One of the greatest disruptions of anyone’s day is when our car keys turn up missing. We begin a whole treasure hunt of trying to find out where we last saw our keys, and everywhere we went that day. More often than not, we never find our car keys. Then what left is there to do? Replacing your lost car keys is the only remaining option. There are multiple avenues one can go down to replace lost car keys, but there is only one that is time, cost, and convenient-efficient: calling a trusted locksmith.
Locksmith vs. Dealership
When you need to replace lost car keys, your first thought might be to contact the dealership where you purchased your vehicle. However, there are many reasons why this is not time, cost, and convenient-efficient.
Dealerships Take Time to Reach You
If you’ve lost your car keys and need a replacement, you might also be stranded without a ride. When you call your dealership to help, the dealership may not always come to you. This means you’ll have to find a way to get your car to them. The dealership will need proof of ownership to replace your lost car keys. If your dealership can reach you, it will still take a long time for them to reach you because they are not always available to help their customers during emergencies.
Dealerships do not work 24/7 like locksmiths tend to. Locksmiths work around the clock to assist those in emergency lockout situations. When you’ve lost your car keys and are locked out of your car, the first step should always be to call a locksmith. The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports getting calls from locked-out motorists more than 4 million times a year–and they’re not even a locksmith business. Make your first call to a trusted locksmith who can unlock your car. If you need your car keys replaced, locksmiths can also easily do this.
Dealerships Accrue Costs
When you call your dealership about lost keys, chances are you will be sent a bill for the service they provide you. This cost can often be much more expensive than what your bill would be to call a locksmith. As mentioned above, you are not their top priority if the dealership has to come to you. There are many other administrative tasks they have that take precedent over an emergency lockout. If they can send a car to pick you up, there will likely be an expensive fee. They will likely call their locksmith to assist you, which will have its own service fee.
The cost to replace your lost car keys will also cost a set amount, depending on the type of key you have for your car. The dealership will then charge you for their labor, which could be a half-hour to an hour of labor. Locksmiths are a less expensive option because they won’t tack on unnecessary and undisclosed fees to take money from you. They will do the work and give you an honest price upfront. The national average cost of a locksmith for this service is $95.
Dealerships Are Not Convenient
Convenience is what any car key provider should guarantee their clients, but unfortunately, dealerships are not solely car key providers. They are vehicle providers, meaning any services they offer regarding lost car keys are not their main priority or function. As stated above, there are other administrative tasks they have to worry about on any given day, so an emergency lockout situation is not one they’d prioritize. Luckily, locksmiths are in the business of car keys.
Locksmiths do not have set hours of operation. Locksmiths are open 24/7 because when we lose our car keys, we do not plan for it to happen. Locksmiths are there for those unplanned moments to get things back on track, making them incredibly convenient. Car dealerships are not open 24/7, so their services–if any–cannot be relied on.
Reliable and Efficient Service
If you have lost your car keys, are facing an emergency lockout situation, or simply want a backup set of keys, there is no one better than ASAP Locksmith of Colorado. We are proud of our craft and happy to help the everyday Coloradoan. Don’t waste any more time finding a better locksmith. Call us at (720) 597-7731 or get a free estimate today.