This is one of the more obvious car security tips. Seasoned criminals understand the importance of working discreetly. While you might imagine a car thief wouldn’t hesitate to bash your window in with a rock, most know better than that. One of the most common methods car thieves employ is simply trying the handle on cars as they walk along. If the door is locked, they quickly move on. This saves them time and effort in the long run. Lock your doors and rollup your windows every time you park your car.

2.      Avoiding Leaving Valuables Inside is One of the Best Car Security Tips

It’s not hard to see inside most vehicles. If you’ve left your wallet or purse lying on the seat, you’re singling your truck out. The prospect of some quick cash will lure burglars into breaking into your vehicle. Once inside, they could very well decide that they’d like to take the entire car as well. This is doubly dangerous if you have a spare set of keys inside your vehicle or left them in your purse. Keep your valuables on you or hidden out of sight.

3.      Invest in a Steering Wheel Lock

If you’re in an area with high car theft rates, it might be worth your while to pick up a steering wheel lock. These simple yet effective devices make it impossible to turn the steering wheel until you unlock the device. Even if a thief gets inside and starts up the vehicle, they won’t be able to go anywhere but straight forward or back. When they see the device through the window, they’ll move along to a better prospect. This is one of the most effective car security tips out there. These locks typically use standard keys, so you can call up a residential locksmith, commercial locksmith, or automotive locksmith if you ever lose the key yourself.

4.      Choose Your Parking Spot Carefully

Breaking into a car is one thing; breaking into a garage is quite another. If you have a garage, you should be parking your vehicle in it every night. Most criminals aren’t so bold as to break into a garage and risk alerting the homeowners or triggering an alarm. When you’re out and about, park near streetlights whenever possible. Car thieves don’t want to work right out in the open and will go to great lengths to avoid detection.

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Reasons Why Your Key Isn’t Working

The key to your car is much more complicated than the key for most locks. Keys for vehicles have become increasingly complicated over the last few decades. Keys today have a wide variety of safety features that could go wrong. The ignition in your car doesn’t use pins like a house lock. Instead, it uses thin wafers. These wafers can wear down with lots of use and eventually stop working correctly. Frequent use can also take a toll on your key. If your key wears down to the point that it doesn’t properly engage the wafers, you won’t be able to start your vehicle.

Picking the Right Time to Fix a Car Key

The best time to fix a car key is before it stops working altogether. There should be some clear signs that something is starting to go wrong long before you’re unable to start your car. If you find your car key sticking in the ignition or turning hard, you should consult an automotive locksmith before things get out of hand. They can quickly help you with replacement keys and can repair or replace your ignition. Nearly every residential locksmith or commercial locksmith will also have some experience with vehicle locks, but be sure to ask ahead of time.

Troubleshooting Tips

There are some steps you can take to doublecheck if you need a locksmith. The first thing is to turn the steering wheel back and forth while trying to turn your key. The steering column is supposed to lock when the key is out. If it’s become stuck, it can stop the key from turning. Make sure your car isn’t in drive or reverse, most cars only start when in park or neutral. If you have a spare key already, try that. That way you’ll know if it’s the key or the ignition itself. Check your vehicle’s battery if you have a newer car, some won’t let you turn the key with a dead battery.

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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.

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