When thinking about insurance, most of us focus on the big-ticket items—cars, equipment, and machinery. But what about the smaller, yet equally critical items like car keys or plant remotes? Losing these can bring unexpected costs and disruptions that you may not have considered.

Let’s explore why insuring these essential tools is worth considering and how it can save you time, money, and stress.

Modern car keys and plant remotes are more than just pieces of plastic. They’re equipped with high-tech features like immobilizers, chips, and remote access systems. Replacing these isn’t cheap:

• Car Key Replacement: Depending on the model, a new car key can cost anywhere from R2,000 to R8,000 or more in South Africa.
• Plant Remotes: Remote controls for heavy machinery like cranes, forklifts, or excavators can run into tens of thousands of rands, especially for specialized equipment.

Losing a plant remote doesn’t just mean a replacement fee—it could mean halting operations entirely. Imagine the financial impact of delays on a construction site because a crucial remote is missing or damaged. 

In South Africa, theft is an unfortunate reality. Car keys and plant remotes are easy targets for theft, and misplacing them is also common, especially in high-pressure work environments. 

The time spent organizing a replacement, contacting dealerships or manufacturers, and ensuring compatibility with your vehicle or equipment can be a major headache.

If your car keys or plant remotes are insured, you can typically expect coverage for the following:

Whether you’ve misplaced them or they’ve been stolen, your insurance can help cover replacement costs. 

If a key or remote is damaged due to an accident, fire, or another insured event, you’re covered for repairs or a replacement.

Some policies even cover the cost of reprogramming your car or machinery to sync with the new key or remote.

• For car keys, your vehicle insurance policy might already offer coverage for lost or stolen keys. Check with your insurer to confirm.
• For plant remotes, coverage may be included under Contractors All Risk (CAR) Insurance or Plant and Equipment Insurance. If not, you can ask for this as an additional cover.

If your current policy doesn’t include coverage for keys and remotes, ask about adding it. This is typically a low-cost addition to your insurance but can save you thousands in replacement fees.

While insurance can cover replacements, it’s always wise to keep a spare key or remote in a secure location. This minimizes downtime if the original is lost.

A contractor parks their bakkie at a construction site. During the day, the car key goes missing. The replacement cost for the high-tech key, including reprogramming the immobilizer, totals R5,500. Luckily, their comprehensive vehicle insurance covers the cost, saving them from an unplanned expense.

A crane operator accidentally drops the remote control in a puddle at a construction site, rendering it unusable. The replacement remote costs R20,000, but their CAR insurance covers the cost, ensuring no major delays to the project.

Insuring car keys and plant remotes might seem like a minor consideration, but the potential costs of replacement and the downtime they can cause make it a smart decision. Think of it as a small investment to protect yourself from bigger headaches down the line.

Don’t wait until you’re stuck without a key or remote. Talk to us today to review your existing policies or add coverage for car keys and plant remotes. A little foresight now can save you a lot of time, money, and stress later.