What to do when Transpoder Key is Lost

When you are buying a car, you may encounter a lot of sales persons who try to upsell their vehicles and make the most basic vehicles seem amazing. You may be told about great security features of a vehicle and other amazing details that will impress you. One of the things that may have caught your attention was the use of a transponder key and how safe and secure it makes your vehicle.

Now that you gave in to the lures of your salesman, you have your new vehicle, and of course, it comes with a transponder key. Then comes the day when you walk up to your vehicle and they key is missing. You had heard about all the amazing features of the vehicle and how it can’t be started without the chip in the key. So, now that there is no key, how will you manage?

How Much Will It Cost to Replace a Transponder Key?

Getting a new transponder key is not the cheapest thing to do. Some transponder keys can cost several hundreds of dollars to replace. Doesn’t sound as intriguing as when you bought the vehicle, right?
Many persons hurry to purchase a vehicle that uses a transponder key without thinking of how much it may cost to replace the key if it gets lost or stolen. It’s not like anyone plans to lose their key, right? Although many vehicles will come with an extra key, sometimes this key is not programmed and it may be expensive to get it programmed. If yours is already programmed, be thankful. You just saved a few bucks.

If you have just lost your transponder key and you have no replacement key, be prepared to spend much more than you would expect if you had to replace a regular car key. Some persons may not flinch upon hearing how much it costs for a replacement because they think about the value of the key. Others may not be so eager to spend so much money on a key.

Whichever category you may fall in, we hope you will take this into consideration before you purchase a vehicle that uses a transponder key.

Why Do Transponder Keys Cost So Much?

If you have been calling around to compare rates because you need a new transponder key, you may have realized that although the prices are a bit different, they do not get very low. This is because transponder keys are a special type of key. After all, they do offer more security for your vehicle.

Transponder keys contain a very important chip in order for them to start an ignition. Although the key can be used to do other things like open the door or trunk, without this chip, the car simply won’t start. It is this component of the transponder key that makes it so expensive. If your transponder key is not lost but it is severely damaged, you may be able to reduce the cost to replace the key if you can provide this chip.

Avoid Paying High Prices for Transponder Keys

There are many articles online that will teach you how to bypass your transponder chip so you can start your car. Please don’t do that! It may end up costing you more in the long run. But, if your key is lost and you cannot bypass the transponder system, how will you avoid paying to replace the transponder key?

The truth is that there is only one way to avoid paying to replace your transponder key- do not lose or damage it! We know that no sane person will purposely damage or lose a transponder key. However, there may be a few things that you can do to prevent your key from getting lost, stolen or damaged.

Here are a few tips.

Designate a specific area at home to store your keys. Some people think they have lost their keys only to end up finding them at a later date when they are cleaning. Don’t fall into this category. You don’t have to go out and purchase a key holder. Just make sure that you practice storing your keys in one safe spot.
If you’re a woman with a handbag, store your keys in one area only. Make sure that this is not an external pocket where it can easily fall out or get stolen. Just make sure that it will be easy to find when you need it.
If you can afford it, you should think about investing in a key finder. These devices can end up being very handy when you are unable to locate your keys. They come in a variety of sizes and types so there should be one to fit just about any budget.
There are even more sophisticated products that can help you to track your keys. If they have been stolen, you may be able to use these products to find your keys since they may have a map feature to guide you to the location of your keys. With new technology constantly becoming available, things will only get better and easier from here.

Although this tip may not save you much, it might be worth something. Before you go to your dealer to get a transponder key, check with your local locksmith company to see if they can create one for you. Locksmith companies often create transponder keys for much less than what your dealer would charge. It’s certainly worth calling your local lock and security provider and seeing what is available. Price quotes are often provided free of charge.