How to Get Spare Key For Car
Losing your car keys can be extremely stressful. There are a variety of ways you can replace keys.
Find them first with your own eyes. Examine all your bags and pockets and walk around the house.
Make sure you bring proof of ownership with you prior to visiting a dealer or locksmith. This could be your vehicle registration or title. This will save you some money.
1. Contact Your Dealership
It is a good thing to have an extra key for your car as losing them can be expensive and stressful. While it isn't as easy as it used to be to find an extra car key, there are several ways to still find one.
Contacting the dealership is the quickest method to get a spare key. Dealerships maintain records of security details for each vehicle and are able to quickly locate yours in their system. They will however have to create the key for you, and join it to your car. This could cost anything between $200 and $500 based on the location, dealership and make of your car.
Another option is to have a locksmith design you a standard key. This is less expensive than visiting a dealership, especially if your car is older and doesn't come with an upgraded key. It's also important to check your car's warranty, car-insurance policy, or auto club membership to see whether they'll cover the replacement of your key fob.
Today's vehicles use a sophisticated key, which is more expensive to replace than a conventional key. These keys contain an electronic transponder that communicates with the system of the vehicle to allow you to unlock and start the vehicle. If you lose your smart keys, they'll need to be connected to your vehicle. This can only be done by the dealership.
If your car is leased, the dealer may ask you to return two sets of keys or key fobs at expiration of the lease. It is essential to have an extra set of keys and key fobs just in case this happens.
Getting a spare car key is more expensive than it was in the past however it's still worthwhile to avoid the stress and costly repairs in the future. It's always better to be prepared prior to when you encounter a problem, so ensure you keep your spare keys in a safe place and know what to do if you lose your car keys.
2. Call an expert locksmith
It's no secret that losing keys to your car can be an absolute pain in the neck. If you're at a gas station, the grocery store, or on the return from work it can be extremely painful to discover that you've forgotten your spare key in the back seat of your car! Luckily, there are several ways to replace your keys without having to pay the locksmith or dealership.
If you have a traditional key, such as a standard double-edged car key, you are able to go to a local hardware store and purchase a replacement for less than $10. However, you will need to provide evidence of ownership, like the registration of your vehicle or title. It might be more difficult to replace a key which is more advanced in technology, such as a smart key or a remote fob. It is possible to contact an emergency locksmith in your area or the manufacturer to get a new key created.
Transponder keys are found in a majority of modern vehicles. They have to be programmed into the vehicle's computer. This can be accomplished by a locksmith, however it is more expensive than replacing the standard key. You can also try to reset your key by following the instructions in the owner's manual, however, it can be difficult and time-consuming, and it will not always work.
You can lower the risk of losing your keys by having a specific space to keep keys. You can put an empty bowl or key holder on a table close to your door. You can keep a key ring with your person at all times to ensure that you know where your keys are. It is also possible to tidy up your home or office space because a messy area is a higher risk that you'll lose things. Be aware that even if your keys aren't lost, you might lose them. It's essential to have a backup plan in the event that this happens. It's always better to be prepared rather than stranded on the side of the highway!
3. Contact a Towing Service
It's a great idea to have an extra set of keys if you are someone who loses car keys often. They're fairly inexpensive and easy to keep around and will help you avoid a lot of anxiety in the near future. Many of the latest vehicles come with safety features that make it difficult to lock yourself out. Check out the new inventory at Longo Toyota to find a vehicle that has this feature, or consider changing your car to one with it.
There are a variety of ways to replace your car keys but the details will differ based on the type of key and the manner in which it was lost. If you have a conventional, non-digitally programmed key, a locksmith can replace it. If you own a smart key however, it could be a much more involved procedure. The dealer will need to run your VIN and provide proof of ownership for a new key, which can take a few weeks.
Car rental companies usually don't keep spare keys in their facilities However, they'll often collaborate with you to get the issue resolved. Hertz offers a lost-key assistance as part of its premium roadside assistance plan. However, this service isn't available when you don't purchase additional roadside protection.
If you're unable to get assistance from your rental provider, or if you don't have an emergency roadside assistance plan in place then you'll have to call locksmiths or a towing service. Both can help you get back to your vehicle and on the roads, but they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. It's important that you research both options and keep the contact details of both companies on hand just in case. Avoid losing your keys by all means. This means that you must always put them in the same spot.
4. Call an Repair Shop
It is best to plan ahead when you lose your keys. In the past, losing your car key or losing it was just a minor annoyance. Today, this can be a major problem. If you're smart, it's not as expensive or difficult to get a spare key like it once was.
The first thing you'll have to do is determine what kind of key your car has. Keys that are traditional with mechanical shanks that insert into the ignition are simple to replace. A basic key that does not have chip costs between $10 and $12. The most recent vehicles have keys with security chips in. These keys must be reprogrammed into the car to unlock doors or start the vehicle. Replacement keys for these cars can cost up to $200.
The process of programming these chips is a complex process and requires special equipment. spare car key fob is also attainable by a locksmith, however you should make sure that they have the right tools and experience.
A key cutting shop such as AutoZone is also a possibility. A worker will trace the contours of the working key. This will allow them to cut a new key that matches the original key's cuts. The only downside to this is that you won't be allowed to drive your vehicle until you have the new key cut and programmed to the vehicle.
If you're considering trying this method, ensure you bring the working key together with your driver's license and evidence of ownership. A dealer or locksmith can decode the VIN number on these documents to determine the code needed to connect a brand new key to your vehicle.
You can also reduce the cost of programming by getting an entirely new key created and then attempting to reset it yourself. You can find the instructions in the owner's guide or online.