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Things You Will Need

  • Telephone

  • Rental Agreement

Misplacing the key to your rental car can be frustrating and inconvenient. You can’t call your personal automobile insurance to come out and assist you or pick up a new key from a dealership. If you go about replacing the key the wrong way, you can risk voiding your rental contract, losing your deposit, and being charged additional fees. Although obtaining a new key can sometimes be expensive depending on the vehicle type, it is a simple process.

1. Find the Rental Company Phone Number

Find the number for the rental company. You were probably given a packet of information when you rented the car that includes all contact numbers for the rental agency. If you misplaced the keys and are in a safe location like your hotel or at home, look for the direct toll free number for the company. If you lost the keys at a location such as a restaurant or a convenience store, find the number for roadside assistance in the information packet.

2. Contact the Rental Company

Contact the company. Be prepared to give them your full name, the confirmation number from your rental agreement, and a good telephone number where you can be reached. Provide the customer service representative with your exact location and give directions if it is difficult to find. Let the representative know if you are stranded so that she can send someone out immediately. Have valid identification on hand as you will be required to show it.

3. Pay for the new key

Pay for the new key. According to MSNBC, if your rental vehicle is an older model, the average cost for a replacement key is $12 . On the other hand, if the vehicle is a newer model, expect to pay between one to three hundred dollars as they use electronic keys.