How to Get Spare Key For Car
Losing your keys to your car could be a stressful experience. Luckily, there are a variety of ways to get them replaced.
Begin by locating them yourself. Check your pockets, bags and even the whole house.
Be sure to bring proof of ownership prior to visiting a dealer or a locksmith. This could be your vehicle registration or title. This will save you money.
1. Contact Your Dealership
A spare car key cut car key is a great idea, since losing your car keys can be extremely costly and stressful. While it isn't as easy as it once was to find an extra car key, there are many ways to find one.
Contacting the dealership is the easiest method to get a spare key for cars (Highly recommended Reading) key. Dealerships keep records of security information for every vehicle and can quickly find your keys in their system. They will however require a key for you, and join it to your car. This can cost between $200 and $500 based on where you live and the dealership you choose, and the make of your vehicle.
A locksmith can also give you an ordinary-sized key. This is cheaper than going to the dealership particularly if your vehicle is older and doesn't come with a more advanced key. Check your warranty, insurance policy or auto club membership to see if you can pay.
The majority of cars today have an expensive, sophisticated key that is extremely difficult to replace. These keys contain a transponder that communicates with the vehicle's system in order to unlock and start the vehicle. If you lose your smart key, it will need to be connected to your vehicle which is only possible at the dealership.
If your car is leased, the dealer may require you to return two sets of keys or key fobs at the end of the lease. It is essential to have an extra set of keys and key fobs in the event that this occurs.
A spare car key is more expensive than it was in the past but it's worth it to avoid stress and expensive repairs in the future. It's always better to be prepared prior to when you have a problem, so make sure to keep your spare keys in a secure location and know what to do if you should lose your car keys.
2. Call for a locksmith
It's no secret that losing your car spare key keys is a pain. It can be frustrating to discover that you left your spare car keys in the back seat of your vehicle, no matter if you're at a gas station or grocery store, or returning home from work. There are a few options to get your keys replaced without having to pay the dealership or a locksmith.
If you have a traditional key, such as a regular double-edged car key spares key, you can visit your local hardware store and get a replacement for less than $10. However, you will need to provide evidence of ownership, like the vehicle registration or title. If you have a more technologically advanced key, for instance an electronic remote fob or smart key, it may be more difficult to replace. You may have to call a local locksmith or the manufacturer to have an entirely new key.
Transponder keys are utilized in the majority of modern vehicles. They have to be programmed into the computer of the vehicle. A locksmith can assist you with this however, it's more expensive than simply replacing the traditional key. You can also reset your key using the instructions provided in your owner's manual. However, this can be time-consuming and difficult and might not always work.
You can lessen the chance of losing your keys by having a designated space to keep them. You can place a bowl or a key holder on a table close to your door. You can also keep a key ring on your person at all times to ensure you are always aware of where your keys are. It is also possible to tidy up your office or home, as a messy space could increase the likelihood that you'll lose things. Be aware that even if you are not someone who loses your keys, it's possible to forget they are there! In the event of an emergency, it's important to prepare an emergency plan. It's better to be prepared than to be stuck at the side of the road!
3. Call for a Towing Service
It is a good idea to keep a spare set of keys if you have a problem with losing your car keys frequently. These are easy to store and cheap, and will save you a great deal of stress in future. Many of the latest vehicles come with safety features that make it difficult to secure yourself. Check out the new inventory at Longo Toyota to find a vehicle that has this feature, or consider upgrading your vehicle to one with this feature.
There are a myriad of ways to get your car keys replaced, the exact procedure will depend on the kind of key you have and the way it was lost. For instance, if you have an older key that isn't digitally programmed, locksmiths is likely to be able replace it easily. If you have a digital key however, it could be a more complicated process. The dealer will need to run the VIN and provide proof of ownership in order to obtain a replacement key for you and it could take several days.
Car rental companies generally do not keep spare keys in their facilities however, they'll usually work with you to get the issue resolved. Hertz provides a lost-key service as part its premium roadside assistance plan. This service is only available if you don't purchase additional roadside insurance.
If you can't receive assistance from your rental provider, or in the event that you don't have an emergency roadside assistance plan in place, you'll need to call a locksmith or a towing service. Both of them can help you get back in your car and on the road but each comes with its own benefits and drawbacks. It is essential to study each option and keep the contact details of both companies available in case of emergency. Avoid losing your keys by every means. This means you should always keep them in the same location.
4. Contact a Repair Shop
It is best to plan ahead in case you lose your keys. In the past, misplacing 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 costly or difficult to find an extra key as it was in the past.
The first thing you'll need do is determine what type of key your vehicle has. Keys that are traditional with a mechanical shank which inserts into the ignition are easy to replace. A basic key that does not have a chip will cost around $10-$12. But, newer automobiles use keys with built-in security chips that have to be reprogrammed by the car to open the doors or start it. Getting a replacement for these keys can cost upwards of $200.
The process of changing the chip's programming is complicated and requires special equipment. A locksmith may also be able perform this task, but it's important to choose a locksmith with the proper skills and experience.
A key cutting shop such as AutoZone is also a possibility. A worker will trace the contours of an operational key. The key cutting shop will be able cut a key that matches the original's cuts. The only drawback is that you won't be able to drive your vehicle until you've had the new key cut and programmable to the vehicle.
If you're interested in trying this method, make sure you bring the working key together with your driver's license and evidence of ownership. A locksmith or dealer can decode the VIN on these documents in order to determine the key code needed to pair a key with your car key spare.
You can also cut down on the cost of programming by purchasing a new key made and then attempting to reset it yourself. Most manufacturers will have instructions on how to do this in the owner's manual, or you can simply search for "How to program a (your year model, make and year) key" online.