Not long ago, misplacing - or worse, losing - your car keys wasn't a big deal. You might even have had a spare attached to your car in a little box, stuck inside the bumper. But as cars have become more technologically advanced, so have their keys, which can be more expensive than ever to replace.
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| What To Do If You Lose Your Car Keys |
Depending on the model and year of the vehicle you drive, replacing a lost or stolen key can involve several steps and several hundred dollars, says Richard Reina, director of training at CARiD. If you don't have a second car key, make a backup and keep it in a safe place.
Here are the five main types of car keys and Reina's suggestions on what to do if yours goes missing.
Traditional Car Key
The standard key used by the automotive industry is purely mechanical; place it in an ignition cylinder and turn to start your car.
If you lose it: You can call a locksmith, who can come and make you a new key on the spot. In some cases, an unusual or older vehicle, a locksmith may not be able to help you. You may need to purchase a new ignition lock cylinder and key from the dealer or an independent repair shop.
Car Key Fobs
Early key fobs were add-ons and were meant to be convenient. They can lock and unlock your vehicle, but you still use a traditional key to start the car. The key can also be used to unlock the doors.
If you lose it: If you only lose the key fob, you're fine. You can still use your key to unlock your car and start it. Key fobs are readily available as replacements and are easily programmable; you don't need a special tool. You can find them at dealerships, auto parts stores or online. They are also inexpensive (less than $20).
Car key fob and detent key
After the detached key fob came out, automakers combined the two into a mechanism that would lock and unlock a vehicle with a spring-loaded key that folds into it, like a detent.
If you lose it: more expensive than a regular key fob, a replacement key fob with a detent key costs about $125 to replace. These are most easily found at a dealership, where they can be cut and programmed on the spot; they are also available online.
Transponder Key
Created to be a better anti-theft device, automakers offered transponders in the early to mid-1990s. Transponders are ignition keys that have a plastic head embedded with a computer chip; they rely on the wireless connection between your key and the car before allowing the ignition to engage.
If you lose it: If you don't have a spare key, you'll need to have your vehicle towed to the dealership and have proof of ownership before you can purchase a key. (If you have to order one, the wait can be several days.) Then the dealer will have to electronically link the new computer chip to your vehicle. In addition to the towing fee, the replacement key will cost between $200 and $250.
Read also: Someone Keyed My Car! How To Fix Keyed Cars With Ease
Smart Key
Also known as "keyless start," a smart key is associated with vehicles that have a start button on the dashboard. Smart-key technology works via a proximity sensor in the vehicle that automatically knows when the smart key (which is not a key at all, but a paired sensor) is nearby. It then unlocks the vehicle and allows it to be started with the push of a button.
If you lose it: Like the transponder key, you'll need to tow your car to the dealership if you don't have a spare key, then order a key (if the dealership doesn't have one in stock) and have it paired with your vehicle. The most expensive keys, these can cost upwards of $320 to replace, with possible towing charges on top.