Safest Place to Keep Car Keys at Home: Best Car Safety Practices

Maintaining the safety of car keys at home is also part of home security. Your keys are not just the key to your car but also the key to your garage, house, or any other valuable property. That is why it is essential to look for the safest place to keep car keys at home when not in use. In this article, you will learn how to protect your car keys from getting lost within your home.

Why Need to Hide a Car Key?

There are several key reasons you may want to hide car keys or securely store your car keys at home:

• Prevent theft - Car thieves often target keys to steal vehicles. Keeping your keys well hidden makes it harder for thieves to locate a car and hide a key during a break-in.
• Limit access - Storing keys in a secret spot lets you control who can access your vehicle, garage, house, etc. This is especially useful if tenants, workers, or others are coming and going.
• Peace of mind - Knowing your keys are safely tucked away provides comfort and security when you're away from home. You won't have to worry about lost or misplaced keys.
• Deter snooping - Hidden keys help deter nosy visitors or workers from accessing parts of your home or property they don't need to.

Safest Place to Keep Car Keys at Home: Top 9 Secure Locations

When choosing where to hide your car keys at home, you want a clever, inconspicuous, and secure spot. Here are some of the best hiding places recommended by security experts:

1. Kitchen table

Hiding a spare key under a table leaf or felt table pad is a classic option. Just be sure it's not the first place burglars will look. Vary the location—try under the leaf rather than on top of the pad.

2. Tin/aluminum container inside your house

Stash keys inside a cookie tin, empty cereal box, or other opaque container. Store that container in the back of a cluttered drawer or cabinet for extra protection. The metal helps block key fob signals.

3. In the potted plant

An artificial plant or hollowed-out natural plant provides good camouflage. Ensure the plant is in a heavy enough pot that can't be easily knocked over or moved.

4. Dog house

If you have outdoor pets, place a spare key inside their house. Choose a discreet spot, like under the bedding material. Just be sure they can't reach it and chew it up!

5. Nightstand or bedside table

Keys can be concealed in various ways on a nightstand, such as inside a book safe, jewelry box, or unused pill bottle. Just avoid obvious hiding spots.

6. Dry vent

Vents for heating and AC systems make great hiding spots. Tape or magnetically attach your key to the inside of the vent, out of sight.

7. Inside a book

Hollow out a space inside a book to store your key. For even more protection, choose a book on a crowded shelf that looks uninteresting.

8. Key hook

Hide a key in plain sight by slipping it onto an existing key hook and everyday keys. Just make sure visitors can't quickly identify it.

9. Cabinet or drawer

Stash your key at the back of a junk drawer or inside a kitchen cabinet behind items. Use an inconspicuous spot where it won't easily be found.

Where to Hide Key on Car

In addition to hiding spare keys at home, you may want to conceal a key on your vehicle in emergencies. Here is where to hide a spare key on your car:

1. Inside a roof rack

If your vehicle has a roof rack, slide the spare key inside the hollow rail or chamber. Use tape to keep it from sliding around.

2. In the hitch receiver

For trucks or SUVs, place a key inside the hollow hitch receiver. Make sure it can't slide out while driving.

3. Behind license plate

Use strong tape or a magnetic box to attach the key behind the license plate. This works well if you have a metal plate.

4. Under the bumper

Attach a key container with a strong magnet up inside the bumper for hard-to-reach spots. Keep it towards the middle, away from the wheels.

5. Inside the wheel well

The space behind the tire inside the wheel well provides a discreet spot. Use tape or a magnet to keep the key in place.

6. Use a magnetic key holder.

Magnetic boxes and pouches can securely adhere to any metal surface under the vehicle. They blend in while keeping the key handy.

How to Protect Key Fob: Expert Tips

Key fobs for keyless entry and push-button start vehicles transmit radio signals. While convenient, this makes them vulnerable to hacking. Here are tips to protect your key fob:

• Keep fobs 6-10 feet from doors and windows when unused. This prevents signal amplification attacks.
• Store fobs in a metal container or pouch when home to block signals. Aluminum foil also works in a pinch.
• Avoid leaving spare fobs in your vehicle. Keep them in your home instead.
• Upgrade to fobs with encrypted, rolling code technology if possible. This improves security.
• Register fob codes with your manufacturer if they need to be deactivated if stolen.
• Report lost or stolen fobs immediately so codes can be erased from the vehicle computer.
• Check for key fob security updates from your vehicle manufacturer. Keep firmware updated.

Bonus Tips: How to Prevent Keyless Car Theft

As keyless and push-button start cars gain popularity, so do high-tech thefts. Here are tips to protect your keyless vehicle:

• Park in well-lit, high-traffic areas to deter thieves. Consider a garage with security system.
• Install security cameras to monitor your vehicle and catch criminal activity.
• Use steering wheel locks, brake locks, or other physical deterrents to make stealing difficult.
• Wrap your fob in aluminum foil or store it in a metal box. This blocks hacking signals.
• Activate your car's security features, like ignition kill switches or tracking systems.
• Consider aftermarket security products like fob signal-blocking pouches.
• Keep your car locked, even when parked in your driveway or garage.

For example, you can consider installing a video doorbell near your front door or garage to keep an eye on activity around your car.

FAQs

Where is the safest place to keep car keys at home?

Some of the most secure spots for hiding car keys within your home include inside furniture like nightstands, in opaque containers stored in cluttered drawers, concealed inside potted plants, under removable table leaves, and inside vent systems.

Where should I keep my spare car key?

Good locations for spare car keys include hidden inside your home, as mentioned above, and on your vehicle in discreet areas like under bumpers, behind license plates, inside wheel wells, or attached via strong magnets. Just avoid obvious spots like under welcome mats.

How far away should my key fob be from my car?

Security experts recommend keeping key fobs at least 6-10 feet away from your parked vehicle when not in use. This prevents thieves from using signal amplifiers to hack the keyless entry system. Store fobs as far away as possible when home.

Conclusion

It is also essential to note that safeguarding your car keys should also be a key aspect of home security. Hiding them well and ensuring they are well-safeguarded not only discourages theft but also minimizes who has access to the keys and where they could be misplaced.

Follow the strategies mentioned in this guide to develop stealthy hiding places within your home, car, and key fob. What other brilliant places do you hide your car keys? Let us know!