How to Get Spare Key For Car
Losing your car keys can be extremely stressful. Luckily, there are several methods to replace them.
Find them first by yourself. Examine your bags, pockets and the entire home.
Before you visit the dealership or a locksmith ensure that you have evidence of ownership like your vehicle registration or title. This will save you money.
1. Contact Your Dealership
It's beneficial to have a spare key for your car as losing them can be expensive and stressful. While it isn't as easy as it once was to obtain an extra car key, there are several ways you can still find one.
The easiest way to get an extra car key is to contact the dealership. Dealerships keep track of the security details for each vehicle and will locate your key quickly in their database. They will have to make you a key and connect it with your car. This can cost between $200 and $500 based on your location, the dealership you use, and the make of your vehicle.
A locksmith can also make 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. Make sure to check your warranty and insurance policy or auto club membership for details on how to pay.
The majority of cars today have a sophisticated, expensive key that is extremely difficult to replace. These keys contain transponders that communicate with a vehicle's system for unlocking and start the vehicle. If you lose your smart key, it needs to be paired back to your vehicle, which is only possible at the dealership.
It's important to remember that if your vehicle is under lease, the dealer could require you to turn in two sets of keys and key fobs when the lease expires. If this is the case, you need to have a spare key and ensure that you have it when your lease expires.
It's more costly to buy a spare key, however it's still worth it if you want to avoid the hassle of expensive repairs in the future. It's always better to be prepared prior to when you encounter a problem, so make sure to keep a spare in a safe place and know what to do if you lose your car keys.
2. Contact an expert locksmith
It's not a secret that losing keys to your car is a hassle. If you're at a gas station, grocery store, or on the return from work, it can be very difficult to realize that you've left your spare key in the back seat of your car! Luckily, there are several ways to get your keys replaced without having to pay for the locksmith or the dealership.
If you have an old key such as a double-edged key, you can get an alternative one at your local hardware store for less than $10. You will need to show evidence of ownership, such as the registration or title for your vehicle. If you own a more technologically advanced key, such as an electronic remote fob or smart key, it could be harder to replace. It is possible to contact an emergency locksmith in your area or the manufacturer to get a new key made.
The majority of modern vehicles have transponder keys that need to be programmed by the car's computer. A locksmith can assist you with this, but it will be more expensive than replacing a traditional key. You can also reset your key by following the directions in your owner's manual, however, it can be laborious and time-consuming, and it isn't always successful.
If you have a designated area to store your keys, you can lower the risk of them being lost. You can hang a key holder by your door, or put them in an empty bowl on tables. You can keep a key ring with you at all times, so that you always know where your keys are. You can also try to declutter your home or office since a messy office can make it easier to lose things! Remember that even if your keys are never lost, you might forget them. In the event of an emergency, it's important to have an emergency plan. It's always better to be prepared rather than stranded on the side of the road!
3. Contact toll-free Towing Service
If you are the type of person who is constantly losing your car keys it is an excellent idea to have an extra. These are fairly cheap and easy to keep around and will help you avoid a lot of anxiety in the future. A lot of newer cars have security features that make it difficult to secure yourself. This feature is available in the brand new Longo Toyota inventory, or you can upgrade your car.
There are a myriad of ways to get your car keys replaced, the details will depend on the kind of key you have and how it was lost. If you have a conventional, non-digitally programmed key, a locksmith can replace it. A smart key can make the process more difficult. The dealer will have to run your VIN and provide proof of ownership for a replacement key, which can take up to a few weeks.
The majority of car rental companies do not keep spare keys on-site, but will assist you in resolving the problem. Hertz for instance offers the option of losing keys as part of its roadside assistance plan. However, this service isn't available in the event that you don't buy additional roadside protection coverage.
If your rental company is unable to assist you, or if you do not have their emergency roadside service plan, the next option is to contact a towing service or locksmith. Both can allow you to get back in your car and back on the roads, but they each have distinct advantages and disadvantages. It is important to study each option before selecting a service, and also to keep the contact details for both on hand in case you ever need them. Be sure to keep your keys safe by every means. This means putting them in the same spot every time, and not putting them in your pocket of your coat or on top of your car when parking.
4. Call an Repair Shop
When you lose your keys to your car, it's better to have a strategy to return in your vehicle. It wasn't that long ago that losing your keys was an inconvenience, but today it's a big problem. The good news is that if you're clever about it, obtaining the spare car key you need isn't nearly as difficult and expensive as it used to be.
It is first necessary to identify the type of key that your vehicle is using. Traditional keys, with just a mechanical shank that inserts into the ignition cylinder are typically simple to replace. A simple key without a chip is priced between $10 and $12. But, newer cars have keys that come with security chips that need to be reprogrammed to the car to open the doors or start it. Finding the keys replaced can cost upwards of $200.
The chips can be reprogrammed at a local dealership however, the process is complex and requires special equipment. This service is also attainable by a locksmith, but you must ensure that they have the right tools and know-how.
A key cutting shop like AutoZone can also be utilized. An associate will trace the contours of an operational key. 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 will not be able drive your vehicle until the new key has been cut and programmed.
If you'd like to test this method out, you will need your driver's licence and evidence of ownership. A dealer or locksmith can decode the VIN on these documents in order to determine the key code needed to connect a key to your vehicle.
You can also reduce the cost of programming by getting a new key and then trying to reset it on your own. You can find the instructions in the owner's manual or online.