A system for key absence management in a vehicle configured to be started by an electronic key fob includes a key absence management controller that implements a method configured to authorize starting of the vehicle by monitoring presence and absence of the electronic key fob in the vehicle. If the controller finds the electronic key fob to be present in the vehicle, then the controller authorizes starting of the vehicle. If the controller finds the electronic key fob to be absent from the vehicle, then the controller authorizes starting of the vehicle based on detection of a keyless authority indicator. A vehicle configured to be started by an electronic key fob includes the system with the controller that implements the method.