Rick's Free Auto Repair Advice

How to get replacement car keys or fobs

If you lost your car key, here’s the best way to get replacement car keys or fobs

All late model vehicle require some kind of programming to enter replacement car keys into the system. So you’re limited to the dealer, an automotive locksmith, or a local shop that has key programming capabilities.

Some older vehicles allow you to program new keys yourself as long as you have two already programmed keys. That’s great to help you add more, but doesn’t help if you’ve lost your only key or only have one key.

Should you go to the Dealer versus an automotive locksmith for replacement car keys

The dealer will provide you with a genuine OEM key or key fob. But you’ll have to tow the vehicle to the dealer and pay dealer labor rates for programming and cutting the key. On late model vehicles, that can easily cost $400 to $550.

Using a qualified automotive locksmith will save you about 20% over the price of a dealer. Considering that the dealer cost for replacing a lost key usually runs about $500, that’s a $100 savings by using an automotive locksmith.

How to avoid the automotive locksmith scam

If you belong to a roadside assistance plan, call them first to locate an automotive locksmith. They’ll refer you to a reliable locksmith.

If you don’t belong to a roadside assistance plan, and you search for an automotive locksmith, you’ll get lots of top-of-the-page hits and those hits will be from LOCKSMITH BROKERS, not local locksmiths. The brokers are middlemen that collect a hefty fee for generating leads to local locksmiths that don’t have high enough Google ratings to appear at the top of the page. Stay away from these crooks!

Don’t call these brokers! First, they’ll give you a fake quote that’ll be really low; unbelievably low. Then, when the locksmith arrives, they’ll claim surprise that you were quoted such a low price and they give you a new price that’ll be close to what a dealer would have charged!

Second, many of the “locksmiths” that use a broker aren’t really licensed locksmiths; they’re freelancers. Trust me, you only want a licensed locksmith working on your car, especially if they have to use a scan tool to do the programming. I’ve heard of horror stories of these hacks bricking the computer in cars or convincing customer they need new lock cylinders; anything to jack up the price.

You want a local automotive locksmith

If you do a search, scan past the top-of-the-page hits. Avoid the “Top 10 best locksmiths in your area” hits.

Scroll down to actual websites of local locksmiths. Make sure they have a local address and local phone number.

Replacement car keys pricing

Since you’ve lost your car keys, you’re either going to have to have the car towed to a dealer or pay a trip charge for a locksmith to come to you. Many locksmiths charge a trip charge of around $100.

replacement car key cost

Replacement fob price

A replacement fob can run anywhere from $200 to as much as $600 each, depending on the make and whether the replacement fob is genuine OEM or aftermarket.

Replacement transponder key price

Transponder keys cost less than fobs, running from $150 to $225 plus the cost to cut and program.

Always get two keys

I know the replacement key is expensive, but so is the towing charge or the trip charge. So it makes sense to buy two keys and keep one as a spare.

©, 2022 Rick Muscoplat

Posted on by Rick Muscoplat

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