Found keys? Start with these four steps
- Keep them safe. Pick them up if it is safe to do so and note the location, date and approximate time. Do not hang them on a fence where anyone could take them.
- Check the keyring. Look for a phone number, a return code or details of a responsible organisation. Do not publish these details.
- Report the find. If the owner is unknown, contact the appropriate lost property service promptly. The right service depends on where you found the keys.
- Arrange the handover. Ask for a receipt when handing them in. Before a personal return, ask the person claiming them to describe the keys.
Where should you hand in found keys?
On a street, in a park or in a public square
Start with the lost property office of the municipality where you found them. Check the official council website for opening hours and handover arrangements. An online report does not automatically replace handing over the keys. Outside opening hours, use the relevant office’s normal phone number to ask about local options. An ordinary key find is not a reason to call an emergency number.
On a train, at a station, on a bus or tram
Contact the transport operator’s staff. Deutsche Bahn asks finders to hand items found on trains and in station areas to its employees and obtain confirmation. Also note the route, direction and carriage, where possible.
In a shop, café or at an event
Speak to staff, reception or the organisers. Owners often ask there first. Establish who is taking responsibility and how the item will be stored or forwarded. Do not simply leave it unattended on a counter.
Do you have to report found keys?
In Germany, section 965 of the Civil Code requires a person who takes possession of lost property to notify the entitled recipient promptly. If that person or their whereabouts are unknown, the competent authority generally has to be notified. Items worth no more than ten euros are exempt from this authority-reporting requirement. A finder may struggle to assess the value of a bunch of keys, so report it to the lost property office and ask what to do next. Special rules apply on public transport.
There is a BackCode on the keyring
Open backcode.de and use the code-check feature to enter the printed code. You can also scan the QR code; check the website address before opening it. BackCode lets you message the linked owner and arrange a return without their contact details being printed on the keyring.
A first message might say: “I found your keys near the park today. Can you describe them?” Do not share your home address. If the code is unassigned or nobody replies, do not wait indefinitely: report the find to the appropriate office and, if needed, tell the owner where you handed it in.
What should you leave out of a public found notice?
A short notice can help, but do not post sharp photos of key blades, complete return codes, names or addresses from the keyring. Keep some identifying details private so you can check a claim. “Keys found in the park — please contact me with a description” is often enough.
Arrange a safe return
Ask the claimant to describe the number and types of keys and any distinctive keyrings. Meet in a public place or use the lost property office. Do not try the keys in other people’s doors or vehicles. If ownership is uncertain, let the office check the claim.
Frequently asked questions
Should I leave the keys where I found them?
If you can safely secure them, a documented handover is better than leaving them somewhere unprotected. Record the exact location.
What if I find a car key?
Follow the same steps. Do not press the remote to locate a vehicle. Report it or hand it in to the service responsible for the location.
What if I lost my own keys?
See our lost-key checklist (German) and our guide to using a lost property office (German).
Sources and scope
This guide concerns Germany. Sources: section 965 of the German Civil Code and Deutsche Bahn’s lost property service. Checked on 13 November 2026.