How to Store Spare Garage Door Remotes Safely in Your Car

For many homeowners across the UK, keeping a spare garage door remote in the car feels like a smart move. It saves time, adds convenience, and ensures that if you forget your main remote or key, you can still access your home without hassle. Yet what seems like a small convenience can also become a security risk if the remote is not stored safely. A misplaced or stolen remote could give intruders direct access to your property. This guide explains the safest and most practical ways to store spare garage door remotes in your car, with expert advice based on UK safety standards and best practices.

Why Safe Storage Matters

A garage door remote is effectively a key to your home. If someone gains access to it, they can enter your property without leaving signs of forced entry. Unlike a traditional key, garage door remotes often operate silently and invisibly, meaning a break-in could go unnoticed until it is too late.

Car theft, break-ins, and opportunistic theft from unlocked vehicles are common enough that leaving a visible or easily accessible remote can be a real risk. In some cases, thieves target cars parked outside homes specifically to find remotes that grant garage access. Once inside, they can use the garage as a sheltered entry point to the main house.

Safe storage is not just about preventing theft, but also about protecting your property’s insurance validity. Many insurers in the UK require homeowners to demonstrate reasonable care in securing access devices. Leaving a remote in plain sight could be viewed as negligence in the event of a break-in claim.

Understanding the Risks

The main risk associated with storing a spare remote in your car is unauthorised access. If your vehicle is stolen or broken into, the thief may find the remote and use it to open your garage. If your garage is attached to your home, this could compromise your main property security as well.

Another issue is accidental activation. If the remote is left in a location where it can be pressed unintentionally, such as inside a glovebox cluttered with other items, it might open the door without you realising. Some homeowners have discovered their garage door open overnight for this very reason.

Temperature and moisture are also important considerations. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or condensation can damage a remote’s circuitry, shorten battery life, or cause malfunction. UK weather can be unpredictable, so the inside of a car is not always a stable environment for electronic devices.

Who Should Take Extra Care

This advice applies to all vehicle owners who use remote-controlled garage doors, but it’s particularly important for those who park in public or shared areas, such as communal parking bays, flats with shared garages, or street parking. Homeowners who frequently leave their vehicles unattended for long periods, such as commuters at railway car parks, are also at greater risk.

For landlords or property managers providing tenants with remotes, safe storage guidelines should be included as part of tenancy information. For businesses operating fleet vehicles with access to secure premises, proper storage and management of garage remotes form part of essential security policy.

UK Insurance and Security Guidance

Most UK home insurance policies treat a garage remote as an access device, similar to a key or entry fob. If a thief uses one to enter your property and there are signs of negligence, such as leaving it visible inside a vehicle, an insurer could reduce or deny the claim. Always check your policy wording under the sections covering “reasonable care” and “home security requirements”.

Insurers and local police recommend that valuables and access devices never be left visible inside a vehicle. The same rules that apply to wallets, sat navs, and house keys apply to garage door remotes. For maximum protection, store them in a concealed location, ideally within a lockable compartment or security box.

Best Practices for Storing Remotes in Your Car

The best approach is to balance convenience with security. If you must keep a spare garage door remote in your car, do so in a concealed and secure location. The glovebox is the most common choice, but it should always be kept locked when you leave the vehicle. Many newer cars include central locking systems that secure the glovebox along with the doors, but in older models, you may need to lock it manually.

Another effective option is to store the remote in the boot rather than the cabin. This area is less accessible during a quick break-in and is generally out of sight. If your boot can be opened using an internal button or electronic release, ensure your car is locked and alarmed at all times.

For higher security, consider using a small car safe or lockbox designed for valuables. These compact units can be mounted discreetly under a seat or in the boot and are ideal for storing spare remotes or keys. Many models meet insurance-approved standards such as Sold Secure, offering additional peace of mind.

If you drive a modern car with smart storage compartments, such as concealed centre consoles or under-floor bins, these can also work well. Just make sure the remote is not exposed to extreme heat or cold, as this can damage the internal components.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Never attach your garage remote to your car keyring. While it might seem convenient, this makes it easy for thieves to take both at once during a theft. It also increases wear and tear on the remote’s casing and buttons.

Avoid leaving the remote on the dashboard, visor, or cup holder, even for short periods. Opportunistic thieves often check parked vehicles for visible items that can be grabbed quickly.

Do not tape or mount the remote permanently inside the car, especially near windows or doors, as this draws attention and could invalidate your insurance claim in the event of theft.

Finally, don’t store the remote near magnetic or electronic devices like mobile phones or dash cams. Prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields may interfere with the remote’s signal or cause reduced range.

Backup Security Measures

For an extra layer of safety, many UK homeowners now pair their garage door systems with rolling-code technology or smart Wi-Fi control modules. Rolling-code remotes generate a new encrypted signal each time they are used, meaning a stolen remote cannot be cloned or reused once it has been erased from the system’s memory.

If you lose a remote or suspect it has been stolen, reset your garage door receiver immediately and reprogram your remaining remotes. This can be done by pressing the reset button on the receiver for several seconds until the indicator light flashes, then pairing the remotes again.

For modern systems with smartphone integration, you can disable access remotely using an app, making it even harder for a thief to exploit a lost remote.

Protecting Against Environmental Damage

Cars experience wide temperature fluctuations throughout the year, from freezing mornings in winter to hot interiors in summer. Excessive heat can weaken solder joints or warp batteries, while cold conditions can cause condensation inside the remote.

To prevent this, store the remote in a padded or insulated case to shield it from temperature extremes. Keep it away from direct sunlight and avoid placing it near air vents, heaters, or under seats where water might collect.

Replacing the remote’s battery annually also helps maintain reliability. Most UK remotes use CR2032 or similar lithium coin cells, which last between one and two years under normal use.

Sustainable and Long-Term Considerations

Properly caring for and storing remotes extends their lifespan and reduces waste. By protecting the remote from heat, moisture, and damage, you’ll avoid the need for premature replacements and battery disposal.

If you upgrade your garage door system, consider recycling old remotes responsibly through electronic waste schemes. Many local authorities accept small electronics for recycling, ensuring components are reused safely rather than ending up in landfill.

Smart garage systems with app-based control can also help reduce the number of physical remotes needed in a household, lowering manufacturing impact and plastic waste.

Real-World Scenarios

A homeowner in Kent left a remote visible on their dashboard overnight. The vehicle was broken into, and the thief later used the remote to access the garage. Their insurer declined the claim, citing failure to take reasonable care. After that incident, the homeowner began storing the replacement remote in a lockable glovebox and fitted a rolling-code receiver for added protection.

In Yorkshire, a family installed a small car safe under the boot floor to hold spare remotes and keys securely while away on holiday. When their car was later broken into, the thieves were unable to access the safe or use the remotes.

A landlord in Birmingham provided tenants with clear instructions on how to store garage remotes safely in their vehicles and made secure storage a condition of tenancy. This reduced lost remotes and prevented unauthorised access when tenants changed.

Conclusion

Storing a spare garage door remote in your car can be practical, but it requires thoughtful handling to prevent serious security risks. Treat your remote as carefully as you would your house keys. Keep it hidden, protected, and locked away whenever your car is unattended.

For complete peace of mind, consider additional safety measures such as rolling-code systems, receiver resets, or secure car safes. By following these best practices, you can enjoy the convenience of easy access without compromising the safety of your home or vehicle.