Locksmiths and Car Keys - What You Need to Know
Losing your car keys can be a highly stressful experience. There’s never a convenient time to lose your keys, and all too often, it happens when you need your car the most.
There is a flurry of worries and grief that can accompany lost car keys — the fear that somebody could locate and steal your car, the stress of not being able to go where you need to be, and the frustration of not knowing where to go to replace them ASAP.
But it’s okay. Breathe. Just breathe. Losing your car keys doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds. There are a variety of solutions that your nearby locksmith can help you with.
Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know when you lose your car key.
Know What Kind of Key You Lost
First of all, there are several different types of car keys on the market, and the method of replacement depends on what kind your car uses. You should be able to recall the type of key your vehicle is packing if you drove it around regularly, but a local car key locksmith can probably help you identify it as long as you remember the car’s make and model.
Here are the four general categories of car keys:
Basic Key
Cars that were built before the mid-90s or so are likely to have basic keys. Unlike the other keys in this list, there isn’t really anything special about these keys. They’re nothing more than a metal shaft cut into a certain shape to open a lock, not unlike the house key you use on your front door. As long as you can have a locksmith cut a new key into the same shape, replacing one of these keys isn’t terribly difficult.
Transponder Key
Around 1994 or 1995, auto manufacturers wised up and realized there were more secure ways to protect cars from thievery. And thus the transponder key was born — if you’re driving a car that was born anywhere within the last two decades, you have a transponder key. Transponder keys have the appearance of normal keys, but they’re usually equipped with a thick, plastic black head. This is the important part — the head of a transponder key contains a radio frequency transmitter which sends a small signal to a receiver in the car when you put it in the ignition. If the car doesn’t receive this transmission, it won’t start, even if the key is perfectly cut. This adds an extra layer of security.
Key Fob
The majority of cars also come with a key fob, which is a little remote device with various buttons, which can unlock and lock the car remotely. Most key fobs can also release the trunk and operate the car alarm. Key fobs often come bundled with a transponder key. If you lose your key fob but you still have your transponder key, you should still be able to unlock and drive your car. That being said, key fobs are extremely convenient and you’ll definitely miss having one if you lose it.
SmartKey
Car keys are becoming more and more advanced, and this couldn’t be more evident than with new keys, which are usually a combination of key and fob. Many keys have a transponder inside the bow, along with the buttons that usually come included on a fob. However, some cars are doing away with the key part entirely — many recent car models have a “push to start” ignition system, where you simply push a button. The car, of course, won’t start unless it’s reading the transponder signal. Because these are so specialized, they’re not as easy or cheap to replace as other types of car keys.
What Car Key Locksmiths Can Do For You
Basic Key Replacement
If your granddaddy car was born before the days of transponder keys, you’re in luck. It’s exceedingly easy for us to create a new key for you at Redlands Lock and Key. As a professional locksmith company, we have special devices that help us to create a duplicate key for your lock.
Transponder Key Replacement
Transponder keys are a little more difficult to replace because you have to reprogram the key and transponder to communicate with each other. Don’t you worry though — this is nothing we can’t handle at Redlands Lock and Key.
When it comes to replacing a transponder key, you pretty much have two options. You can go straight to your local vehicle dealer, or to a nearby locksmith service. Both parties are fully capable of reprogramming and replacing your transponder key, but you’ll see a cost difference between the two.
In general, you can expect to pay anywhere between $20 to $50 less if you come to Redlands Lock and Key instead of the dealership.
Fob Replacement
For the most part, replacing a key fob is basically the same as replacing a transponder key. All of the above rules still apply — you can go to a locksmith or a dealership (paying less with the former), they will identify the fob model you need, and a special machine will reprogram it to work with your car.
Another compelling reason to consider a locksmith service is that dealerships might hit you with labor fees due to the time it takes to reprogram the key. This is one thing that makes lock and key professionals more affordable. Overall, you pay a premium to dealerships which can be avoided at locksmiths without sacrificing quality.
SmartKey Replacement
If you have a newer vehicle which uses a key and fob combination device, this is where car key replacement becomes the most difficult.
