Car Key Fob Replacement in Westchester: Dealer or Locksmith

Replacing a modern car key means two jobs, not one: cutting the blade (if it has one) and programming the electronics so the car accepts the new key. A dealer can almost always do both. A mobile automotive locksmith can do both for many makes and models, at the car, without a tow. Which one makes sense depends on the key type, the car, and whether you still have a working key. Have the VIN, the registration and your photo ID ready, and when you call anyone, start with the make, model and year.

First, work out which key you have

Most of the confusion about car key replacement comes from people describing very different keys with the same word. There are roughly five kinds.

• Plain metal key. No chip, no buttons. Common on older cars. Any key cutter can copy it, and it is the simplest replacement there is.
• Transponder key. It looks like a plain key with a thick plastic head, but inside the head is a small chip. When you turn the ignition, the car reads the chip and only lets the engine run if it recognises the code. A copy cut without the chip will turn the ignition but the car will not start, or will start and stall. Transponder keys became common on most makes from the late 1990s onward.
• Remote head key or flip key. A transponder key with lock and unlock buttons built into the head. The blade and chip are one job, the remote buttons are often a second programming step.
• Separate remote fob. A key with its own little remote on the ring. The key starts the car, the remote opens the doors. Two parts, sometimes programmed separately.
• Proximity or smart key. The fob stays in your pocket or bag. The car detects it when you touch the handle, and you start it with a button. Most have a small mechanical blade hidden inside for emergencies.

Some keys also have a laser-cut or high-security blade, the kind with a groove milled down the middle rather than notches along the edge. Those need a different cutting machine, which most locksmiths who do car keys carry and most hardware stores do not.

If you are not sure what you have, describe it on the phone: does it have buttons, does the car start with a button, does the blade have notches on the edge or a wavy groove in the middle? That is usually enough.

What replacing each one involves

Cutting the blade

A blade is cut either by copying an existing key or by code. Without a key to copy, the cut can often be looked up from the VIN through the manufacturer's key code system, or worked out from the car's lock cylinders. Locksmiths and dealers both do this. If you still have one working key, copying it is the easy route.

Programming the chip and remote

This is the part that decides dealer or locksmith. On some cars, a new key can be added by following an onboard procedure with an existing key. On many cars, programming needs a diagnostic tool plugged into the port under the dashboard. On some newer cars, especially certain European makes and the most recent models, programming is tied to the manufacturer's own systems and may only be possible at a dealer.

On many cars, programming a key means re-registering every key the car will accept. Keys that are not in the car at the time can stop working. So bring every key and fob you still have to the appointment, including the spare in the kitchen drawer.

Just the shell or the battery

Before you replace anything, check the cheap fixes.

• If the buttons work only when you are close to the car, or only sometimes, the battery is probably dying. Most fobs open with a small slot and take a coin cell. The type is printed on the cell.
• If the case is cracked or the buttons have worn through but the fob still works, a new shell may be all you need. The circuit board and chip move into the new case, and nothing needs programming.

Dealer or locksmith?

Both have a real place. The honest comparison looks like this.

A dealer has the manufacturer's tools and key codes and can do any key for the makes it sells. It usually needs the car on its lot. If every key is lost, that can mean a tow. Some dealers order the key by VIN, which can mean waiting for the part. For certain newer cars, the dealer is the only option.

A mobile automotive locksmith comes to the car. That matters most when all the keys are gone and the car is sitting in a driveway, a garage or a station lot. Many locksmiths who do car keys can cut blades by code, program transponder keys and remotes, and handle many proximity keys. No locksmith can do every make, model and year, and the coverage changes as new models arrive. The fast way to find out is to call with the make, model and year and ask directly.

A few questions worth asking anyone, dealer or locksmith, before work starts:

• Can you do this make, model and year, and is the key you will use the right part for it?
• Does the price include cutting, programming and the call-out, or are those separate?
• Will my other keys still work afterwards?

Ask for the total before the work starts. A clear answer to that question tells you a lot.

About fobs bought online

Cheap replacement fobs sold online look identical to the original, but some cannot be programmed to your car, or carry the wrong chip or frequency. If you have already bought one, mention it when you call and ask whether it can be used before anyone tries.

What to have ready

Having these to hand makes the job straightforward and protects you too.

• The VIN. It is printed on a plate at the base of the windscreen on the driver's side, visible from outside, and on a sticker in the driver's door jamb. It is also on the registration and the insurance card.
• The registration or title, in your name.
• Photo ID that matches the name on the registration.
• Every key you still have, for the reason above.
• Where the car is, and whether it is locked.

Expect to be asked for proof of ownership before anyone makes a key. A locksmith who will cut and program a key for a stranger's car without checking is not someone you want, because the next stranger might be standing next to your car.

If the registration is locked inside the car, say so when you call. The usual approach is to open the car first, then check the papers against your ID before making the key.

Rye, White Plains and the rest of the county

Car key calls follow where people leave their cars.

In Rye, that means driveways near the Sound, Purchase Street downtown, the Metro-North station lot and summer traffic around Playland. Rye is a short drive up the Sound Shore from Larchmont, where two of our three technicians live. If you are looking for a locksmith in Rye because the only key went missing, start by calling with the car details.

White Plains is busier and more spread out: office garages downtown, street parking around Mamaroneck Avenue and the courthouse, and commuters at one of the biggest stations on the Harlem Line. We serve White Plains as well, so if you need a White Plains locksmith for a car key, the same list of things to have ready applies.

For everything this post covers, from transponder keys to proximity fobs, our car key replacement page sets out the service. Calling with the make, model and year is still the quickest way to find out whether your car is one we can do on site or one for the dealer.

If the keys you lost had house keys on the same ring, the car is only half the problem. A found key ring with a house key on it is a reason to rekey, and the reasoning is the same as in our post on rekeying the locks after you buy a house. And if the trouble is a fob that has stopped working on a cold morning rather than a lost one, read what to do about a frozen car door lock first. It may only be the battery.

Frequently asked questions

Can a locksmith program a key fob, or only a dealer?

Many automotive locksmiths can program transponder keys, remotes and many proximity fobs with a diagnostic tool. Some newer cars can only be programmed through the manufacturer, which means a dealer. Call with the make, model and year and ask before anything is ordered.

What do I need to get a car key replaced?

The VIN, the registration or title in your name, and photo ID that matches it. Bring every key you still have, because programming a new one can stop old ones from working on many cars.

Can a new car key be made if I lost every key?

Usually yes. The blade can often be cut from the VIN key code or from the locks, and the new key is then programmed to the car. For some makes that work has to happen at the dealer, which may mean a tow.

Is it cheaper to make a spare before I lose the only key?

Generally, yes. Copying and adding a key while you still have a working one is simpler than making one from nothing, for a dealer and a locksmith alike. If you are down to one key, getting a spare made is worth doing now.

My fob works only sometimes. Do I need a new one?

Try a new battery first. A weak coin cell is the most common reason a fob works only up close or only some of the time. If a fresh battery does not fix it, the fob may need repair or replacement.

Lost the only key, or need a spare made before that happens? Call (914) 255-6611 with the make, model and year.