How urgent is it?
A stolen key is only dangerous if it can be matched to a motorcycle. Work out what went with it, because that decides how fast you need to move.
| What was taken | Risk to the bike | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Keys only, away from home and away from the bike | Lower | Use your spare, report it, plan a rekey or key erase |
| Keys with wallet, license or registration | High, your address is on the documents | Secure the bike today, rekey and erase |
| Keys taken from the bike, your gear or your garage | High, the thief has seen the bike | Move the bike today, rekey and erase |
| Keys with a garage remote or house keys | High for the bike and the home | Secure both, and deal with the garage and house locks as well |
What to do in the first hour
You are trying to make the stolen key useless before it is used. None of this needs a new key yet, and all of it can be done the same day.
- Move the bike if you can: into a locked garage, to a friend's place, or at least out of sight of where it was
- Add a lock the stolen key does not open, such as a disc lock or a chain through the frame to something fixed
- Find your spare key and check it works, then keep it on you and not at the address on your documents
- Take the registration card and anything with your address out of the bike
- If it is a keyless bike and the fob was taken, keep in mind that anyone holding the fob can start it, so physical locks matter even more
- If the bike cannot be moved and you have no spare, call a locksmith now instead of waiting for the paperwork to settle
Police report and stolen ID
Report the theft to the police agency for the place where it happened and write down the report number. You will want it for an insurance claim, and it puts the theft on record if the bike is taken later. Tell them the make, model, plate and VIN of the motorcycle the keys belong to.
If your wallet went too, the California Attorney General's identity theft checklist says you can report identity theft to your local police department and should keep a copy of the report, and it advises contacting DMV right away to report a stolen license and asking for a fraud alert on it. DMV replaces a lost or stolen driver's license, and notes the request is not complete until you visit an office. A stolen registration card is replaced through DMV's online form, a kiosk, or the REG 156 form.
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What will insurance cover?
Call your insurer even if nothing else was taken. The California Department of Insurance describes comprehensive coverage as paying for damage from causes other than a collision, with theft and vandalism among its examples, and a deductible is the part of a loss you pay yourself. Whether your policy pays for new keys and rekeyed locks when only the keys were stolen is a policy question, and the answer differs between insurers. Ask before the work is done, and ask what proof they need.
Keys taken from your home, a locker or your car may fall under a different policy than the motorcycle's, such as homeowners, renters or auto. Keep the police report number, a list of what was taken, and an itemized receipt for the lock and key work showing parts and labor.
Rekey, erase or both?
On a plain-key bike, the fix is rekeying: the ignition, seat, fuel cap and any helmet or luggage locks are changed internally to fit a new key, and the stolen key stops working. Badly worn locks may be replaced instead. Our rekeying guide explains the choice.
On a chip-key bike there are two layers. Erasing the stolen key from the immobilizer stops it starting the engine. Makers handle this in different ways, and several route it through the dealer. Our rekeying guide lists what the owner's manuals say for BMW, Suzuki, KTM, Vespa and Piaggio, Moto Guzzi, Ducati and Harley-Davidson. But an erased key is still cut to your locks, so it still opens the seat and fuel cap and releases the steering lock. After a theft, do both.
On Harley-Davidson models with the security system and on keyless Indian models, the PIN is a second way to start the bike. If the stolen items included the PIN card or a note of the number, change the PIN where your model allows, or ask the dealer. For any new key a locksmith originates, California Penal Code 466.6 requires a record of your photo ID and the bike's registration, so have a replacement card on the way if yours was taken.
Quick questions
Can I just keep using my spare key?
The spare works, but so does the stolen key. Until the locks are rekeyed or the bike is kept somewhere the thief cannot reach, the bike is only as safe as its parking spot.
Does erasing a stolen chip key make the bike safe?
It stops the stolen key from starting the engine. The key will still open the seat and fuel cap and unlock the steering, so rekey the mechanical locks as well after a theft.
My registration was under the seat and the thief has the key. Is that a problem?
Yes, because the registration shows your address. Remove any paperwork from the bike now, and request a replacement card from DMV if it is already gone.
Should I tell my insurer if only the keys were stolen?
It is worth a call. Some policies help with key and lock replacement, and having the theft on file helps if the bike is targeted later.
Do I need a police report to have the locks rekeyed?
No. What a locksmith needs is your photo ID and the registration or title. The police report is for your insurer and your own records.
Services that can help
- Gas Cap, Seat, Steering and Saddlebag LocksGas cap, seat, steering, helmet and saddlebag locks.Details →
- Transponder and Immobilizer Key ProgrammingChip keys and fobs programmed to your immobilizer.Details →
- Motorcycle Key ReplacementNew keys cut by code or from the lock, for all major makes.Details →
Key details by make
Keep reading
- Rekey Motorcycle Locks or Just Cut a New Key?Cutting a new key replaces the key you lost, while rekeying changes the locks so the old key no longer works.
- Lost Keys and Lost Title or Registration in CaliforniaIf the registration and title are gone along with the keys, replace the paperwork first.
- Recovered Stolen Motorcycle: Ignition and Lock DamageA recovered stolen motorcycle usually comes back with a damaged ignition switch and steering lock, and often with cut wiring and forced seat or fuel cap locks.
- Proof of Ownership for a Motorcycle Key in CaliforniaA legitimate California locksmith will ask for photo ID plus the motorcycle's registration or title before making a key, because state law requires locksmiths to record your ID, the bike's VIN and registration details, and your signature for every vehicle key they originate.
Where we work
Sources
- https://oag.ca.gov/idtheft/facts/victim-checklist
- https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/replace-your-driver-license-or-identification-dl-id-card/
- https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/replace-your-registration-card/
- https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/auto101.cfm
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1218489/Bmw-R-1200-Rt.html?page=38
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1088188/Suzuki-Dl650a.html?page=17
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1149350/Ktm-1190-Rc8.html?page=172
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/804221/Vespa-Gts-250.html?page=18
- https://california.public.law/codes/ca_penal_code_section_466.6
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