Car Keys Got Stolen What to Do
Report the theft, get the locks and car rekeyed fast, and check your policy before you pay for it yourself.
Stolen keys are a theft risk to the whole car, not a lost-item problem
A stolen key is different from a lost one because someone else now has a working way into your car and possibly your home or garage opener. Insurers treat this as a theft exposure, not a simple replacement. That shapes what they'll pay for and how fast you need to act.
Most policies that include comprehensive coverage will pay toward rekeying or replacing locks and ignition systems after a theft, since leaving the old keys active creates an ongoing risk the insurer doesn't want either. But comprehensive is not automatic. If your policy only carries liability coverage, this cost likely falls on you, and that's worth confirming before you assume help is coming.
Timing matters because insurers and locksmiths both move faster when there's a police report attached to the claim. Filing a report also protects you if the car is later used in a crime or involved in an accident before you've had the locks changed. Without a report, you have less standing to dispute what happens next.
What counts as a covered loss, how much rekeying work is included, and whether a rental car is provided while the work gets done can all vary by insurer and by state. Call your agent or insurer directly and ask them to walk through your specific policy rather than relying on what a general policy usually includes.
Will my insurance pay to rekey my entire car after stolen keys?
Often yes, if you carry comprehensive coverage, because insurers treat unreplaced locks as an open theft risk. But what's included varies. Some policies cover full rekeying of doors, trunk and ignition. Others cover only key replacement and expect you to handle the rest.
Call your insurer and ask specifically what's covered, whether there's a deductible that applies, and whether a rental is included while the work is done. Don't assume full coverage until someone confirms it in writing or over the phone, because the gap between a replaced key and a rekeyed car can leave you exposed exactly when you thought you were covered.
Knowing what your policy actually covers, now compare quotes to find coverage that fits.
Filing a police report before you call your insurer
If you do
You have a report number ready when your insurer asks. The claim moves faster, and you have documentation if the keys are used in a theft, break-in or accident later. Locksmiths and dealers also often want this before starting rekeying work.
If you don't
Your insurer may ask you to file one anyway before processing the claim, which delays everything. You also have no record if someone uses the stolen keys to access your car or home later, making it harder to prove what happened or when.
What to do right after your keys are stolen
- File a police report This creates an official record of the theft and is often required before an insurer will process a claim. Do this before anything else, even if you're tired or it feels unnecessary.
- Check your coverage Call your insurer to confirm whether comprehensive coverage is on your policy and what it pays toward rekeying. Don't assume you're covered just because you carry insurance.
- Rekey the entire car A new key alone doesn't stop someone from using the old one if locks aren't changed. Ask a dealer or locksmith to rekey doors, trunk and ignition together.
- Watch for linked access If the stolen keys were attached to a garage remote, home key or fob with your address, change those locks too. Thieves sometimes use car registration paperwork to find where you live.
- Ask about a rental If the car is unsafe to drive until it's rekeyed, ask your insurer whether a rental is included while the work is completed.
When a stolen key turned into a bigger job than expected
A driver's keys were taken during a break-in at a gym, along with a bag that had the car registration inside it. They called the police first and filed a report, then called their insurer the same day. The insurer confirmed comprehensive coverage was on the policy and explained that rekeying the car, not just replacing the key, would be covered after the deductible.
Because the registration had the driver's home address on it, the insurer also recommended changing the locks at home as a precaution, since the thief now had a way to match the address to the car. The driver used a dealer to rekey the ignition and doors, which took a couple of days, and the insurer provided a rental in the meantime. The report number made the whole process faster, since the dealer and insurer both asked for it before starting work. In the end the driver paid the deductible and the cost of the home lock change, but avoided paying for the car rekeying entirely.