Most key fobs, also known as SmartKeys, are proprietary to the manufacturer who created them. Because there is such a wide variety of different car manufacturers and models, we can’t give a blanket statement on which key fobs we’re able to replace, but it suffices to say there are certain models which require you to go to the dealership.
If you’ve lost a key fob or SmartKey which works with a push-to-start ignition, please contact us and ask about our automotive locksmith services. We’ll be able to let you know if it’s possible to replace your key fob, and if it is, you can bet we’ll get to your location as fast as possible — even if it’s the middle of the night, we offer 24-hour locksmith services, so you should never hesitate to contact us if you’re in a bind.
Tips and Tricks to Prevent the Problem
Ultimately, if you lose your car keys or electronic fob, the simplest answer is just “call your local lock and key service.” We’re not lying when we say that we will have a solution for you.
However, wouldn’t it be nice if you could circumvent the need for a locksmith entirely? While we love providing our services to people in need, we also know it can be a bummer to have to pay for services that you didn’t anticipate having to deal with.
Budget Solution
Duplicate a Basic Car Key
If you want to help prevent the costs and frustration of getting stranded without keys, one of the first things you can do is get a copy of your key made without the transponder tech.
If you’re doing nothing more than copying the ridges on the key’s shank (also known as the blade), it could cost you less than $10 — a whole lot cheaper than the $75 to $150 you could potentially pay if you lost both transponder key and fob.
Yes, we know what you’re thinking — you won’t be able to start your car with a basic key. But, you will be able to unlock it. So, if you locked your car keys inside your vehicle, you’ll be able to get them out without a hassle if you have a basic key stashed somewhere. This can be invaluable.
Also, having a key that can unlock the doors is nice if you actually lose your keys somewhere and your car is stranded. At the very least, you can open up your car and remove any valuables to reduce the chance of theft. It also makes life easier if you happened to leave your wallet inside a locked car.
Duplicating a key without a transponder costs less than a fast food meal, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go ahead and do it!
Keep a Replacement Transponder Key Somewhere Accessible
If you’re willing to shell out a little more cash, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t just go ahead and consider transponder key duplication services from your local locksmith.
By having a spare transponder key, you can ensure that you’ll always have a way to not only unlock your car, but also drive it in the event that you lose your keys.
While most cars come with a spare key, not all of them do, and it’s possible you may have lost yours already. But even if you have two, there are plenty of reasons to invest in a third one. Here are some ways you could benefit from having a spare transponder key:
- In a Lockbox in the Undercarriage: Imagine having a spare key secured in a secret spot on your car, like being secured in the undercarriage. To prevent theft, you could even keep it in a tiny lockbox. Do this, and you’ll always have a solution if you lose your keys or lock them in your car. You won’t have to wait a single moment to open your car back up, get in, and drive where you need to — and then you can worry about finding your keys.
- In Your Purse or Wallet: Most ladies keep their keys in their purses, but there are many occasions where they can get separated, and most men can’t exactly fit them in their wallets. If you have a simple spare key that’s always with your purse or wallet, you’re guaranteed to be able to get back in your car — so long as they’re not locked inside.
- At Home: It’s always a boon to have a spare key at home. This won’t be super helpful if you’re on the other side of the country, but most people’s driving occurs fairly close to home, and in a worst case, you’ll just have to call a taxi or ridesharing service to go home and back to fetch your spare key.
24-Hour Automotive Locksmith Services in Beaumont and Surrounding Areas
Calling a locksmith is never fun. We’re locksmiths ourselves, and even we know how much of a drag it is to have to stop everything and resolve a crisis that you hadn’t anticipated. With that being said, we’re committed to making the process as painless as possible for you.
That’s why we offer 24-hour automotive locksmith services. Whether you need us at noon or three o’clock in the morning, we’ll be there to help. We offer transponder key replacement, duplication, and re-keying services for your vehicle.
If you’re in Beaumont, Colton, Highland, Loma Linda, Redlands, Yucaipa, or any other of the surrounding areas, we urge you to call Redlands Lock and Key if you ever find yourself in key-related crisis. We’ll get you your replacement car keys and help you to get on your way as soon as possible. Contact us today!
