How To Get A Car Key Replacement

By Author: stacey kumar
Total Articles: 27
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Have you ever forgot your car keys in the ignition after locking the doors or have you ever forgot where you last placed your keys? If the answer is 'yes', then it must be really frustrating. Now, the question arises that what can you do to get back your car keys? You can go for a car key replacement. There are a number of online sites that can help you getting the replacement of your car keys. This article will tell you about how to get a car key replacement.

There's nothing as frustrating as leaving your car keys in the ignition after locking the doors or forgetting where you last placed your keys. Just imagine your 4,000-pound car refusing to move all because of a 6-ounce key - sounds very frustrating, doesn't it? Nowadays, the old style metal key is gradually being replaced by what you call "smart keys", thanks to advancements in technology. The bad thing about this is that replacement keys are becoming more and more expensive. Although much of the cars today still work with metal keys, there's no doubt that the smart keys will take over sooner or later. How does it work? The key has a computer chip so that when it's ...
... inserted into the ignition, a code is sent to the car's computer, allowing the car to stop.

Now the question you've been wanting to ask - "How do I get my car key replacement made?". There are actually a number of steps that you have to follow, the first being gathering all the necessary documents for your vehicle - year, make, model, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), all of which can be found in your insurance card. Bring along your driver's license, insurance information and registration documents. If the vehicle is not registered under your name, make sure to contact the registered owner and ask him to come along because the locksmith will need his permission to accomplish the necessary services.

Keep in mind that you shouldn't stick to the first locksmith you find. Try to contact at least three to five locksmiths and ask them how much their car key replacement service is for your vehicle's specific make, year and model. Make sure the locksmith is insured and bonded for your protection. However, not all problems can be solved by a locksmith. In some instances, the dealership is the only one capable or replacing lost car keys. This holds true for cars like Jaguar, Mercedes, and Volkswagen. Call the dealership and arrange for your vehicle to be towed. This might also hold true for vehicles with smart keys; not all locksmiths have the equipment needed to program a replacement key. Replacement for your standard metal key will cost you only a couple of dollars, while those for smart keys can range from $50 to $300. But if you lost the original key, a replacement for your metal key might be more expensive because this requires disassembling the lock in order to match a replacement key.

The locksmith will probably use a "Slim Jim" or similar equipment to try to open the car door. He can also insert a key-like apparatus into the lock to get the pattern he needs to make a new key. The replacement car key has to be mated to the vehicle's passive anti-theft system or PATS, which for some vehicles, can only be done by the dealership. For vehicles that operate under a keyless system, you can simply request the car key codes from the dealer, bring this to the locksmith, and have your replacement keys made then and there.

Given the possibility of losing your car key, it might be prudent to have a backup key made. Keep it in your wallet or somewhere easy to find. You can always backtrack or retrace your steps just in case you lost your keys. But a replacement key is a wiser option.

The author of this article is associated with Fob Keyless, a leading online site selling car remotes and duplicate car keys.