Should You Buy A Car That Has No Key?

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Sometimes they show up at auction. Occasionally, you find one for sale by a private owner. Vehicles must have some kind of key to function, but what happens if you find a nice car for sale that has no key? Should you buy it? It is not at all uncommon for a key to get lost somewhere between car ownership and when the vehicle goes up for sale, and sometimes, this means that you can get a nice vehicle for a really good price. But buying a car that has no key brings about special concerns that you would not otherwise have as a buyer. 

Make sure you know the car is legally owned by the seller before you buy it. 

Particularly in cases where a car with no key is being sold by a private party, it is important to ensure that the seller is allowed to sell the vehicle. Believe it or not, cars do get sold all the time by people who have no right to do so, so it is your job to ask questions and get the details. You can ensure the car is being sold legitimately in spite of it having no key by:

  • asking to see the car's title or bill of sale
  • using the VIN to check the car's history with the local DMV or authorities
  • making sure you see a government-issued ID from the seller that proves who they are

Not having a key can make transporting the vehicle pretty difficult. 

If you do plan to buy a vehicle that has no key, make sure you are prepared to also pay a professional to haul the vehicle for you. When a car has no key, it can mean the steering column is locked, the alarm system is engaged, and it will not shift out of park. Professional transporters must use special tools and equipment to load and maneuver the vehicle when it is in this condition. 

Having a new key made is possible, but can be costly. 

One of the first things you should do if you're considering buying a car with no key is to contact an auto locksmith. The locksmith can tell you what kind of key the car will need and how hard it will be to have it replaced. In some cases, replacement keys for modern cars can be fairly expensive because they have embedded processors and communicators for technical and security purposes. Checking with a locksmith in advance will ensure you don't buy the car only to find out the replacement key is going to be hard to come by. 

Contact a company, like Vista Lock & Safe Co, for more help.

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5 December 2017

My Garage Sale Safe

I have always been a big fan of garage sales. There is just something about the ability to stop and pick up hidden treasures for an incredibly low price that always gets my blood flowing. So when I spotted a top of the line safe at a local sale for an amazingly low price, I simply could not help myself. After years of sitting in my garage unused, I decided to finally move my safe into the house. The problem was, I had forgotten the combination. Thankfully, a local locksmith was able to help me gain access to the safe. While watching the locksmith work, I was fascinated by the way he bypassed the safe's lock. Suddenly I found myself wanting to learn this skill. Throughout the course of research, I learned a lot about the profession of locksmiths. Today, I would like to share that knowledge with you.