The move to keyless car technology may be seen as a major step forward, but according to a new report it is also making car keys more expensive to replace.

The average charge for a new car key is £215 according to key insurer Keycare, whose analysis of 1,500 claims found that replacement keys are 29 per cent higher than they were in 2013.

Jaguar car owners in particular are feeling the pain of replacing their keys, they pay the most on average to get a new set, with an average cost of £542.47, Hyundai are next on the list with a cost of £540.38, while the UK’s most popular car, the Ford Fiesta costs an average of £262.

Even though the new technology may be seen as expensive to replace, the same research found that replacing an old-style central locking system would cost £689!

“Even during lockdown where movements have been severely restricted, people are still losing car keys while out on daily exercise or getting to and from work,' said Steve Wainwright, chief executive of Keycare.

“There has been no big let-up in this as might be expected, and we have continued to service claims, provide assistance and repatriate found keys throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our research data shows that people are still losing car keys even when they aren't very far from home,' Wainwright added.

“We see people losing keys down drains, leaving them on public transport or simply falling out of a pocket when out walking or running.

“Interestingly, 20 per cent of the keys we recover for people are found before the keyholder even knows they're missing. Often, we're the ones telling them that their keys have been lost and subsequently found.

“We ensure that all keys attached to the Keycare fob are covered under the policy, meaning we'll work to recover keys and help people gain access to their car or home with minimal inconvenience.”

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