Losing or misplacing your car keys can be a very frustrating experience, locking you out of your car and keeping you off the road for quite some time. The cost of replacing your car keys can also be quite high, especially for new car models with sophisticated keys that include electronic transponders to start the engine.

Luckily, replacing your car keys doesn't have to be such a hassle. With the tips below, you can lower the cost of replacing your car keys and save yourself the inconvenience of not having access to your car due to a damaged or lost key. 

Contact an automotive locksmith

Car owners often tend to go to a car dealership for a car key replacement. Unfortunately, car dealerships typically charge a higher fee for replacement car keys compared to automotive locksmiths. You can thus save some money by contacting a reputable automotive locksmith in your area to make a new key for your car model, since they typically have the technology for coding car keys to activate remote control locking, restarting the engine, or even activating alarms.

Besides, an automotive locksmith will usually come to your home while the dealership will require that you take your car to them, which can be a hassle since you have no car keys. Auto locksmiths will often also have aftermarket keys ready for different car models which they can provide to you immediately at a low fee instead of waiting for several days for a new key to be made.

Claim on your auto insurance

Before deciding on using your money for car key replacements, examine your auto insurance to check whether you are covered for the cost of getting a spare key after the original is lost or stolen.

Simply giving your auto insurance company a call and asking whether you can claim the cost of replacing your lost car keys can save you a lot of money. You can also inquire if your policy includes car hire for the duration when your keys are being replaced. 

Have a spare key made

Having your auto locksmith make a spare key form in advance can save you a lot of hassle and inconvenience in case you lose the original. The spare can be stored in a magnetic key box that attaches to the bottom of your car so you can have access to it at any time while on the road in case you get locked out of the vehicle.