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Cost of Replacement Car Keys It's a major trouble to lose your car keys. Even worse, the cost of replacing them can be a major expense. The most cost-effective and easiest method to replace your car keys is to contact an auto locksmith. You can also have your keys copied by professional dealers, but they often charge extra. Year and Make a Car Long gone are the days when a simple lost car key wasn't such a big deal. Today's cars are more advanced, and that means their keys are more expensive to replace. In fact in the event that you lose your fob or smart key it could cost you up to $350. Modern cars utilize electronic fobs and keys that allow you to open doors and begin the engine. Keys and fobs, which are electronic devices of a miniature size with a battery and circuitry are connected to the vehicle. This is a complicated process that requires specialized tools and training. There are a variety of ways to save money on new car keys. By comparing the prices of keys and features prior to buying, you can be more informed about the price you can expect to spend on new keys. The year and make of your vehicle will have a significant impact on the price of your new replacement keys. Most modern vehicles come with high-tech transponder chips that have to be connected to the car by an auto locksmith or dealer, which is an expensive and time-consuming procedure. It will be cheaper to replace older vehicles and keys that don't contain transponder chips. You can also save money by buying online or utilizing a third party service to replace your car keys. Consider buying an portable GPS like Tile or AirTag to help you locate your car keys in case they get lost. key replacement car attach to your keys and are simple to use using an app for smartphones. It's important to remember that losing or misplacing keys to your car can be costly, so it's best to have a spare in your vehicle at all times. If you don't have a spare key, check with your dealer to find out if they offer a free replacement program. This could be part of the warranty for your vehicle, or as an extra roadside assistance option. These programs can provide up to $400 worth of cost of replacement keys for your car each year and are well worth it for the assurance they offer. Technology Type While car keys and remote fobs might appear to be simple pieces of metal, they're actually miniscule electronic devices. As such there's more to them than what's apparent — and this makes them costly to replace. The type of key that you have will also impact the cost of replacing it. Key fobs that are standard are cheap to duplicate, but they're not as robust as the modern models that include an additional layer of security. These keys have a special head with a chip that communicates to the computer in the car. A duplicate key won't function without the chip, even having the same ridges and grooves as the original. These are much more expensive than traditional keys due to the fact that they require two steps to make: laser cutting and programming the key to your vehicle. In some cases, the locksmith may need to disassemble the transponder to program it properly. This is a hazardous task that should be handled only by a specialized locksmith. The process could be extremely time-consuming and expensive when they need to replace other parts such as the housing that holds the chip. You'll need to take your vehicle to a dealer to get an ignition key programmed. You will need to provide evidence of ownership like the registration papers or title documents. Also, you'll need wait a few days for the dealer to purchase a new key for your car and match it with your existing one. Genesky says he's able to do the key cutting and programming for customers who have older European vehicles in his shop for $200-$250. Genesky is forced to turn away customers who own the latest models of cars as there isn't the costly equipment required to program their keys. It's important to choose a local locksmith or dealership who can deal with any kind of vehicle and provide a variety of services. This will save you money on the long-term when it comes time to replace or repair your car keys. Where You Live When you live can impact the amount a locksmith or car dealer will charge for key replacement. Prices are higher in large cities than in small towns or rural areas. This is because the service provider must travel farther to get to you, which results in higher prices. The date and time of the loss can also impact the cost. The cost of replacing a key will be higher if lose them on a holiday, or in the night. You might also be charged due to the inconvenience of waiting longer for a service technician to show up. The type of key that you have can also affect the cost. Certain cars only have basic mechanical keys or standard keys while others have transponder chips, key fobs or smart keys. Keys that are more advanced in technology will cost more to replace. Some of these high-tech keys require to be programmed by an auto locksmith or dealer. This could take an hour or more of time and is a reason why the cost will be more expensive than a basic key. For those with older vehicles with standard keys that don't include transponder chips, will usually pay less for an entirely new key. Standard key cutting usually requires reading the cuts on the ignition of the car or using a VIN number to identify the correct key for the vehicle. A lot of keys require that they are paired with the vehicle’s computer for unlocking the doors and start the engines. You can contact the dealership from which you bought your car if you are unable find your keys. However, this is not always the case. You might be able to file a claim for a replacement fob or key, based on the terms of your insurance policy. Assistance companies for roadside emergencies like AAA might be able to assist with this but they'll probably only offer a basic key and not the more advanced technology. Security Features The loss of your car keys can be a huge hassle, but it's also an opportunity for someone else to take your car. This is a danger that all drivers have to face. It's important to budget for the cost of a new key. There are many factors that influence the cost of replacement keys. The cost of replacement keys is influenced by a variety of factors, such as the year and model of your car, the technology used in the key, as well as the security features. You should also consider whether you'd prefer to use an emergency roadside service, such as AAA. This can add to the cost of replacing your lost key. Traditional keys made of metal that don't come with a transponder chip in them are a lot less expensive to replace. They can typically be duplicated at a hardware store for less than $10. A newer smart key must be programmed and linked to your vehicle by an auto locksmith. This can cost up to $200 or more. Key fobs are available in many vehicles which communicate with the car's computer via radio frequency identification. These keys are difficult to duplicate and are specifically designed to prevent theft. The cost of replacing keys of this kind can be as high as $500 or more. You could also decide to have a tracker added to your keychain in order to help locate it in case you lose it. These are usually small devices that are available from a variety of hardware stores and can be used in conjunction with an app to monitor the whereabouts of your lost key. They can add to the cost of replacing electronic keys, however they are a cost-effective and practical option for most people. In the past, losing your car keys could be a major issue and cost you money for a while. Nowadays, we have more technology than we did in the past, and so losing your keys is a hassle. But it doesn't need to be expensive to get you back behind the wheel.