When was the last time you used your key to unlock your car door? You know, the old-fashioned way, by actually inserting the key into the keyhole and turning. If you’re like most car owners, the answer may be years. We’ve grown accustomed to having the ability to lock and unlock our vehicle from the palm of our hand, and many of us even have the ability to perform other handy tasks like open the trunk or even start the car – all from our transponder key, or from a key fob.
But what happens if you lose that all-important remote, or if it gets damaged or simply stops working? Though you may fear that all is lost, don’t fret, because it’s easier than you may think to replace a remote car key.
First Thing’s First
The first thing you’ll need is the precise year, make, and model of your vehicle, along with your VIN. The best place to find this information is in the owner’s manual that came with your car, which should be in your glovebox – but if it isn’t, you can also find the VIN number on the dashboard just inside the front windshield and/or on a decal inside the driver’s side door frame.
Get to a Dealer
The next order of business will be to get yourself to a dealership that sells your make of car. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the one where you purchased your car, so if you’re out of town, you’re not out of luck. Provide the dealership with the year, make, model, and VIN of your vehicle and they will be able to help you replace a remote car key, for a fee usually ranging between $30-$50.
Stranded?
If you’re stranded without your car key remote, you’ll want to get yourself a locksmith. TalkLocal‘s free concierge service can help connect you to a professional in your area who is ready to help.
