not tell you who saw them in the meantime. Most people rekey anyway for peace of mind. If they were under a sofa cushion the whole time, there is nothing to do.
- Is rekeying the same as fitting new locks?
- No. Rekeying changes the lock so old keys stop working while keeping the hardware you have. New locks are fitted when the existing ones are worn, damaged, or you want a different type or finish.
- What does this cost?
- It depends on how many doors there are, the type of lock on each, whether any cylinder has to be replaced, how many keys are cut, and whether a car key also needs cutting and programming. The time of day plays a part too. The estimate is free and the price is agreed before any work begins.
- I rent — can I have the locks rekeyed?
- Check with your landlord or building manager first, as the tenancy agreement usually covers who may change the locks and who holds a key afterwards. Many landlords arrange it themselves once told the keys are lost.
- A car key was on the ring too — what now?
- Mention it when you call, because a replacement car key usually has to be cut and programmed to the vehicle and that is a separate piece of work. The locksmith will ask to see the vehicle registration or insurance along with your identification before any car key work is done.
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