Tracking down the spare key of a used car

united4ever

Got a used Toyota Prius delivered today. There is no spare key. The mechanic from the RAC who did a vehicle inspection suggested getting in touch with the previous owner whose details are in the paperwork and just asking them if they still have it and if so could they send it to me?


Has anyone tried this and any reason not to. Suppose the one risk is that they could get my address and know that they have a key to a car sitting on the drive. Is it advisable to do this. I gather dealerships will charge £100 plus for a spare key. I can see me losing it at some stage and I guess then with no key it becomes even more expensive and of course inconvenient.

forgotmyname

NEVER buy a modern car without the full set of keys.

A dealer may charge £100+ BUT... They can erase the codes for the missing keys. So they maybe able to gain entry to the car via the lock but wont be able to start it.

Richard53

If you have name and address from the V5, could you just phone them and ask? No need to give your address.

I doubt if there much of a risk, though, even if they do know it. After all, every time there is a private sale, both buyer and seller exchange addresses. If your 'new' car suddenly went missing off your driveway with no sign of forced entry, and you know there is a key missing, I would reckon that the previous owner would be towards the top of the list of the police's 'lines of enquiry'.

Unless the previous owner was particularly stupid, he would know this.

(ETA: if you don't get lucky with the PO, get a second key cut in any case. There are usually ways of doing it that don't involve main dealer prices. It's far easier (and cheaper) to get a new key cut if you have an original, than if you wait until you lose the only key and then have to approach the manufacturers for help. On my Honda, a lost key meant a new lockset and ECU, total cost about £800 plus fitting, and that's a motorbike without door locks etc to worry about.)

ratrace

The v5 only has the name and the address of the last registered keeper and does not have any contact number on it, so it will be difficult for the op to phone them

It seems like the op has bought the car a used car dealer (hence the car got delivered only dealers offer this service) the problem the op might have is that when a dealer buy's or takes in a car as part exchange he fills the yellow slip of the v5 and keeps the all of the v5 and the yellow slip is posted of to DVLA to notify them that the car has been sold to a dealer

so the dealer might have misplaced the keys

first thing for the op, to do is to get proper insurance that covers theft that way he's covered

scotsbob

Richard53 wrote: »

(ETA: if you don't get lucky with the PO, get a second key cut in any case. There are usually ways of doing it that don't involve main dealer prices. It's far easier (and cheaper) to get a new key cut if you have an original, than if you wait until you lose the only key and then have to approach the manufacturers for help

This is the route I would take and I would also get an auto electrician to fit an ignition cut out switch hidden out of site under the dashboard or seat. Just in case anyone with the 2nd key knew where you lived.

ratrace

forgotmyname wrote: »

NEVER buy a modern car without the full set of keys..

Even if you buy a car with a full set of keys you can still get stung

A while ago there was a news story about a couple of car dealers who were getting an extra key cut before selling the car so they had 1 extra key that they kept, after selling the cars on with all the original keys the new owners where happy, but 3-6 months later cars were being stolen by the same guys who were selling them as they had the dodgy key they were (also running a chop shop) eventually got caught as one of them stopped at a McDonald's in a nicked car to empty his bladder and was on cctv - only got 12 months slap on the wrist if you ask me

so you can never be to careful

forgotmyname

ratrace wrote: »

Even if you buy a car with a full set of keys you can still get stung

A while ago there was a news story about a couple of car dealers who were getting an extra key cut before selling the car so they had 1 extra key that they kept, after selling the cars on with all the original keys the new owners where happy, but 3-6 months later cars were being stolen by the same guys who were selling them as they had the dodgy key they were (also running a chop shop) eventually got caught as one of them stopped at a McDonald's in a nicked car to empty his bladder and was on cctv - only got 12 months slap on the wrist if you ask me

so you can never be to careful

Most systems will allow you to remove extra keys without paying dealer costs.
usually you need 2 keys or a master and another key. Depending on the system.

One of the first things i did when i bought my current car. I also added an extra spare key just in case. So i will always have 2 working keys.

GabbaGabbaHey

ratrace wrote: »

The v5 only has the name and the address of the last registered keeper and does not have any contact number on it, so it will be difficult for the op to phone them

BT do still offer Directory Enquiries, you know (both online and by phone).

If the OP is worried about the previous owner knowing where the car is now kept, he could always write to them using a friend's address for the reply.

My last car was bought from a Lexus main dealer. It had a replacement service history book. I wrote to the previous owners, and they sent me the original service history book, along with a load of old receipts, etc, so it was well worth my while writing.

Richard53

ratrace wrote: »

The v5 only has the name and the address of the last registered keeper and does not have any contact number on it, so it will be difficult for the op to phone them

There's always the phone book.

ratrace wrote: »

It seems like the op has bought the car a used car dealer (hence the car got delivered only dealers offer this service) the problem the op might have is that when a dealer buy's or takes in a car as part exchange he fills the yellow slip of the v5 and keeps the all of the v5 and the yellow slip is posted of to DVLA to notify them that the car has been sold to a dealer

The new owner will get the PO's name and address when the new V5 arrives. If I buy from a dealer, I usually ask to see the V5 and make a note of the PO's name and address before he sends it away.

poppasmurf_bewdley

I understand that if you buy a car on hire purchase, the finance company often retain one of the keys just in case they need to repossess the car at some time in the future for non payment. After all, the car remains their property until the last payment is made.

OddballJamie

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

I understand that if you buy a car on hire purchase, the finance company often retain one of the keys just in case they need to repossess the car at some time in the future for non payment. After all, the car remains their property until the last payment is made.

Not heard of that before. Is that a practice performed by the 'we'll sell you a car even if you have bad credit' type companies?