No one tries to lose their keys, but it is one of those things that happens to everyone every now and again. If you have lost your car key fob or find that it is broken or not working, you probably want to know how much this will cost you and exactly what your options are.
Read on to find out the options you have when replacing a key fob for a car and how much each of them costs.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a New Key Fob for Your Car?
You can go to your local car dealer where you purchased your car, and they can help you with a replacement key fob for your car. However, if you need a replacement key fob and don’t have any key to the car, your only option may be to return to where you bought it.
How Much Does a Dealership Charge for a New Key Fob?
Car dealerships have been known to charge as much as $250 - $500 or more for a replacement key fob. Usually, this is the case if you go to a dealership where you have not been before.
If you visit the dealership where you purchased your car, they will probably be able to give you quite a discount from that price. In any case, it is definitely worth checking with your car dealership to see. Some will even offer you the first replacement key as a free service.
If you return to your original car dealer, obtaining a replacement key fob is also often covered by your insurance, so check your policy!
How Much Do New Key Fobs Cost from a Locksmith?
Calling a locksmith for an auto key fob can cost you as little as $50 or go well up into the hundreds. A lot of that will depend on the time you call, how fast you need service and how far you are located away from the locksmith you call.
Can I Buy a New Key Fob for My Car?
You can find a new key fob for sale almost anywhere. Even some large grocery and box stores carry them. Car key fobs are also available at auto parts stores, and you can even order them online from companies like Keyless Entry Remote Inc. .
There are two types of car key fob replacements you can buy, OEM and aftermarket. You should always stick with OEM key fob replacements when possible, as they were made by the manufacturer and will 100% be compatible with your vehicle.
While this is a great option and keys like this start at about $20 and go up to about $100, you need to keep in mind that the key will still need to be programmed.
How Much Does It Cost to Have a Key Fob Programmed?
How much you will have to pay to have a new key fob programmed will vary dramatically based on where you take it. Naturally, the dealerships and auto body shops will charge the most, probably costing you around $100.
You could easily seek the help of a trusted local mechanic or a mechanically inclined friend. This might cost you as little as $20 with the right connection and car model.
Keep in mind that you can also program the car key fob yourself if you feel comfortable doing it. If you have ever tried to program a universal remote for your television, you can expect it to be that easy and that frustrating. The process isn’t hard, but the programming doesn’t always take the first time, and then you have to repeat the steps repeatedly until it does.
What If I Find My Old Key?
If you have already had a new remote programmed to your car, your old key won’t work in most cases. This is usually a safety feature and will help you know that you aren’t exposed to likely car theft once you have a new key.
This feature has become more necessary because so many people are finding a problem with stolen keys. In some areas of the country, this has become a serious nuisance. The reason that thieves want these keys is because they are worth money.
Even if the key doesn’t go to anything anymore, a car key fob has enough value in its internal components to be worth selling.
Recycle Key Fobs for Money
Businesses that work with cars like auto repair shops, car dealerships, salvage yards, and car rental services may end up with quite a few key fobs that really just don’t go to anything. They might be in a drawer somewhere, stuck at the bottom of your key pegboard, or there may even be a whole box stashed in a closet somewhere!
Even for a big family that has collected half a dozen key fobs over the last year or two, selling them can really put some extra money in your pocket.
When you work with a company like We Buy Key Fobs, they will buy almost any key fob. It doesn’t matter whether or not it works, how old it is, or even what kind of car that it goes to. Even if the blade is broken off of a smart key, they will buy it from you!
How You Can Sell Key Fobs
If you have a bunch of key fobs that you need to get rid of, what you need to do is start by gathering them all up so that you know what you have. Divide them into groups, put the similar keys together, and then take a clear picture of each group of the keys. Make sure that you can see each key clearly in the picture.
Visit We Buy Key Fobs online and fill out their form. You will be asked to upload the pictures of your keys. They will send you back an offer or quote in no time. They will also send a shipping label that you can print out.
Use the shipping label to send your old key fobs to We Buy Key Fobs, and the next thing you know, there will be money in your wallet. So don’t leave a treasure buried in a box in the office; sell your unwanted key fobs today!
