Being locked out of your car can make you feel very vulnerable, particularly if you’re in an unfamiliar neighborhood. But here are some steps you can take so that you can get replacement car keys as soon as possible, with as little hassle as possible.

Of course the first thing to do is to retrace your steps, because people do find their lost car keys that way. If that doesn’t work, do you have a friend or family member with access to spare keys? If not, then you’ll need to call a locksmith.

If you do not know the name or have the number of a good automotive locksmith, you have several options. If you are near a police station, you can ask the dispatcher for the name of a good locksmith. In most places police are not allowed to try to unlock people’s cars anymore, because of liability concerns. But police usually know who the good local locksmiths are.

You may be able to ask someone at a local business for the name of a good locksmith. Hotels, restaurants, or any busy retail location can be a good source of information, as can personnel at fire stations if there is one close by.

If you have to do a search using your phone, or using the yellow pages of a phone book, do not choose a locksmith until you have called several and have an idea what the average charges should be. Any estimate that is very high or very low should make you suspicious. There are all too many locksmiths who will quote $50 over the phone, but “discover” that your car is a model that’s particularly hard to unlock and triple the estimate once they’re on the scene.

Be skeptical of those who answer the phone with a generic greeting like “Locksmiths,” or “Hello.” They could well be a front for a nationwide scheme that sends out “local locksmiths” as if they were located in your town. In reality, they could be located across the country, and they could be making money by taking advantage of people in desperate situations.

In Illinois, locksmiths are supposed to be licensed. Therefore, any Chicago locksmith who is qualified to do the job should not hesitate to show you their license and proof of insurance. You should also check that the name and number on the invoice matches that on the service van. Never sign a blank service order: reputable locksmiths will not ask you to do this.

You should receive an itemized receipt when the locksmith has replaced your lost car keys, and the amount you pay should be close to or identical to the quote you were given.

If you have a good experience with an automotive locksmith, program that number into your contacts, and share it with your loved ones should they ever find themselves in a similar situation. It’s no fun to have to make an emergency call to a locksmith, but if you don’t panic, don’t rush, and ask questions before authorizing any work, you can come through it unscathed.

Author Bio: Jason Bacot – Have you lost your car keys? Are you looking to get them replaced, or you just need some options to look at, then I suggest you check out the best Locksmith Chicago and actually, the only Chicago Locksmith.

Category: Automotive
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