Lost your car keys? What to do first, before you call anyone

Checked and approved by Magnus Aller, owner of Amco Locksmiths. WA Police licensed security installer (licence 30629), 25 years’ experience as a locksmith in Perth, Western Australia. Reviewed October 2026.

The first few steps cost nothing, so work through these before ringing anyone. If you’ve already done all of it, our lost car keys Perth page explains how we make a new key where the car is.

What should I do first if I’ve lost my car keys?

Search properly before you call anyone. Retrace your steps, check pockets, bags and the car’s surrounds, and ask the shop, venue, gym or workplace you visited. Then check whether anyone at home holds a spare key that can be brought to you.

Could my car keys have been stolen rather than lost?

Treat the keys as stolen if a bag, wallet or locker was taken, or if there was a break in. Stolen keys are more urgent than lost ones, because whoever has them may know which car they open. Report a theft to the police.

The steps after a theft are different: a police report, possibly moving the car, and checking whether house keys were on the same ring. Our guide on what to do if someone stole your car keys covers that in full.

Should I report lost car keys to the police?

You can, but WA Police don’t investigate lost property. In Western Australia you can create a lost property report online and get a number to quote for insurance, and police will contact you if a matching item is handed in.

The WA Government’s report lost or found property page has the online form. It also says the onus is on you to exhaust all avenues of enquiry, which is one more reason to search and ask around first. Whether your insurance covers lost keys is a question for your insurer.

What if I’ve lost my only car key?

A lost only car key can still be replaced. For the makes Amco covers, a locksmith takes the code from the car, cuts a new key and programs it to the immobiliser where the car is parked.

How that works when there’s nothing to copy is explained in our guide on whether a locksmith can cut and program a car key without the original.

Do I need to tow my car to the dealer?

For the makes Amco covers, no. We make the key at the car, so it doesn’t need to be towed. A dealer will usually want the car brought to them, which means a tow if the car can’t be started.

What will a locksmith need from me?

Photo ID and something showing the car is yours, such as registration papers, an insurance document or a finance statement. Have the make, model and year ready, and know exactly where the car is parked. Amco checks ID on every car key job.

Which cars can a mobile locksmith make keys for?

Amco makes keys for Japanese makes, Hyundai, Kia and most American cars, including Ford and Holden. European and Chinese cars we open, but don’t make keys for. The one exception is a Volkswagen spare, which needs a working key, so it doesn’t help once every key is lost.

For a European or Chinese car we’ll tell you on the phone who can make the key, rather than drive out and waste your time. We don’t do ignition work. The lost car keys Perth page has more on what we bring to the car.

Can my lost key still start the car?

Not once it’s deleted. When Amco programs a new key, we can delete the lost one from the car’s computer so it no longer starts the engine. A deleted key may still open the doors, because the door locks are mechanical.

If there’s any chance the key was taken rather than dropped, tell us, because that changes what we recommend.

A real job: keys lost in the river at Bayswater

In early September 2026 Magnus was called to a Holden VE Commodore at Bayswater. The keys had gone into the river while the owner was fishing. Two new remote keys were made “down by the river”.

How much does it cost to replace lost car keys?

Replacing lost car keys is priced on the car: make, model, year and key type. With all keys lost it costs more than a spare from a working key. Amco quotes on the car and agrees the price first.

Our guide to what a car locksmith costs in Perth has the figures.

What should I do once I have a new key?

Get a spare made. Most lost key emergencies happen because there was only one key, and a spare cut while a working key exists is the simpler job. Keep it somewhere you can reach, with someone you trust.

Here’s why a spare car key is worth having.