How to Get Spare Key For Car
Losing your car keys can be very stressful. There are several ways to replace them.
First, try to find them yourself. Check your bags and pockets, and look around the house.
Make sure you bring proof of ownership with you before you visit a dealership or a locksmith. This could be your vehicle's title or registration. This will save you money.
1. Contact Your Dealership
It is a good thing to have a spare key for your car since losing them could be expensive and stressful. Although it's not as simple as it once was to obtain a spare car key, there are many ways to obtain one.
The easiest way to get a spare car key is to call the dealership. Dealerships have a record of security information for each vehicle and will locate your car key quickly within their system. They will however have to create the key for you, and join it to your car. This can cost anywhere from $200 to $500 depending on the location, dealer and the make of your vehicle.
Another alternative is to have a locksmith make you an ordinary key. This is less expensive than going to the dealership in particular if your car is older and doesn't come with an advanced key. Check your warranty, insurance policy or auto club membership for details on how to pay.
The majority of cars today use a sophisticated, expensive key that is hard to replace. They have a transponder chip that communicates with the vehicle's systems to unlock and start the engine. If you lose your smart key, it will need to be paired with your vehicle and this is only possible at the dealership.
If your car is leased, the dealer might require that you return two sets of keys or key fobs at the end of the lease. If this is the case, it's crucial to have a spare key and ensure you have it when your lease ends.
A spare car key is more expensive than it was in the past but it's worth it to prevent anxiety and costly repairs in the future. It's best to be prepared for any eventuality. Keep spare car key price in a safe location and know what you should do if your keys are ever lost.
2. Contact a locksmith
It's no secret that losing your keys to your car is a hassle. Whether you're at the gas station, at the grocery store, or on the way home from work it can be extremely frustrating to realize that you have left your spare key in the back seat of your car! There are a few options to replace your keys without having to pay for the locksmith or dealership.
If you have a traditional key, like a regular double-edged car key, you can go to a local hardware store and purchase a replacement for less than $10. You'll need evidence of ownership, such as the registration or title of your vehicle. If you have a more technologically advanced key, like an electronic remote fob or smart key, it might be harder to replace. You may have to call an emergency locksmith in your area or the manufacturer to have a new key created.
Transponder keys are found in most modern automobiles. They have to be programmed into the computer of the vehicle. A locksmith can help you do this, but it will be more expensive than replacing a traditional key. You could also try to reset your key following the directions in the owner's manual but this can be difficult and time-consuming, and isn't always successful.
You can lessen the chance of losing your keys in the first place by having a dedicated location to store keys. You can hang a key holder close to your door or place them in an empty bowl on tables. It is always a good idea to keep a key ring around with you to know where your keys will be. You can also attempt to tidy up your home or office because a messy space can make it easier to lose things! Keep in mind that even if the keys are never lost, you may forget them. In case of an emergency, it's crucial to have an emergency plan. It's better to be prepared than to be stuck at the side of the road!
3. Call a Towing Service
It's a great idea to keep an extra set of keys if you are someone who loses their car keys often. They're easy to store and are inexpensive, and will save you a great deal of stress in future. A lot of newer cars have safety features which make it much more difficult to be locked out of the vehicle. You can find this feature in the latest Longo Toyota inventory, or you can upgrade your vehicle.
There are a variety of ways to replace your car keys however the exact procedure will vary depending on the type of key and how it was misplaced. If you have a conventional key that is not digitally programmed a locksmith can replace it. A smart key can make the process more difficult. The dealer will need to run your VIN and provide proof ownership for a replacement key, which could take a few weeks.
Car rental companies usually don't keep spare keys on site however, they'll usually work with you to get the issue solved. Hertz provides a lost-key service as part its premium roadside assistance plan. However this service isn't provided when you don't purchase additional roadside protection coverage.
If you're unable to get help from your rental provider, or not having an emergency roadside assistance plan with them, you'll need to call a locksmith or a towing service. Both will allow you to get back to your vehicle and on the road, but each have distinct advantages and disadvantages. It is essential to research the options before settling on a provider, and to store the contact information for both on hand in case you ever require them. Also, try to avoid losing your keys in the first place. This means you should always put them in the same place.
4. Call an Repair Shop
If you've lost your keys to your car, it's better to have a strategy for getting back in the vehicle. In the past, misplacing your car key or losing it was just a minor annoyance. Nowadays, this could be a major issue. If you're intelligent, it's not nearly as costly or difficult to get an extra key as it once was.
You'll first need to identify the type of key that your vehicle uses. The keys that have a mechanical shank which inserts into the ignition are easy to replace. A simple key without a chip can cost between $10 and $12. However, more recent automobiles use keys with built-in security chips that need to be reprogrammed to the car to open the doors or start it. Keys replacement for these cars can cost as much as $200.
The process of changing the chip's programming is complicated and requires specialized equipment. A locksmith may also be able to perform this procedure however it is important to find a locksmith who has the necessary experience and tools.
Another option is to go to a key cutting shop like AutoZone where a staff member will take a working key and trace its contours. The key cutting shop will be able cut a key that is in line with the original's cuts. The only downside is that you won't be able to drive the vehicle until the new key has been cut and programmed.
If you want to try this method, make sure you bring the working key together with your driver's licence and proof of ownership. A locksmith or dealer can decode the VIN number on these documents to find the code needed to connect a brand new key to your vehicle.
You can also save money on the cost of programming by having a an entirely new key cut, then attempting to reset it yourself. The instructions are available in the owner's guide or online.