How to Hide Keys on a Car

Instead of spending $20 every time you lock your keys in the car or calling around for friends and relatives with spares to bail you out, take charge. Hide a spare set of keys for use when you are locked out of the car, or even your house. Hiding a spare set is not a hard task to accomplish at all and will help you avoid stressful situations.

Things You'll Need

  • Spare door keys
  • Spare trunk keys
  • Spare ignition key
  • Strong magnet
  • Magnetic Hide-A-Key box
  • Obtain spare copies of the door, trunk and ignition keys. You will be able to make copies of door and trunk keys at most hardware stores, but ignition keys can be a bit more complicated.

  • Most newer cars are equipped with ignition keys that include a computer chip; this is to protect against theft. Only your dealership, or a dealership of your specific vehicle make, can make or order you a spare ignition key.

  • Purchase a strong magnetic stick or a magnetic Hide-A-Key box. The magnet needs to be strong enough to stick to the underside of your car as you travel. Check the strength of the magnet by testing how hard it is to pull the magnet free from a metal surface. If several options are available, choose the magnet you have the hardest time removing but is not too hard for you to remove when you need to pull the keys loose.

  • Hide the ignition key on the inside of the vehicle. Never hide an ignition key on the exterior of the car; should a thief find the ignition key, he will most likely be able to both open the doors and start your car; making a theft easier. Hide the ignition key in a less obvious place, such as underneath a removable ashtray or in the spare-tire compartment of your trunk.

  • Allow the door or trunk keys to magnetize to the magnet strip or place them in the magnetic Hide-A-Key box. Attach the magnet piece to the underside of your car, hidden from view of passers-by. Do not attach the magnetic piece and keys while anyone is watching to see where you will stick the keys. Place the magnetic piece in a place you can easily reach when you need the spares.