Will my car insurance cover lost keys?
Car insurance does not cover lost keys outright, but there are a few exceptions. Comprehensive auto insurance will cover lost keys if they were stolen as a result of a vehicle break-in, and if you have roadside assistance, car insurance will cover keys locked inside a vehicle. Otherwise, replacing lost keys will be your responsibility.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Ty Stewart
Licensed Insurance Agent
Ty Stewart is the founder and CEO of SimpleLifeInsure.com. He started researching and studying about insurance when he got his first policy for his own family. He has been featured as an insurance expert speaker at agent conventions and in top publications. As an independent licensed insurance agent, he has helped clients nationwide to secure affordable coverage while making the process simpl...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Mar 5, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right car insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our car insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different car insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Mar 5, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right car insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our car insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different car insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
Misplacing your keys can leave you in a panic, especially when you’re in a rush to get somewhere that you need to be. Most of the time, you’ll find your keys in an odd place around the home where you carelessly threw them, but other times they never show back up.
Surprisingly enough, replacing your keys can cost you a pretty penny. Compare car insurance rates now by using our FREE quote tool above!
If you’re on a mission to buy a comprehensive auto insurance plan that protects you against some common scenarios that can be financially challenging, it’s important that you know whether or not your insurance company will cover lost keys.
While mindlessly leaving your keys at a bus stop might not qualify as a covered event, there may come a time where your auto insurance policy can help.
Just how much can a lost key possibly cost?
Believe it or not, losing a key could cost you upwards of $1000 when you have to pay a locksmith, replace the key and have your vehicle towed to a shop.
Key replacement cost can range between as little as $20 or as much as $600 out of pocket.
The actual cost to get a replacement key depends on the age of your vehicle, the model, the type of key that’s used for the ignition and door locks, and where you order a replacement.
While it’s possible to get basic keys, laser cut keys and transponder keys through an automotive locksmith, smart keys must be programmed by the dealer. (For more information, read our “Does my car insurance cover a locksmith?“).
Compare quotes from the top car insurance companies and save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I misplace my keys, can I file a car insurance claim?
Mindlessly misplacing your keys isn’t usually covered by your auto insurance. While there are auto insurance companies that have an automatic provision that covers keys, that’s not always the case.
With the other insurance carriers, you must have a special endorsement for key insurance under your auto policy for there to be any type of coverage for a misplacement.
Compare quotes from the top car insurance companies and save Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What is a key replacement endorsement?
Endorsements are riders that are added to your policy that provide extra coverage that’s not afforded under a standard policy. Key coverage provides you with specialized coverage that will pay to replace and reprogram your keys for a long list of different reasons.
What if my car keys are stolen?
If your keys are stolen, coverage depends on where they are stolen. If they’re stolen out of your car, they may be covered under comprehensive coverage. (For more information, read our “What does an insurance company do when your car is stolen?“).
Any of the damage to the vehicle that’s a result of the vandalism or break-in will also be covered under comprehensive as long as the total cost for keys and repairs is less than the car’s actual cash value.
Compare quotes from the top car insurance companies and save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Will the company re-key my car if it’s stolen and recovered?
Stolen key and vehicle claims present unique challenges to the insurer. Not only does the company have to pay for new keys, they have to consider the fact a thief has your ignition key and may be able to strike again in the future. This is why one of the following will be covered under a theft claim with your comprehensive insurance:
- Cost to replace the ignition key
- Cost to re-key the car to prevent future theft
- Cost to reprogram smart keys
- Cost to replace door keys and fobs
What does roadside assistance cover?
If you have roadside assistance protection on your insurance policy, you’ll have coverage to unlock your vehicle.
In most cases, the coverage won’t pay for rekeying the car but you might get a discount for the replacement keys, but this is something that you should verify with your insurer.
As you build an auto insurance policy, be aware of how each coverage works. A full coverage policy pays for a lot of damage claims, but there are still gaps.
Use an online comparison tool to price the cost of coverage quickly, and you can see what the extra endorsements will cost you. Enter your zip code in our FREE quote tool below to compare car insurance rates instantly!
Compare quotes from the top car insurance companies and save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Ty Stewart
Licensed Insurance Agent
Ty Stewart is the founder and CEO of SimpleLifeInsure.com. He started researching and studying about insurance when he got his first policy for his own family. He has been featured as an insurance expert speaker at agent conventions and in top publications. As an independent licensed insurance agent, he has helped clients nationwide to secure affordable coverage while making the process simpl...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.