I'll keep this short.

• bought car used, only got one key
• Lost key today at park
• AAA towed my locked car home
• nearest dealer 120 miles away
• luckily spouse has meeting there tomorrow. And has the title for the car.

but... is it going to be possible for them to issue a key without the car being present?



Thanks in advance.

 

Title or registration plus driver's license plus money should be sufficient. However, they probably can't do it immediately; others in your situation have learned that the keys come from corporate in New Jersey.

 

Thank you, we can muddle through for a couple of days if we know a key is on the way.

Phew.

I had visions have having to pay to tow the car to Charleston.

 

Metal detector @ park may work.

 

I left out some details for the sake of brevity. Left them in the rest room. when I went back to get them, someone there had seen someone asking about lost keys. She also, apparently said, she would hand them in. there's a restaurant right there, she didn't, so great. Now some fine criminal mind is walking around with my keys, including a house key. unluckily for me, I work just off this park and park there daily. if they are persistent,they will find my car.

Luckily I won't be back there in my car until late next week. But still...

 

That really sucks. Hope it gets resolved. I wonder if the door locks can be changed in the car? Sure this adds yet another expense.

It would also be a good idea for you to replace your house door locks ASAP.

Love Savannah. Haven't been there in some years but will be back some time soon.

 

I would have brought them to the police, not the restaurant if it was on public property. Call the town too in case they have a parks department.

 

I'm pretty sure you can have the dealer "deactivate" all previous keys when they initialize the new one. The old one will still open the lock, and unlock the steering column, but won't be able to start the car.

By the way, I (like the OP and probably many others) bought my car with only one key, and have been meaning to order a spare. I'm taking this experience as a reminder to get on the ball. It can happen to anyone.

 

thanks all for chiming in.

great idea on deactivating original key - I will definitely ask about this.

Oh - my mum also said to try the cops too, I would never have thought to. I called, and it sounded like they had a box load of keys, just not mine. Ah well. still, learned something new.

Let's see, house has been re-keyed, valet key en route from New Jersey, we should get that Saturday. It has to come via the dealership, dang it. Then we'll drive up and get a expensive one programmed etc etc.

I also left out the part of the day before all this Tom Foolery where we learned that the AC compressor needs to be replaced.



Good times indeed.

Still love the car though. Really.

 

And I thought my husband was a predicament with his key! We each have the 2 original keys to our MINI's. But about a month ago, his normal one went missing. He's had to use the spare this whole time. We both even re-traced his steps that day, but to no avail. We think it's hiding with my necklace I bought at Kohl's and never got to wear :P

Good luck with the whole thing! Glad you had your house locks changed. Probably the most important thing you can do right now

 

+1 my daughter lost the keys to her VW and the replacement was re-coded with my spare; old key will open the door but won't start the engine. I guess you get something for that $$ chip-enabled key

 

apparently not on the 04.

Dealership said they could change out the locks/ignition etc for $1k. Super. Not happening.