Our car keys have an uncanny ability to get lost inside coat pockets or underneath couch cushions — or to disappear altogether. Prior to the 1990s, this wasn't a big deal. You could get a spare key at any hardware store or locksmith shop, not to mention at the car dealership, of course. But because it was easy to copy a key, it was also easy for a thief to steal your car. These days, advances in key technology have made vehicles more difficult to steal, but the price has been costlier key replacements. Here's a rundown of what you'll face in the way of cost if you have to replace your key, along with some alternatives that could lower the bill.
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The prices quoted here are for Santa Monica, California, and West Los Angeles, an area where an hour of labor at an auto dealership can cost more than $100. Labor costs in your region may vary. Basic Keys and Fob A basic car key, which was common up until the mid-to late-1990s, has no security feature other than its unique cut. The shank, which is the long metal part of the key, has cuts and grooves like a house key.
It's easy to copy these keys. A locksmith doesn't need any extra equipment: He can use the same machine he uses to cut other keys. A basic key will cost about $3 at a locksmith.
The only benefit of having the job done at the dealership would be to get the automaker's branding on the head of the key. A dealership near the Edmunds office charges about $12 for a basic key.
On most modern cars, an electronic (also known as a remote or transmitter) is an integral part of the key set. At the dealership, the cost of replacing an electronic fob can range from $50-$90, depending on the automaker or complexity of the design. All fobs need to be programmed. Some dealerships will do it for free, while others will charge a half hour to an hour of labor. There is a way around this fee, however.
Most fobs can be programmed with a specific combination of button presses on the remote and key turns in the ignition. Some owner's manuals will show you how to do it, and you can also find this information online. Finally, there are aftermarket fobs that you can purchase online or from a locksmith. Like most aftermarket products, the quality will vary, but they are a less expensive alternative if you've lost your fob.
Transponder Keys After the mid- to late-1990s, manufacturers began placing a transponder chip in the plastic head of the key. The chip emits a signal to a receiver in the ignition. If this 'immobilizer' detects the wrong signal — meaning that the wrong key is in the ignition — the vehicle will not start. A shank is either a basic key or a laser-cut key (more on laser-cut keys later). The major difference between a basic key and a transponder key is that the chip in the transponder key must be programmed before it can start the vehicle.
All dealerships have the machines necessary to program the key. Some might program it for free, but others will charge up to an hour of labor. Most auto locksmiths should also have these machines. In some vehicles, the transponder key and the fob are an all-in-one unit. This adds to the price of the key and makes it more difficult to get a spare anywhere but at the dealership. We checked the price of a basic transponder key on a late-model. The dealership quoted $160 for the key and an additional $75 for the fob.
If you go to a locksmith, expect to pay roughly $20-$30 less. A potential low-cost alternative for access to your car is to order a basic key without the transmitter.
This key will do everything but start the engine and can come in handy if you ever leave your keys inside the vehicle. Unas Locas Vacaciones Diana Palmer Pdf. If you're the type who frequently loses keys, you might be able to save money on the programming by creating a third key to have as a spare. If you already have two keys, a number of vehicle brands will allow you to program a third key on your own. You can have a locksmith cut this 'emergency' key and then you follow the procedure for programming, which can frequently be found in your owner's manual.
If the manual doesn't show you how, try searching online for the procedure. Try 'How to program a (insert your year, make, model) key' as your search terms. Our searches found a method that is said to work on many domestic vehicles. Insert one of your two working keys and turn the ignition to the 'on' position for at least three seconds (the car does not need to be started), then repeat the process with the second key. Now insert the new third key and again turn it to the 'on' position for another few seconds. This should program the extra key.