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Cost of Replacement Car Keys It's a big problem to lose your car keys. The cost of replacing them is an expense of a major magnitude. Calling an auto locksmith is the cheapest and quickest method of replacing your car key. You can also have your keys copied by professional dealers, but they often upcharge. Year & Make of vehicle The days are long gone where a single lost car key wasn't an issue. Nowadays, cars are more advanced, and that means their keys are more expensive to replace. In fact, if you lose your fob or smart key, it could cost up to $350. Modern cars use electronic fobs and keys to open doors and start engines. The keys and fobs, which are electronic devices in tiny sizes, with a battery and circuitry are connected to the vehicle. This is a complicated process that requires specialized tools and training. There are many ways to save money on replacement car keys. Comparing prices and features of keys will give you a a better idea of how much you'll have to spend on new keys. The year and the make of your car will have a major impact on the price of your new replacement keys. A lot of newer vehicles have transponder chips that need to be connected by an auto locksmith or dealer. This is a lengthy and expensive procedure. Keys for older cars and vehicles with no transponder chips will be much more affordable to replace. You can also save money by buying online or utilizing a third party service to replace the keys to your car. You may also want to think about purchasing an portable GPS device such as Tile or AirTag that will assist you in finding your car keys should they get lost. These devices can be attached to your keys and are easy to use with an app for smartphones. Remember that the loss or misplacement of your car keys could be expensive. It is recommended to always carry an extra. If you don't own an extra key, you should check with your dealer to find out if they offer a free replacement program. This could be part of the vehicle warranty or an additional roadside assistance option. These programs will provide up to $400 in key replacement costs per year, and are well worth it for the assurance they offer. Technology Type Although keys to cars and remote controls may appear to be ordinary metal pieces, they're actually electronic devices in miniature form. Therefore, they're more complex than they appear. This means they're costly to replace. The type of key you have can affect how much it will cost to purchase a replacement. Key fobs that are standard can be duplicated relatively cheaply, but are not as durable as newer models that have an additional layer of security. They have a unique head with a chip that communicates to the car's computer. Without the chip the duplicate key will not work, even when the ridges and grooves are identical to the original. These keys are more expensive than the conventional ones due to the fact that they require two steps in cutting the laser and programming the key to your vehicle. In certain situations, a locksmith will need to remove the transponder chip in order to program it correctly. This is a hazardous task that should only be done by a locksmith with special training. If they have to replace other components such as the housing that houses chips, the process can be time-consuming and costly. For the most current model automobiles, you'll need bring your vehicle into an auto dealer to get a new key programmed to your vehicle. You will need to provide evidence of ownership like the registration papers or title documents. You'll also have to wait for the dealer to order and match a new key to the key you have already. Genesky says that he's able to do the key programming and cut keys for customers with older European vehicles in his shop for about $200-$250. However, he must deny customers who have the latest model cars because he doesn't have the expensive equipment to program keys for them. It's important to choose a local locksmith or dealership who can deal with any kind of vehicle and offers various services. In the end, this will save you money over the long term when it comes to fixing and replacing your keys to your car that have been stolen or lost. Where You Live The place you live will affect how much the locksmith or dealer will charge for key replacement. Prices are higher in large cities than in smaller towns or rural areas. This is due to the fact that the service provider needs to travel farther to get to your location, which means more expensive costs. Another factor that can affect the cost of car key replacement is when and where you lose your keys. If you lose your keys on an evening or on a holiday this will increase the total cost. There is a chance that you will be charged extra for the inconvenience of having to wait longer for a service technician to show up. The type of key you're using can also impact the cost. Some cars have only basic mechanical keys or standard keys whereas others have transponder chips, key fobs, or smart keys. The cost of replacing keys using more advanced technology will be higher. Some of these high-tech keys require programming by a dealership or auto locksmith. It could take up to up to an hour or more and is one of the reasons why a high-tech key will cost more than a basic one. Older vehicles without transponder chips and standard keys will cost less to get an updated key. Key cutting is a standard procedure that typically requires a glance at the cut marks on the ignition or the VIN number to determine which key is suitable for the vehicle. Many of these keys require that they are connected to the computer in the vehicle in order to unlock the doors and start the engines. If you've lost your keys and aren't able to locate them, try calling the car dealership you bought your car from but that's not always an option. You may be able to submit an insurance claim for a replacement fob or key, based on the terms of your insurance policy. Assistance companies for roadside emergencies like AAA may be able to assist you with this however they'll likely only offer a basic key, not the more sophisticated technology. Security Features It can be a major inconvenience to lose your car keys, but it also gives an individual the chance to rob your vehicle. This is a risk all drivers are required to take. It is important to plan for the cost of replacing a car key. The cost of replacement keys is influenced by a variety of factors. These include the year and model of your vehicle, how sophisticated the key technology is and the security features included in the keys. It is also important to think about whether you'd like to use an emergency roadside assistance program like AAA, which can make a difference in the total cost of replacing the lost key. It is much cheaper to replace traditional keys for cars without a transponder. They can be duplicated at a hardware shop for less than $10. On the other hand, a newer smart key must be connected with your vehicle and then programmed by an auto locksmith or dealer. This can cost up to $200 or more. Key fobs are now offered in a variety of cars that communicate with the car's computer via radio frequency identification. They are a lot more difficult to duplicate and are designed to stop theft. The cost of replacing keys of this kind can be as high as $500 or more. You can also opt to add a tracker to your keychain to help locate it should you lose it. These are typically small devices that can be bought from most hardware stores, and they can be used in conjunction with an app to monitor the location of your lost key. While they may add to the overall cost of replacing keys, they can be an affordable and effective solution for the majority of people. In replacement key fob car of losing your car keys could have been a major inconvenience and cost you money for a while. Most of us today have more technology than in the past, so losing your keys is an issue. But it doesn't need to be expensive to get back on the road.