Car insurance is designed to cover you in emergency situations. Perhaps your engine dies, and you need immediate assistance. Comprehensive auto insurance is designed to cover you in this situation. Another serious auto emergency is losing or misplacing your keys. Here's a closer look at car insurance for lost keys.
Comprehensive insurance does provide assistance if your keys are stolen or misplaced. However, you are generally responsible for the replacement costs. If your keys were stolen as part of a car theft, you are covered through comprehensive insurance. Your keys may also be covered through home insurance because it's considered your personal property.
When researching car insurance for lost keys, it's recommended that you take some time to think before moving forward with the claims process. In most cases, filing a claim for lost or stolen keys is not beneficial. Generally, your deductible is the most important variable. Your deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying toward a claim. Replacing most keys is relatively inexpensive as long as you have an extra pair on hand to copy. There's a chance the key replacement costs may cost less than your policy deductible. Replacing key fobs is a little costlier, but there's also a decent chance it may not cost as much as your policy deductible.
The one situation where it definitely makes sense to file a claim is if you have an enhanced key. Smart keys cost hundreds of dollars to reprogram. It's recommended that you assess your options, including potential savings, whether your insurance premiums will rise, and the amount of time to process the claim.
If your comprehensive auto insurance policy includes roadside assistance, notify your insurer about your lost key as soon as possible so they can dispatch a locksmith to assist you. Your insurance should cover the dispatch fee, but you'll likely have to pay a deductible toward creating the new key. If the locksmith can't provide urgent service, your roadside assistance should cover your towing service to a repair shop or dealership.
If you have a high-tech key, it's not recommended that you use aftermarket parts to replace it. The re-keying process may be complicated. It's recommended that you have your car towed to the dealership if you need a new high-tech key.
If you have an older model vehicle that uses a traditional mechanical key, you can have a new key made at a general hardware store. Be aware, though, that most manufacturers currently use electric key fobs.
Some vehicles function using a remote to lock and unlock them. You can shop for a blank remote control fob and have a locksmith program it. Some key fobs allow you to program it manually as long as you have the original key on hand. However, you'll still need to cut the mechanical part. Another benefit of these keys is that your locksmith may copy your key online if an emergency occurs. This prevents you from possibly paying for tow service.
Perhaps you don't have a spare car key on hand. If you don't have an extra key for making a new copy, the dealer or locksmith can create a new copy by using your VIN or key code. Your auto insurance policy can cover the cost of this.
Losing your car key is an uncomfortable situation. Luckily comprehensive car insurance does provide some assistance. Contact the team here at Little & Sons Insurance Services if you are searching for the right car insurance policy. We will help cover the cost of your lost car keys.
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