Getting replacement keys for most things isn’t all that difficult. You can get a key duplication at most local hardware stores. Even if you’ve lost your keys, a residential locksmith can quickly and easily make a house key for an existing lock. The same goes for businesses and any commercial locksmith. However, things get a bit trickier with car keys, which have numerous security features. You have several options for car key duplication, with various prices.
Where to Go for Car Key Duplication
Unfortunately, you can’t take your car key to a hardware store to make a duplicate. They will not have the blanks required, and their hardware can’t match all the features of vehicle keys. Your options are a locksmith, a mechanic, and the dealership. A locksmith will have the inventory of key blanks and the required hardware to cut additional vehicle keys. In most cases, a locksmith is the most economical choice, after the mechanic, and then the dealership.
Modern Features Drive Up Prices
The cost of car key duplication depends on the type of car key. Key blanks for classic and luxury vehicles are often more expensive than blanks for most modern vehicles. There are many different security factors in car keys today, almost no vehicles use basic keys anymore. These features include transponder chips, laser-cut keys, and switchblade keys. Transponder chips work by emitting a signal to a receiver in your vehicle. Without this signal, the vehicle won’t start. These features make duplication a more specialized task and lead to higher prices.
Breaking Down Typical Duplication Costs
If you go with an automotive locksmith, the cost of car key duplication is likely to start at around $120. This is the case for any keys that have a transponder. A transponder key always needs to be programmed to match the required signal for your vehicle, a service that could run another $30 to $70. Laser-cut keys are marked by their distinctive winding cut on the side. These keys require specialty equipment to cut and start upwards of $200. Smart keys, the fobs for push-start vehicles, aren’t cut in the traditional sense but are programmed. This can cost from $200 to $500 for more expensive vehicles.
