For most of my twenties and part of my thirties, I was a service writer and operations manager at a local shop in Central Ohio. During those years, we occasionally helped customers who had lost their car’s locking wheel nut key. We followed several steps, hoping never to hit the final (read: most technically difficult) stage. If you ever find yourself in this situation, here’s what to do.

If you’ve lost your car’s locking wheel nut key:

• See if you still have the container or bag the locking set originally came in
• Call the OEM
• Attempt to match the wheel nut key with a universal key set
• Have a mechanic manually remove the locking wheel nuts

Why is it important to keep the original container or packaging the locking wheel nut set came in? Two words: key code. The packaging will include the specific code that quickly identifies your locking wheel nut key. If you have this, you can easily replace the key. Simply order the key from any retailer offering it. The dealer may sell it exclusively. Otherwise, a general automotive parts store might stock it, like Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, or NAPA, for instance.

In fact, if you’re reading this to be prepared in case you lose your locking wheel nut key, go ahead and write down your code right now. 

Store the code in your glovebox and then somewhere inside your home. I’m telling you…this is the trick to avoiding what could turn into a huge mess.

Moving along: If you aren’t sure where the wheel nut key packaging is, call the automaker’s local service department. If your car’s wheels are stock and locking wheel nuts come standard, the dealer will have the code and the key on hand.

However, if you have aftermarket wheels and lug nuts, meaning they were installed by someone else using non-OEM parts after the vehicle was originally sold, you’ll need to visit a shop and ask them to attempt to match the key. 

Most general repair facilities – and especially tire shops – have a set of universal wheel lock keys. Since there are more than a dozen aftermarket locking wheel nut designs, chances are that someone with a whole key set will have what you need.

Once they find a match, they can order you a replacement key. Again, this is a perfect time to write the locking wheel nut key code down in a couple of places so this headache doesn’t happen again.

Depending on the design and rarity of the wheel nut key, it might be difficult to find a shop that has it on hand.

This is where the frustrating expenses start.

If you have zero luck finding a key, you might have to pay a mechanic to manually remove them.

If you’re in an area where local shops deal with locking lug nuts regularly, they might have good tools to basically force the locking nuts off the wheel studs. Unfortunately, damage to the rims and the wheel studs is possible here.

Damage risk is especially high if you drive a vehicle with “fancy” locking wheel nuts. Some locking nuts actually shear off when someone attempts to remove them without a key. Others have rotating collars that spin freely without loosening, much like a childproofed medicine jar cap.

At this last stage, you’ll be charged the labor time to remove the locking wheel nuts, plus any replacement parts…up to new rims.

If you still have your locking wheel nut key on hand, it’s best to identify its code and store that information in the glovebox plus somewhere safe at home.