# Note to Self: When taking the car in for service, keep your house key **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 29, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783 "2010-10-29T16:53:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/1 "2010-10-29T16:53:22Z")
Got a little time off work right now, so it seemed a good time to get some things done on the car. I booked an appointment for this morning at the shop across town, and took the car in. Their shuttle driver conveniently delivered me back home, where I was looking forward to a morning of coffee and the newspaper. Reaching for my house key, however, I realized it was on my key ring, back at the auto shop. D’oh! Thankfully, a neighbour has a key, as he comes in to feed and look after my cats when I’m away. And doubly thankfully, he was in, but I caught him just as he was on his way out. He had my spare key, and I was able to get back in. Not sure what I would have done otherwise–probably called a cab and gone back to the auto shop to get my key. But still, I’ll just have to remember to keep my house key next time. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/2 "2010-10-29T17:07:17Z")
Something else to consider… if anyone at the shop wanted to make a copy of your house key it would be no problem. I always leave them with the ignition key but nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/3 "2010-10-29T17:26:08Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Something else to consider… if anyone at the shop wanted to make a copy of your house key it would be no problem. I always leave them with the ignition key but nothing else. AND they have your address… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/4 "2010-10-29T17:30:29Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > AND they have your address… And if you’re waiting for your car, they know that you’re not at home. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/5 "2010-10-29T17:30:39Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Something else to consider… if anyone at the shop wanted to make a copy of your house key it would be no problem. I always leave them with the ignition key but nothing else. > [@Lare](#): > > AND they have your address… And they have your car to put your stuff in. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/6 "2010-10-29T17:31:16Z")
I had a key ring that was in 2 parts - I’d keep the car key on one side and the rest of my stuff on the other. It was great! Now I just keep a spare key on its own ring and give that to the mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/7 "2010-10-29T17:50:22Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > And they have your car to put your stuff in. … and your garage door opener so they can do it all w/o being seen. I’m drivin’ your car Using your gas I’m stealin’ all your stuff T-Baggin’ your glass. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/8 "2010-10-29T17:51:17Z")
Another good reminder is to remove anything of value from your car. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/9 "2010-10-29T17:57:42Z")
…really… with all the thieves out there…just teach yourself automotive repair…actually… just move to a cabin and buy a horse. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/10 "2010-10-29T18:07:40Z")
Been there, done that. Didn’t have a neighbor with a key. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/11 "2010-10-29T18:20:10Z")
I’m of the belief that it’s a good idea to hide a spare key. And I’m not talking “under the mat,” but someplace where the only other person who is likely to discover it will be the archaeologist excavating the historical site that my home will become sometime in the far distant future. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/12 "2010-10-29T18:36:31Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > I’m of the belief that it’s a good idea to hide a spare key. And I’m not talking “under the mat,” but someplace where the only other person who is likely to discover it will be the archaeologist excavating the historical site that my home will become sometime in the far distant future. But then he’ll get in and put all your stuff in a museum. Where it belongs. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/13 "2010-10-29T20:02:50Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > …really.. with all the thieves out there…just teach yourself automotive repair…actually.. just move to a cabin and buy a horse. But then you have to learn horse repair. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/14 "2010-10-30T02:24:52Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > But then you have to learn horse repair. If the horse is in the shop and you lock yourself out of the cabin, there will be room to sleep in the barn. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-to-self-when-taking-the-car-in-for-service-keep-your-house-key/558783/15 "2010-10-30T03:40:59Z")
I just never lock my house. It’s easier that way. Really - I don’t even know where my house keys are. When I sold my last house I had to put new locks on all the doors because I lost the keys. And if I did feel the need to lock my door, I’d hide a key in a tree or something. StG owner of a doberman, 2 german shepherds, a giant schnauzer, a standard poodle and an english setter. ETA: also own three horses, but the car goes into the shop sometimes. So do the horses.