Does Insurance Cover Lost Car Keys? What all Drivers Should Know
Losing your car keys is frustrating, inconvenient, and can sometimes leave you stranded. Modern car keys aren’t cheap either—smart keys, proximity fobs, and transponder keys can cost hundreds of dollars to replace.
The good news? Depending on your insurer and your policy, you may be partially or fully covered.
Here at Mr Car Keys, we work closely with many drivers and their insurance companies to cover the cost of replacing stolen or lost keys. Below are some tips that might help if you ever find yourself having to deal with the stress (and cost) of trying to get your car back on the road safely.
Are Lost Car Keys Covered by Insurance?
The short answer is that It depends on the policy. Some insurers cover lost car keys automatically, while others only provide cover:
- Under comprehensive insurance
- If you’ve purchased optional roadside assistance
- Under theft or burglary sections
- If the keys were stolen (but not lost)
Many drivers don’t realise what they’re actually covered for until they need help. It is worth checking your insurance cover before you actually need it.
Common Types of Key-Related Insurance Cover
Below are the most typical scenarios and how insurers normally respond.
Lost Car Keys- Most comprehensive policies do not automatically cover lost keys, but some do.
Coverage may include replacement keys, programming the new key and our call-out fees. Depending on the level of cover, they may also cover towing if the car can not be moved and rekeying of locks.
The important thing to know is that in most circumstances, you will usually need to pay an excess before claiming.
Stolen Car Keys- Stolen keys are covered more often than lost keys.
Insurers generally require:
- A police report
- An Event Number
- A locksmith invoice
This is where we can help. Mr Car Keys can provide the necessary paperwork and on occasions, we have liaised with the police on issues around stolen car matters.
Roadside Assistance Key Cover- This is one of the easiest ways to secure key coverage. NRMA, Allianz, AAMI and others often include or offer:
- Free on-site unlocks
- Free emergency key replacement (limits apply)
- Free towing if keys are lost while travelling
We are the preferred supplier for NRMA in the Hunter and Newcastle areas. We work closely with them to provide customers with fast, efficient assistance when it is most needed.
At Mr Car Keys, we can help you with all of your key needs. We do advise that a spare key be kept in a separate location, often with another family member or close friend, just in case it is ever needed. We can cut these for you. It is cheaper to create a spare than to have to make one from scratch.
As well as this, the convenience of us coming to you to cut and program new keys for you will be a lot cheaper and faster than organising towing to a dealership.
Please call us on 0404621621 if you would like advice about insurance or any issues around the cost of replacing keys. It is important to remember that the best insurance is preparation.
