Don’t lose your mind as well! Follow these steps should you find yourself in this situation.

Losing or misplacing your car key is one scenario every driver dreads. It’s the last thing you’ll want to happen if you are rushing for an appointment, or find yourself in an emergency situation.

Stay calm, and heed these suggestions:

1 Retrace your steps
The first thing to do is look around you, then retrace your steps to when you last held your key. What you need to remember most is to always stay calm and be safe. If you plan to search under or around the car, beware of vehicular traffic around you. If you spot your key in the vehicle, don’t attempt to force open a door or break a window — that will trigger your car’s alarm and make you look like a burglar.

2 Call a locksmith
If your key is really lost and you do not have a spare one, call a professional car locksmith. Make sure your locksmith has the expertise to deal with cars that employ keyless entry, or keys that are laser-cut, high-security types, if yours isn’t a traditional car key. It’s best to keep the contact of a reliable locksmith handy — you never know when you’ll need it! Sometimes, even the best locksmiths simply cannot handle complex keys; if that is the case, then you will need to request help from your car dealer.

3 Entrust a spare key to someone
Having entrusted a family member or friend with a spare key can be a lifesaver in times of an emergency. Make sure this person is reliable and contactable — and don’t forget who you handed the spare key to!

4 Contact your car dealer
If your car is relatively new, contact your car dealer. They may be able to re-issue a replacement key. Charges vary, depending on the dealer and on the model type. You have to produce proof of identification and ownership for security reasons. Do note that Authorised Dealers may not entertain cars bought from parallel importers.

Some insurance companies offer an add-on coverage to replace lost or stolen keys. As this benefit does not affect your No Claims Discount, this may be a worthwhile option to consider. For example, the Enhanced AA AutoPlan by AAS Insurance Agency (underwritten by AIG) offers Key Replacement Cover as an optional benefit for vehicle keys lost as a result of theft, robbery or break in. If your car key gets stolen, the policy will pay for the cost (up to S$800) of replacing your car’s lock and key. Also covered is the locksmithing or towing cost should you accidentally lock your key in the car (S$50 excess applies).

5 Call the police
If you are stranded in an area where you don’t feel safe, contact the police at 999 for further assistance.

6 Change the locks
If you know for a fact that your key was stolen, and you don’t feel safe knowing someone could break into your car at any moment, consider rekeying your car locks. This entails modifying the car’s locking mechanism so the old keys don’t work anymore and new keys are issued. You’ll need to seek the help of your dealer to do so.

7 Keep track of your key
These days, there are ways to track even something as small as a key. One such popular device is called Tile Slim*. Attaching it to your key allows you to track it by way of a phone app. The app can detect the device up to 30m away, and will prompt you once you move nearer to your key via an alarm. You can stop the alarm through the app once you have located your key.

* AA Singapore Members can purchase a Tile Slim bluetooth tracker at a special price of $48; purchase two pieces for only $88 (U.P. $68 each). To purchase, visit any of the AAShop outlets at:

So the next time you lose your car keys, remember these steps and tips and stay worry-free.