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Cost of Replacement Car Keys It's a big hassle to lose your car keys. The cost of replacing them is a major expense. Contacting an auto locksmith is the cheapest and easiest way to replace your car key. You can also have your keys copied by professional dealers, but they often upcharge. Year & Make a Vehicle Long gone are the days where a single lost car key wasn't important. The keys of modern-day cars, which are more sophisticated, are expensive to purchase. In fact, if you lose your smart key or fob it could cost you up to $350. Modern cars utilize electronic fobs and keys to unlock doors and start engines. Keys and fobs which are electronic devices in tiny sizes, with a battery and circuitry, are paired with the vehicle. This is a complex procedure that requires specialized tools and knowledge to master. There are ways to save money on replacement keys for your car. Comparing the prices of keys and features will help you get an idea of much you'll have to pay for new keys. The year and model of your vehicle will have a major impact on the price of the new keys you purchase. Most modern vehicles come with high-tech transponder chips that need to be connected to the car by a dealer or auto locksmith which is a costly and time-consuming process. It will be cheaper to replace older cars and keys that do not have transponder chips. Additionally, you can often save money on new car keys by using a third-party service or buying your new key online. Consider buying a portable GPS like Tile or AirTag to help you locate your car keys in the event they get lost. These devices can be attached to your keys and are easy to use via an app for smartphones. Keep in mind that the loss or misplacement of keys to your car could cost you money. It is best to always carry an extra. If you don't have a spare, it's worth visiting your dealer to see if it offers a free key replacement program as part of your vehicle's warranty and roadside assistance additional add-ons or a longer bumper-to-bumper coverage. These programs cover up to $400 in key replacement costs per year, and are well worth it for the peace of mind they provide. Technology Type While car keys and remote fobs might appear like basic pieces of metal, they're actually miniature electronic devices. As such there's more to them than meets the eye — and this makes them costly to replace. The type of key you have will also influence the cost of replacing it. Key fobs of the standard type can be duplicated fairly cheaply however they aren't as durable as newer models with an extra layer of security. They have a unique head with a chip which communicates to the car's computer. A duplicate key won't function without the chip, even having the same grooves and ridges as the original. These keys are more expensive than conventional keys since they require two steps to make the key: laser cutting and programming the key to your vehicle. In some cases, a locksmith will need to remove the transponder chip in order to program it correctly. This is a dangerous job that should be handled only by a locksmith who is trained. The process can be lengthy and costly when they need to replace any other part, including the housing that holds the chip. For the most recent model automobiles, you'll need bring your car into a dealership to have a new key programmed to your vehicle. This will require you to show evidence of ownership, such as the title or registration papers. 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 at his shop for about $200-$250. Genesky has to refuse customers who have the latest models of cars because he does not have the costly equipment required to program their keys. This is the reason it's essential to find a local locksmith or dealer that provides an array of services and can work with any type of vehicle. This will help you save money in the long-term when it's time to replace or repair your car keys. Where You Live The place you live will affect how much a locksmith or car dealer charges for key replacement. If you reside in a large city the costs are likely to be higher than if you lived in rural or a small town region. This is due to the fact that the service provider must travel farther to get to your location, which means higher prices. Another aspect that could affect the cost of replacing your car keys is when and where you lose your keys. The cost of a replacement key is higher if you lose them on a holiday, or at night. There is a chance that you will be charged additional to cover the inconvenience of having to wait longer for a service technician to show up. The kind of key you own will also influence the cost. Some cars only have basic mechanical keys, or standard keys, while others have a transponder chip, key fob, or smart keys. Keys that are more advanced in technology will cost more to replace. Some of these high-tech keys require programming by an auto locksmith or dealer. This can take up to an hour or more of time and is another reason why the price will be higher than for a basic key. For those with older vehicles with standard keys that don't contain transponder chips typically pay less for the purchase of a new key. Standard key cutting usually requires reading the cut marks on the ignition of the vehicle or using a VIN number to identify the correct key for the vehicle. Many of these key types require pairing with the computer of the vehicle to unlock the door and start the engine. You can call the dealership where you purchased your vehicle if you are not able to locate your keys. However it's not always the case. Based on your insurance policy, it may be possible to file a claim with them to pay for the replacement key or key fob. Roadside assistance companies such as AAA may also be able to help, but they will likely only provide a basic key and not the latest technology. Security Features Losing your car keys could be a huge inconvenience however it can also be an opportunity for someone to steal your vehicle. While this is a risk all drivers face it's important to understand the cost of replacing your car keys so that you can budget for it. The cost of replacing keys is affected by several factors. The cost of replacing keys is influenced by a variety of factors, including the year and model of your car and the technology utilized in the key, as well as the security features. You should also think about whether you'd like to make use of an emergency roadside service, such as AAA. This can add to the cost of replacing the key you lost. It is cheaper to replace the traditional metal keys for cars without a transponder. They can be duplicated at a hardware shop for less than $10. A newer smart key must be programmed and connected to your vehicle by an auto locksmith. This can cost as much as $200 or more. Many cars now come with keys that use radio frequency identification to connect with the computer in your car. These keys are much harder to duplicate and are designed to stop theft. The cost of replacing these types of keys could be up to $500 or more. You can also opt to add a tracker to your keychain to assist you to locate it in the event that you lose it. These tiny devices can be bought at many hardware stores and can be can be used with an app that tracks the lost keys. While they can add to the overall cost of replacing e keys, they can be an affordable and effective solution for most people. In the past the past, losing a set of keys to your car was an enormous issue and could have pushed you out of pocket for some time. Today, however, most of us have more technology than our grandparents did in their day, and misplacing your keys is an enormous hassle but it doesn't need to cost you a fortune in order to return to driving.