MoneySuperMarket surveyed 2,000 motorists to better understand their car key habits, and in the process uncovered the most common locations where UK drivers lose them
Research shows that losing car keys is a widespread issue for UK motorists, with one in four admitting they have misplaced them at some point.
It often happens at the most inconvenient time, whether you are trying to leave the house in a hurry, preparing for work, or just about to set off on holiday. The stress is only made worse if you never find them again and have to arrange organise a costly replacement.
Misplacing them while out and about can be particularly troublesome — most people don’t usually carry their spares with them — meaning you could also struggle to get into your home if your door key was also on the fob. Thankfully, MoneySuperMarket surveyed 2,000 motorists to better understand drivers’ car key habits, and in the process uncovered the most common locations for losing them.
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The survey shows that the most common location for losing your car keys is inside the home, with more than a third of respondents having done so. More than one in four participants (26 per cent) revealed they had failed to locate their keys while preparing to leave the house.
This may be down to them ending up in the pocket of a coat, which 21 per cent admitted to, or being forgotten at the bottom of a bag or handbag (20 per cent). One in six drivers (17 per cent) even confessed to misplacing them in the car itself, showing just how easy it is to lose them.
The survey also detailed the situations in which car keys go missing outside of the home. Many drivers lost theirs while commuting, on holidays, at work or on family days out. Such scenarios can create far bigger challenges, as you are often stuck without backup and left figuring out how to return home safely.
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The most common places UK drivers lose their car keys is as follows:
- In the home (36%)
- Pockets of clothing (21%)
- Handbags or bags (20%)
- At a family or friends house (18%)
- In the car (17%)
- Out of the home whilst shopping (16%)
- Whilst commuting or working (13%)
- On holiday or whilst travelling (12%)
- At the beach or on a day out (12%)
So while losing your car keys can happen almost anywhere, the place you are most likely to find them is right inside your own home.
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