As an automotive locksmith that has helped thousands of people regain access to their vehicles, we know this tends to happen in certain places more than others. Here are four places where you need to be especially thoughtful about your keys:

1. Home

Believe it or not, this is one of the most common places people lock keys in their cars. This is because we spend most of our lives leaving home, and coming back. Whether your mind is preoccupied with what went on during your day or your children are playing around with the car while it’s in the garage, it’s easier than you think for your doors to inadvertently lock while the keys are inside. Some ways to avoid this include making sure your keys are in the same spot of your home, or investing in a smart key fob that won’t let the vehicle doors lock while it’s inside.

2. Work

Next, the place most of us spend our second-greatest amount of time: work. Typically, people go to work five days a week and often take lunch breaks, so there are a lot of opportunities for this to happen. But one of the biggest reasons this happens is because we have work on our minds or are carrying things we need for work (e.g., briefcases, lunch). Adding a reminder to your phone or computer is one way to potentially mitigate the risk of locking keys in your car at work.

3. While Shopping

Shopping centers are another standard location for car lockouts. From grocery stores, and malls to big-box retailers, these places usually involve carrying bags back to your automobile. This leaves them prone to slipping—or you forgetting about them entirely. Or, if you have a trunk, you might put all your bags, and the keys inside the trunk and close it. Either way, having an auto locksmith you trust is invaluable to meet you at the store, and unlock your car.

4. On the Road

Finally, it’s not uncommon to lock keys in your car while on a road trip or if you’re having car troubles on the side of the road. These situations aren’t part of our routines, so our minds can get distracted, and we make a mistake with our keys. A-1 Locksmith has provided emergency, and mobile locksmith services time, and time again for situations like this.

Wherever you’ve locked your keys in your car in Dallas-Fort Worth, A-1 Locksmith is here to provide the best auto lockout services you’ll find. Contact us today if this ever happens to you.

Yes, having a spare key on hand is more beneficial than you might think. Here are a few reasons why you should consider having one made, and how a professional locksmith can help.

1. Emergency Situations

First, there is the most obvious reason. Whether you’re running late for an important meeting or rushing a loved one to the hospital, realizing you’ve misplaced your car key in an urgent situation is not good. In moments like this, having a spare key readily accessible can save your day. You can always look for your regular key after you’ve addressed the situation. From locking your keys inside the car to losing them completely, and being stranded while you’re away from home, a spare key or professional locksmith can help you in extenuating circumstances.

2. Avoiding Lockouts

Locking your keys in your car can needlessly create very real problems. Not only is it frustrating, but it can cause a major inconvenience as well. This is especially true if you’re in a remote area or dealing with unfavorable weather conditions. However, having a spare key tucked away safely lets you regain access to your vehicle even when you’ve locked the keys inside. Without a spare key in this instance, you’ll need to shell out for emergency services, and potentially wait a while until help arrives.

3. Peace of Mind

Knowing that you have a spare key handy in case of an emergency adds a layer of calm to your otherwise busy day. You can gain a sense of security, and peace of mind, especially if you’re traveling with family members you feel obligated to protect (like children and the elderly). You likely have a backup plan at home in case of a fire, right? The same concept applies to key-related emergencies, as spare keys alleviate unnecessary stress, and worry. It’s a simple precaution, but one that can make a world of difference as you deal with unforeseen circumstances while on the road.

4. Cost Savings

A spare key is a small expense in the grand scheme of things. Still, some are hesitant to make this investment, or view it as unnecessary. But it’s a small price to pay compared to the potential costs associated with losing or damaging your primary keys. As technology improves, modern car keys (especially programmable keys or fobs) are getting more expensive to replace, which can dwarf the cost of a spare key. It’s also possible replacing your main keys will involve specialized equipment and programming, which will up the cost as well. 

5. Convenient Sharing

If you want to loan a car to a family member or trusted friend, it takes more trust if you only have one set of car keys on hand. With a spare key readily available, it’s easier and more convenient to loan out your spare key, whether for carpooling, running errands or a short trip. Having multiple keys also means you don’t have to worry as much about handovers or scheduling conflicts, giving you extra flexibility, and accessibility. 

6. Preventing Wear and Tear

One overlooked reason is the fact that your key wears down over time. So the more you use your regular key, the higher the likelihood will be of that key breaking or malfunctioning. A spare key can help here if you rotate between your spare, and regular keys from time to time, maximizing the lifespan of both. Distributing the usage more evenly will go a long way to maintaining the functionality of your car’s locking system.

7. Preparedness

Last, but not least, spare keys can help you respond to certain situations faster and easier. With events like natural disasters or local emergencies, time is of the essence, and a spare key will help you quickly evacuate or access supplies stored in your vehicle. Whether a storm is approaching and you can’t find your primary keys or you want to go straight to where you know your spare key is stored, just having the option means that you are ready to respond swiftly to unforeseen emergencies.

These are just a few reasons you might need a spare key for your car. However, instead of heading to the dealership or closest kiosk to get one made, we recommend going with a professional partner you can trust, like A-1 Locksmith. Contact us today or visit one of our Dallas-Fort Worth locations to get your spare key made, view options or ask any questions you may have.

As specialized Automotive Locksmith services, we can provide you all types of car key services , ignition replacements or repairing damaged ignition key, working with smart keys, locked doors, lock problems, programming of chip keys, lost keys, remote keys or any other technology. As comprehensive Automotive Locksmith services we cannot just deal with traditional type of auto locking systems but also with modern sophisticated remote control keys, and everything in between.

Our team comprises of professional, and qualified Automotive Locksmith experts. They have undergone several hours of training to master every type of locksmith technology that exists today. In addition, they are also trained to deal with any type of situation, while getting the job done within the time constraints, and without causing any damage to your vehicle. It is important that you call on the services of a professional Automotive Locksmith like if you want to see the task done flawlessly, and without any kind of harm to your car’s locking system.

You car is an expensive asset to you and the same goes for its locking system and keys. When calling an Automotive Locksmith you should be careful in calling the best and highly professional services. Our staff is qualified, and experienced. We are licensed, and reputed in the Automotive Locksmith industry.

When you work with us, you can remain assured that even if you have called us miles away from civilization, we can sort any type of Automotive Locksmith issues. You can also get an additional duplicate key from us so as to help you avoid any locking out situations in the future.

We charge for our Automotive Locksmith services on the basis of several factors including the year, model, and make of your vehicle, the type of locks, and the keys, any past changes made to the locks or keys, and several other factors. You can expect our services to be priced naturally higher when it comes to working with high-tech locking systems. So, the next time you require professional Automotive Locksmith hands, you know who to call.