We replace lost, stolen and broken car keys for motorists every day, as you can imagine there are some common steps you can take to make the process easier, minimising disruption to your life and maximising your security.

If you’ve lost your car keys in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and the surrounding areas, feel free to use this advice to avoid the hassle a lost or broken car key can cause.

1. If you don’t have two keys, consider having a spare cut. It will cost you far more to have an auto locksmith respond to a lost or damaged key situation. Having a spare key cut will save you time and money. Spare car keys always come in useful.
2. Don’t leave your car keys lying around. Car keys are prime targets for opportunistic thieves. Don’t make their life easy by leaving your keys in unwatched visible places. We recommend treating your car keys like you would an amount of cash equivalent to the value of your car. You wouldn’t leave £15,000 on a side table, would you?
3. Replace old and worn car keys. Is your car key starting to stick in the lock? Maybe your electric fob is starting to become temperamental? We strongly advise having your car key replaced and a new transponder programmed before they fail completely. It’s cheaper and will save you the embarrassment and hassle of not being able to get into your car in a busy car park.
4. Understand what is happening inside your car key. Inside modern car keys lies a small chip called the transponder. This chip sends a code to your car’s immobiliser, which in turn sends a signal to the on board computer. When the code is correct, you can start the engine. If wrong, you’re not going anywhere. Because every code is unique, car keys need to be programmed with specialist equipment. Hence why losing a car key can become an issue without a trained automotive locksmith available.
5. Do not use wet car keys. “What do I do if my car key gets wet?”, is a common question we are asked and there’s a simple answer, do not use them. Put your car keys somewhere warm to dry out (such as an airing cupboard or in a cup of rice). Leave them there for at least 24 hours to dry out and this should solve the problem. If you’re still having issues, give us a call.
6. How to unstick frozen car locks. In the winter car locks can become frozen and sticky. If you’re suffering with this problem, we recommend you very carefully heat the blade of your key with a lighter. Now try reinserting into the lock and allow the heat to unstick the car lock for a few seconds. It may take a few attempts but it should ease the lock.