

Even if your keys aren’t made from a permanent magnet! Every metal gives off some form of a magnetic field. The easiest way to test your keys is to place it on a common fridge magnet and see if it sticks. So, it might be very magnetic or hardly at all, depending on the nickel to silver ratio. Nickel is magnetic, but it can be mixed with some silver. This used to be a popular metal for keys because nickel holds up very well after being inserted and pulled out of the ignition over and over. There’s a decent chance that your car key is made out of nickel. Traditional keys for expensive car models might be made of silver, but those aren’t magnetic either. You might chance upon an iron car key for very old models, but you’re likely to find them as antiques more than anything else. However, the key’s coating can possibly block the magnetic properties. The major component of steel is iron, which is very magnetic. Steel has the potential, depending on how it’s manufactured. The most popular types of metal used for car keys are steel or brass. There are other kinds of magnets that involve magnetic fields and electric currents, but those won’t help you get your key out from a tight spot. This refers to the kind where you place something on your refrigerator and it sticks. You’re probably thinking of what’s called a permanent magnet. Just keep reading!įirst, we should define magnetic. Below, we’ll go more in-depth with which metals are magnetic, how likely they are to be in your car keys, and provide some solutions to finding lost keys. If you still have more questions about car keys and magnetism, don't fret. Other metals have a tiny chance of being magnetic. If it’s composed of nickel or iron, then magnets will work on it. To be magnetic, the key needs to be one that you physically insert into the ignition. It mostly depends on what materials the key is made of.

Some car keys are magnetic while others are not. Since most keys are metal, can a magnet help you find them? We looked into it and did the research to find out if magnets might be a natural tool to keep on hand for missing car keys. So, you might look for ways to fish them out.

It’s easy to drop car keys into tight spaces or lose them entirely.
