Bought a used car with only one key?

It happens on most used cars

Second keys go missing over a car's life and are usually never replaced. By the time a vehicle reaches its third or fourth owner, one key is the norm rather than the exception.

It is worth treating as part of the purchase rather than a problem — like tyres or a service that is nearly due.

Check this in the first week

• Confirm what was actually supplied — many adverts say 'two keys' when only one is handed over.
• If a dealer promised a second key, chase it in writing while the sale is fresh.
• Inspect the key you have: worn blade, sticky buttons or a case coming apart are all warnings.
• Note whether it is a transponder key, a remote key or a smart proximity key.
• On keyless cars, find out how the vehicle starts if the key battery dies — and where the emergency key hides.

Why keyless cars deserve extra attention

On a push-button-start vehicle there is no conventional fallback if the only smart key fails. Compatibility is also strict, so the correct key has to be matched to the exact vehicle.

That combination is why a spare smart key is worth arranging early rather than after a problem.

Sorting the spare

With a working key present, a spare is a planned appointment at your home or workplace, priced against your registration in advance. It is the cheapest and simplest point in the vehicle's life to do it.