There are several reasons that you may find yourself in need of a duplicate car key. Whether you’ve lost one, need a spare, or add a driver to your household, car key duplication will come up at one time or another.
Older vehicles have traditional locks, in which case it’s easy for a locksmith to duplicate a small fee. However, if you have a more modern vehicle, it’s not quite as simple to make a copy of your key. Modern cars don’t have standard keys, they have key fobs that contain transponder trips that have a syncing relationship with one individual car. If you have one of these types of car keys, you will need to enlist the services of a skilled, professional locksmith who is comfortable working with these types of car keys.
Factors That Determine the Cost
The cost of duplicating a car key will vary from vehicle to vehicle, and no two scenarios are the same. Several factors contribute to determining the cost you can expect to pay for an additional key or key fob.
Variety of Car Key
The type of car key you have will depend on the make and model of your car because it determines what type of key you will need. Standard keys, like those used with older vehicles, are the easiest and more straightforward to copy, which is why they are also the least expensive. Furthermore, replacement parts are easy to come by. On the other hand, more modern vehicles have key fobs, remote sensors, laser-cut keys, or transponder chips, all of which are more difficult, time-consuming, and costly to replicate. As you might expect, a car key with any of these features would be more expensive to duplicate than a run-of-the-mill traditional car key.
Cost Of the Visit
Your locksmith will charge a fee for their visit, and because they travel to you, the cost per visit will be different depending on your proximity to the locksmith. For example, if your locksmith is located right in your town, the cost of the visit is likely to be cheaper than if you hire one from several towns over. Additionally, a visit that falls outside of your locksmith’s normal business hours will likely cost more. Despite the cost of the visit, it is still more cost-effective to hire a professional locksmith than to enlist the services of a car dealership.
Method of Duplication
The way you choose to duplicate your car key will influence the cost significantly. Consider a standard car key used for an older vehicle. You could easily go to a hardware store, which would have a wide assortment of blank keys, and quickly get a new key cut. You could also turn to a car dealership, however, your best option for a balance of cost and value is hiring an experienced, professional locksmith. A locksmith will ensure traditional keys are cut properly and will also have the skill and equipment necessary to duplicate a more advanced type of key fob.
Techniques Used
The different techniques that are used to duplicate a car will factor largely into the final cost of your new key. More advanced types of key fobs require more advanced types of technology to program. Conversely, a traditional key will require the most basic, standard techniques, and duplication will be priced accordingly. This is where the make and model of your car and the variety of the key once again come into play. When you contact your locksmith and inform them as to which type of vehicle and key you have, they will be able to give you a sense of what techniques they will need to use to duplicate your key.
What If You’ve Lost the Original Key?
Keep in mind that up until this point, all of these factors have been based on the assumption that you have the original or spare key. If you no longer have the original and you’ve also misplaced the spare, you may need to rekey your lock because duplication is no longer a viable option. Whether you have a traditional lock or a more modern key fob, your locksmith will be able to rekey your lock and provide you with as many duplicate copies as you desire. Keep in mind that you may be asked to provide proof of ownership of the vehicle, which is a measure that ensures those without the authority to change your locks can do so. The cost for this service will typically be more than regular car key duplication, and the price will vary from car key to car key.
When You Need a Locksmith Call Be Secure
On the rare occasion that you find yourself in need of a duplicate car key, if you are located in Florida’s Gainesville, Ocala, and surrounding areas you need look no further than Be Secure Locksmith. Our team of local professionals has been delivering the highest caliber service to our customers for the last fifteen years. A family-operated business, Be Secure Locksmith operates day and night, and we are committed to treating our customers the way we would like to be treated. Our customers will never find themselves with an unexpected bill or surprised by additional charges.
At Be Secure Locksmith, our team of certified technicians is experienced in providing world-class residential, commercial, and automotive locksmith service. Integrity is our guiding principle, and we always hold ourselves accountable, continuously seeking ways to improve every aspect of our business.
Whether you need a simple car key duplicated, a key fob copied, or your vehicle rekeyed, Be Secure has the skill and experience to get the job done quickly and effectively. No matter what time of day or the size of the job, Be Secure Locksmith is standing by, ready to deliver you top-quality service and peace of mind.
