Whether at the mall or work, certain locations and activities are more common for getting locked out of your car than others. Let’s cover four of them, as well as give you tips for preventing this frustrating situation from happening in the first place.

The Mall

Shopping can lead to forgetfulness, whether it’s at the mall, a shopping center, grocery store or big-box retailer. These trips are often with friends or family, so it’s easy to get lost in conversation and accidentally leave the keys in the car. Or, you might have forgotten something on the way in and left the keys in the car. Yet another reason this happens is because people often load the trunk during shopping trips and leave the keys there (or in a bag inside). 

At Work

The workplace is a big culprit for locking keys in the car simply because many of us spend most of our time there and get enveloped in routine. Forty or more hours per week is a lot of time to make one mistake. Whether your routine was thrown off, you spilled coffee on yourself or you have lots of work-related tasks on your mind, it’s easy to lose track of your keys in a moment (especially if you’re juggling other items like a laptop.) 

At Home

We tend to put our guard down when we’re home. It’s where many of us feel safe, after all. But it’s also a common place people lock keys in their car. You may need to grab something real quick. Or, the shopping risks outlined above may come into play. Either way, be mindful of where you’re placing your car keys, even when you’re at home.

On Road Trips

Finally, unfamiliar territory can mess with our organizational and tracking skills. While this is one of the worst places to lock your keys in the car, it’s also one of the most common. It inevitably leads to frustration, wasted time and extra expenses. This problem is especially high when people are in a hurry. Either way, you can prevent locking your keys in your car at any location by always having two sets of keys—or, you could upgrade to a smart key that doesn’t lock when it’s inside the vehicle. 

If you’re looking for the best automotive locksmith, look no further than A-1 Locksmith. Call us today or stop by one of our locations for a quote or security advice.

As a company that has been around for more than 70 years, we’ve seen how car keys have changed over the years. Let’s look at some technological advancements of car keys and look at the options you have today.

Early Car Key Designs

Believe it or not, early cars didn’t used to have starter keys. There were keys for doors (and keys to lock the ignition) in the 1910s, but there weren’t any keys to start the vehicle itself. It wasn’t until 1949 when the starter mechanism was introduced by Chrysler and the first “car keys” (as we know them today) were created. These Chrysler keys looked a lot like your average house key today and only had one side. Prototypes of “flip keys” were soon developed after that (in the 1950s) and double-sided car keys were manufactured in the 1960s. 

Technological Advances

Car keys took a large step forward in the late 1980s with the development of remote entry for doors. Keyless entry fobs would gain mainstream success shortly after that in the 1990s. Another phase of technological advancement happened in the same decade was the invention of laser-cut keys and first (unsuccessful) early versions of proximity keys. Different forms of key cutting and shapes were also developed during the 1990s, but major breakthroughs didn’t occur again until the 2000s.

Car Key Options Today

Vehicle manufacturers started making remotes standard with car keys in the early 2000s and variations have included standalone remotes, integrated remotes and smart keys. Most remotes have the ability to unlock and lock doors, open the trunk and sound the alarm. Keyless vehicle ignition soon followed. Today, there are smart keys with all sorts of technology and the features continue to advance. There are touchscreen keys that connect to smartphone apps and can park the car with no driver, as well as keys that tell you the fuel level, whether the lights are on and more. The future is definitely exciting for car keys!
We hope you enjoyed this short history lesson. Whether you need a new car key or an auto key duplication, A-1 Locksmith is here for you. Drop by any of our Dallas-Fort Worth locations today and we’ll get you a key that meets your needs.