Imagine just your regular day. You use your car to go wherever you need to go. So, you get ready and go to the garage to take your car out. However, you can’t find your car keys anywhere!
That’s a common situation for most of us in our day-to-day lives. However, it can get very frustrating if you don’t find your keys even after hours of searching. In such situations, you need to keep calm and look for the keys everywhere you might have dropped them.
It is most likely that you won’t be able to find the keys ever again! Then, it would help if you got a replacement car key without the original key. That’s a very tricky situation. So, follow this guide below to swish through getting locked out of your car with as little hassle as possible.
Know What Type Of Car Key You Need
Different automobiles need different keys. This usually depends on the year the car was built. So, to know the type of car key you need, firstly, you need to categorize your car into one of the three categories below.
Older Vehicles (Before 1981)
If your vehicle had been built before 1981, you can usually find the standard key at your local locksmiths and sometimes even at a hardware store. Because Older vehicles typically do not use electronics like chips or transponders. So, they need to cut a new key from a standard key block, and you’re done!
Transponder keys
Vehicles manufactured after 1981 use advanced technologies. Locksmiths will sometimes be forced to make transponder keys. So, if your car key is a transponder key, you may need to visit a locksmith service or your car dealership.
Electrical Key Fob
At last, there are some other types of keys called fob keys. These keys will communicate directly with your car’s ignition, and the key must be nearby for you to start your vehicle. So, if you lost your key fob, you need a smart key replacement.
Smart keys act very differently from typical ones, and replacing smart fob keys can be pretty pricey. It would help if you visited your car dealer or an auto store to get a replacement fob programmed.
Check With Your Car Dealership
Most local dealerships provide the replacement key for cars they sell. However, getting a car key replacement from car dealers can get very costly. Because they usually outsource this work to their local locksmiths.
So, you are paying both the locksmith and the dealer for the same job in this process! That’s why we would recommend you to get the locksmith service yourself.
Head To An Auto Locksmith
Any automotive locksmith can provide you with replacement car keys even if you don’t have the original key. So, consulting with your local locksmith service is more cost-effective than visiting your car dealer. Any auto locksmith could provide a new key even if you lost your only car key.
Also, auto locksmiths can program key fobs if your vehicle needs one.
However, you need to know and provide information for the locksmith to perform your emergency car key replacement services.
Necessary Information For Auto Key Replacement
You need to provide the locksmith with some information about your car and lock system before they can get you a new car key. Some of this information is to protect owners from car thefts. So, be sincere and cooperative with the locksmith.
- Brand or make of your vehicle
- Model of your vehicle
- Year of the vehicle
- Proof of ownership like registration or insurance
- Title of your vehicle
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Also, you can help the locksmith by telling them what type of key your car has, whether it’s a transponder key or a key fob or smart key, etc. However, if you don’t know what type of key the car has, the locksmith can find that by the vehicle’s brand, model, and year.
On the other hand, proof of ownership is necessary for legal and security reasons. Locksmiths can’t just provide anyone with a replacement car key if they get a vehicle towed to them! We need the vehicle owner to prove car ownership firsthand.
Cost Estimates Of Car Key Replacement Services
The cost of a replacement car key depends mainly on the type of your vehicle and the lock security system your vehicle has.
If you have an older vehicle made before 1981, your replacement car key cost can be anywhere between $4 to $8! However, the price will increase if you have a modern vehicle.
Most modern vehicles have transponder chip keys, fob keys, or other programmable keys. Replacing these keys can cost anywhere between $150 to $400 depending on your car, area, and labor costs.
Cost Determining Factors
Some factors determine the cost of car key replacement. This includes:
- Type of Fob: Smart fobs require much more intricate crafting than typical car keys. So, intelligent keys with extra features like transponder or keyless ignition will cost more to replace.
- Vehicle Make: The make or brand of the vehicle also determines the price of key replacement because fob complexity varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
- Vehicle Model: Even in the same brand, different models have variability in the complexity of the key fob. Some have extra security features and can cost higher than average.
However, if you need affordable but experienced locksmith services in Atlanta, Flat Rate Locksmith would be your ideal emergency locksmith service provider. We provide emergency car key replacements, ignition replacements, and other auto locksmith services at the lowest rates with the fastest service in Atlanta.
Contact us at 678-686-7426 if you live nearby!
24/7 Emergency Car Key Replacement Services
At Flat Rate Locksmith, we offer automotive locksmith services, including car lockouts, key fob replacements, making replacement keys, transponder chip key replacement, remote keys, VAT keys, etc.
We provide 24/7 service every day of the year for the good people of Atlanta, GA. So, if you lost your car key or need a car key made, call our customer service representative at 678-686-7426. Our dispatch office is located at 1800 Phoenix Blvd Atlanta, GA 30349.
We have provided dependable car locksmith services for years and are proud to have helped so many customers. We hope this guide on how to get a replacement car key without the original helped you through your emergency also!
FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a key made from the VIN number?
Yes. After proof of ownership of your vehicle, you may be issued a car key via Vehicle Identification Number or VIN number. After identifying key codes, a key will be cut to your car. However, some vehicle keys have transponders that require programming for the vehicle.
Can a locksmith make a key without the original?
Yes. Locksmiths can create keys to locks without original keys using one or several methods: cutting keys from codes, scoping the waves to find the depth of the locks, and removing/decoding the cylinder.
So, if you lost your car keys and need a car key replacement, you may contact us at 678-686-7426 for a free cost estimate.
Where do I find my car key code?
You can find your car key code at various locations on the vehicle or car manual. Usually, the key code can be found in the vehicle’s documentation. Also, the key code can be found engraved on the key.
However, if you lost the car key, you can also find the car key code on a metal plate in the glove compartment or in other places in the car.
Can you program a replacement key to a car yourself?
No. You need to visit a local auto shop or locksmith to program a key to the car. Even if you have remote keys of the same model and make, you need to take the replacement key to an automotive locksmith to program the key to your car.
Is it costly to reprogram a new car key?
It can cost you anywhere between $50 to $300 to reprogram a car key. Factors like fob type, safety features, RFID smart key, keyless ignition, etc., may determine the price. However, if you want an affordable option for key programming in Atlanta, GA, you may contact us at www.flatratelocknkey-atlanta.com/ or 678-686-7426.