Car Locksmith in Hockley Heath

All keys lost in Hockley Heath

Losing the only key in a village is worse than losing it in town, because the car cannot be moved and there is no bus to fall back on. A fresh key is created from the car, using its lock and immobiliser records, so the original is not required. The locksmith asks to see the V5C logbook and photo ID before cutting the key, because the check proves the car is yours.

Some vehicles also allow the lost key to be wiped from the car memory, so it can no longer start the car. Whether yours does depends on its make, model, and year, so ask when you ring. The all keys lost page explains the process in full, and the proof of ownership page explains the documents.

Spare keys for village households

Hockley Heath households often run two cars between family members, and a spare key is the job that prevents most emergencies here. As long as one key still works, a duplicate can be cut from it and coded to the car at the house. The duplicate is tried with you on the drive, and the original carries on working exactly as before.

A spare also suits a key that is starting to fail. A fob that needs several presses, a remote that answers only when held close to the car, or a key that occasionally refuses to turn the engine over all suggest the chip or the fob is wearing out. Getting a spare sorted while the original still works is far easier than coping on the morning it stops for good.

The A3400 and the lanes around the village

The A3400 runs through Hockley Heath from Solihull toward Stratford-upon-Avon, and the village lanes branch off it toward the surrounding countryside. Hockley Heath is one of the areas we cover across Solihull, and the village centre, the roads off the A3400, and the lanes around the village are all covered. When you ring, say whether the car is on a drive, in the village, or beside the main road.

A lockout beside the A3400 needs care as well as a locksmith: keep yourself somewhere safe, away from the traffic, and stay with the car if you can. The emergency car locksmith opens the car at the roadside, using entry that avoids damage wherever possible, and the lock is checked with you at the end.

• GOV.UK — vehicle log book (V5C) — GOV.UK describes the V5C log book and how to apply for one.
• GOV.UK — what to do if your vehicle has been stolen — How GOV.UK says to report a stolen key or vehicle crime.