If I find my lost keys later, do I still need the locks rekeyed?
It depends on where the keys were. If you know exactly where they were the whole time, such as in a coat pocket at home or under a sofa cushion, you generally do not need the locks rekeyed. If you lost them somewhere you cannot account for, rekeying is still the safe choice, because finding the keys again does not tell you who had them in between.
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The deciding factor is whether anything on the ring or in the bag showed your address. Keys lost along with a wallet, a letter, a tag or a bag with your address on it are best treated as having been in someone else's hands, and a key found again later does not undo that.
Why finding the keys does not always settle it
A lock cannot tell whether a key has been out of your sight. When a key goes missing in a public place, nothing shows whether it was picked up, set aside, or copied before it came back to you. Rekeying removes the question: the lock is changed so the old key no longer works, and you get new keys.
When you can retrace the whole story, the picture is different. A key that fell behind a seat in your own car, or turned up in a jacket you wore at home, has had no chance to go anywhere. In that case the locks are no less secure than they were yesterday.
Keys also tend to come in groups. If the ring held a car key, a mailbox key or a shared-entry key, each of those is its own decision, so it helps to think about the whole ring and not just the front door.
What you can check yourself
- Retrace where they wereWork out whether the keys were somewhere you can fully account for, like your own home or car, or somewhere public where anyone could have reached them.
- Think about what else was with themCheck whether the keys were lost with a wallet, mail, a bag or a tag that showed your address. If so, rekeying is the better choice even once they are found.
- List every key on the ringWrite down the house doors, mailbox, shared entry, garage, car and any other locks the ring covered. That list shows what needs attention.
- Count your sparesNote who else has a key, such as family, a neighbour or a cleaner. Rekeying can be planned so that everyone who should have a key gets a new one.
When to call a locksmith
Call when the keys were lost somewhere you cannot account for, when your address was with them, or when you would simply rather not wonder. You can also call if you have found the keys but are still unsure. You will get a free estimate on every job. The locksmith looks at your locks, gives you the price, and work starts only once you agree to it. To arrange a visit, call (866) 690-5848.
If you are also locked out, the locksmith will ask for identification and proof that you are entitled to enter the home or vehicle before opening anything. A driver's licence with the address, a lease, a utility bill, or vehicle registration or insurance all work. If a car key was on the ring, mention it when you call, since that can mean two jobs. If a child or an animal is shut inside a home or car, call 911 first.
What the locksmith will do
- Rekey the locksThe locks are changed so the lost keys no longer work, and new keys are supplied that do.
- Replace cylinders where neededWhere a lock cannot be rekeyed, the cylinder is replaced instead.
- Put every exterior door on one keyYour exterior doors can be brought onto a single key, so you carry one instead of several.
- Cut new keys for the householdNew keys are cut for everyone who needs one.
- Deal with mailbox and shared-entry locksIf those keys were on the same ring, the locksmith can address those locks too, or tell you who to ask where a building manager holds them.
Related questions
- What if I found the keys within an hour, at home?
- If you are certain they never left your home or your sight, rekeying is generally not needed. It is a judgement about how sure you are of where they were.
- Does rekeying mean replacing all my locks?
- Often no. Rekeying changes the lock's internals so a new key works and the old one does not, and the existing hardware stays. Cylinders are replaced only where rekeying is not possible.
- What decides the cost of rekeying?
- The type of lock, how many doors are involved, how many new keys you need, whether any parts are required, and the time of day of the visit. The locksmith gives you the price after looking at the locks, and you approve it before any work starts.
- What if a car key was on the ring?
- The house locks and the car key are separate jobs, so mention both when you call. A car key may need to be cut or programmed, which is a different piece of work from rekeying.
- Do I need a licensed locksmith?
- Locksmith licensing varies by state. Some states license or register locksmiths, others leave it to cities or counties, and some do not regulate the trade. Check with your state or city to see what applies where you live.
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