General Hiding a spare car key

[theshootist]

Thought I already posted this but cannot find it so I guess it did not work ?

Anyway - hiding a spare key in one of those magnetic boxes ( or more creatively ) under your car........

Any insurance issues ?

 

[jrkitching]

Any insurance issues ?

Technically yes; in practice it probably depends how you go about this.

If the car is stolen, most insurers will require you to send them both keys. So if you just hide the second key somewhere on the car, and the car goes missing, you'll have a probem.

OTOH, if you get a third key cut, and hide that...

If you get a third keyblank cut (without the immobiliser), it'll give you protection against locking the key in the car, but anyone finding it won't be able to drive away. That said, locking keys in the car isn't that easy on a Fiat...

Common sense would suggest not posting details of suitable hiding places on a public forum.

 

[aussiepanda]

Common sense would suggest not posting details of suitable hiding places on a public forum.

Don't be silly, we want photos of where he hid it

 

[gar074]

Don't be silly, we want photos of where he hid it

And his registration number!

 

[dave]

just take out key insurance probably cheaper than a magnetic box. some car insurance include this as standard and its like windscreen cover it don't affect ncd

 

[jrkitching]

just take out key insurance probably cheaper than a magnetic box.

... but you'll still be standing in the rain waiting for a bus.

 

[dave]

... but you'll still be standing in the rain waiting for a bus.

locksmiths have their own van's they wont be on the bus

 

[jrkitching]

locksmiths have their own van's they wont be on the bus

Ok, ok, but you'll still be standing in the rain waiting for a locksmith .

Having locked myself out of more cars than I care to remember, I can see the appeal, as well as the downsides.

Best one was a Mk2 Capri, a couple hundred miles from home. The local Ford dealer (5 mins away) told me to open the door with a coathanger, then pull off the door card & get the serial number off the back of the lock. Even lent me a screwdriver to get the window winder off. He cut me a key from the serial number in less than 3 minutes for (IIRC) about £3.

No ID or proof of ownership needed back in 1975. Twenty years later, it was said you couldn't park a Capri anywhere on the streets of a major city and expect it to still be there when you returned.

 

[g8rpi]

<SNIP>
That said, locking keys in the car isn't that easy on a Fiat...
<SNIP>

It's easy on a Croma, just lock the car with the boot open, place keys in boot, close boot

Fortunatly I did it at home so a spare key was handy.
Alternatively open boot only with remote, place key in boot, close boot (just tried that one without leaving key in boot)

I do do like the idea of hiding a spare blank. It would have to be very well hidden though.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[triumph7]

Technically yes; in practice it probably depends how you go about this.

If the car is stolen, most insurers will require you to send them both keys. So if you just hide the second key somewhere on the car, and the car goes missing, you'll have a probem.

OTOH, if you get a third key cut, and hide that...

If you get a third keyblank cut (without the immobiliser), it'll give you protection against locking the key in the car, but anyone finding it won't be able to drive away. That said, locking keys in the car isn't that easy on a Fiat...

Common sense would suggest not posting details of suitable hiding places on a public forum.

Not easy to lock keys in....well I managed to.... very easily.....
Car locked. Open boot only with remote. Put keys in boot while getting stuff out then close boot. Voilà!