Radio keys cannot simply be taken along while surfing. Stowed away in the key safe, all passengers can access the key - but what do insurance companies say? The alternative is waterproof bags under the neo.
Open the boot! Windows open! Air conditioning on! Nowadays, car keys can fail electronically via radio quite a lot - especially after a salt water rinse. Replacement costs hundreds of euros for some models. So you can't take the key with you on the water without protection. What's more, passengers may want to get into the car earlier. So hide it well: According to our own empirical findings, a good 50 per cent of all surfers apparently consider the left front tyre to be the Fort Knox of key hiding places.
Heavyweight key safe
The other half reach for the mobile key safe. At many surf spots, there is one dangling from every second towing eye. With the right code (a combination lock is hidden behind the black cover flap in the photo above left), any authorised person can access the car keys at any time. However, these are quite heavy pieces of rubble. The tested Abus "Key Garage Flex" weighs just under 0.8 kilos - for air travellers, that counts as half a mast.
You certainly can't get to the key of these safes with healthy fingernails, a screwdriver or a multitool. However, there are no reputable anti-tampering tests for this product group. It is therefore not certain how well these steel gatekeepers can withstand professional techniques. But the small box signals: Hello - the original car key is in here!
What the insurance company says about the risk of theft
So what happens if the car, keys and key box are left in a large parking space after surfing? Depending on the insurance company, you are at least on thin ice when it comes to this type of storage. A spokeswoman for the GDV (German Insurance Association) explains: "If the key box has been broken into, the resulting damage, e.g. the damaged key box or items stolen from the car, may be covered by the external insurance of the household contents insurance. However, there is no generally applicable rule here. It depends on what is agreed in your own household contents policy. In addition, the key boxes on offer vary greatly and range from do-it-yourself to certified systems. This can also affect the insurance cover." If the car is stolen along with the key, things can become even more complicated.
The GDV makes it sound like this: "There is also no generally applicable regulation on key boxes in comprehensive motor vehicle insurance. Here too, surfers are best advised to contact their insurer. In principle, car theft is covered by the partial casco of motor insurance. In the event of grossly negligent car theft, the benefit may be reduced. This may be the case if the vehicle is stolen with the help of a suitable car key. Whether a reduction is possible depends on the severity of the fault and therefore on the individual case. In principle, the vehicle key must be stored in such a way that it is protected against unauthorised access by any third party." It can therefore do no harm to ask your insurer specifically if you want to be on the safe side. The key is definitely better stored in a safe than on the front wheel. You also have better arguments for the insurance company. A photo of the safe on the car can also do no harm in an emergency. A residual risk remains. This is certainly less during the day on a campsite than at dusk on a deserted beach.
The gentle alternative: key bag
The key hangs under the neo and is absolutely theft-proof. Waterproof mobile phone pockets are unnecessarily large, the Hermetic dry bag mini from Fidlock (17.99 euros) and the Keyfender (29.90 euros), on the other hand, is made for just that. The soft case with magnetic fastening from Fidlock is somewhat more discreet under the Neo. The Keyfender, as a sturdy hard cover, is thicker. However, it has sufficient buoyancy and also floats with the key. The Fidlock bag - with a heavy key inside - simply sinks. We didn't find the mini Baywatch version very discreet and the strap is quite tight. However, a soft neoprene neck strap is included. There are also various pads to ensure that the key fits perfectly in the case. It can still be operated through the PVC window. Wasn't it nice when you could simply put the car key under the Neo because it could only do two things - turn the lock cylinder and rust a little?
Stephan Gölnitz
Deputy Editor in Chief surf
