Vortex Car Locksmith

Category: Key Replacement

  • What Really Sets the Price of a Replacement Car Key

    Call up three Phoenix drivers to ask what the cost was like for a replacement car key and chances are you’ll hear three completely different stories. It’s not an arbitrary figure either; a list of just five factors will determine the price point and once you know them you’ll have everything you need to gauge how reasonable an estimate might be.

    Key type is the most important matter

    Metal blanks car keys that only require cutting are fairly inexpensive, but on the other hand transponder keys, remote head keys and proximity smart keys which feature electronic chips that must be programmed cost more and reflects the higher price that extra work is involved, therefore having at least a general idea about which kind of key is used on your car will tell you right away.

    Pairing and programming is a separate process

    While key cutting might seems to be a simple task today, programming it is a different story and it takes longer, it often requires advanced tools and the process varies according to brand and model of your car, some can be completed in just few minutes, while others take quite a bit longer.

    If you’ve lost your working keys

    If there is at least one working key in your possession, making a duplicate will be faster and less costly. When all of your car’s keys are missing and none are operational, the job is much harder since a new key will have to be built from scratch.

    Make, model and year of the car

    Car models produced by the same maker may have completely different key types depending on the year and version. Newer models featuring advanced encryption and high security laser blades often take significantly longer and require better equipment.

    Who should you call

    Dealerships and mobile locksmiths often charge different rates for the same service, check out our Locksmith vs. Dealership Car Key comparison, but no matter which option you choose, a reputable provider should give you an exact quote before any work begins.

    Want a real number for your car? Tell us your year, make, and model and Vortex Car Locksmith will quote it up front. Request a quote or call [vortex_phone].

  • Locksmith or Dealership for a New Car Key? A Fair Look

    The first way would be going through the dealer, while the second option would be calling a mobile locksmith. In the end, both of them allow a person to drive their car safely, but they do differ regarding cost, speed of delivery and convenience. Below, we provide a neutral point of view to help people make the right decision.

    Speed and convenience

    At a dealer’s service station, you have to bring a car (sometimes by towing), after which it may take days to schedule an appointment. However, when dealing with a mobile locksmith, he/she will come straight to a person’s place of residence and deliver a new key on-site during one day.

    Price

    In general, a mobile locksmith is cheaper as there is no tow charge and no profit from selling parts ordered from dealers. Nevertheless, there might be differences depending on particular key and its programming that will be analyzed below in reasons for high costs of replacing a car key.

    The cases in which a dealer should be chosen

    There may be some special cases when a dealer is the only place that offers necessary products. This happens for extremely rare models or high-tech systems for which the market does not yet exist. A locksmith worth his/her salt will say so immediately to save time.

    Types of keys handled by both options

    It is possible to make metal keys, transponder keys, remote fobs and most kinds of smart push-to-start keys. They will be cut and programmed right here and now during car key replacement and remote fob programming.

    Making the Right Choice

    Considering all aspects mentioned above, choosing a mobile locksmith can often be simpler and faster while also being less expensive and more convenient for customers since their cars do not move at all. One should always keep a spare key later on.

    Don’t waste your time and money on towing your car. Vortex Car Locksmith technicians come right to you, to solve any key and fob issues across the Valley. Request a quote or call [vortex_phone].

  • Transponder Key vs. Regular Key: What the Chip Changes

    At first look a transponder key may be indistinguishable from its metal counterpart, however the crucial distinction lies hidden under the plastic housing of the former – in a microchip that communicates with the car’s immobilizer, as small as the chip might seem, it significantly changes the way the ignition works, the process of creating a spare, and, consequently, the price tags on all of that.

    Functionality of a transponder key

    Once you insert a transponder-equipped key in the ignition switch, the chip inside begins sending a code that must be acknowledged by the car’s immobilizer for the engine to start working. The blade of the key is not enough anymore; otherwise, no starting will occur.

    Identify which key you have

    All cars manufactured within the last twenty years use either transponder or smart keys, an indicator of the former type is that even a perfectly-cut key fails to start the engine, whereas the doors open without any trouble.

    Differences in the replacement process

    Cutting alone will not do for a new transponder key. You need one to be programmed in order for the chip to communicate correctly with the immobilizer. Programming is why there can be such variation in prices; read about that in our post What Makes a Key Replacement Costly?

    What happens when the chip fails

    Should the doors open, while the engine fails to start, most probably, the problem is with the transponder, not with the remote. Check out our guide to distinguish them in Fob Troubleshooting.

    Upside of transponders

    It is nothing new to deal with transponders in a mobile locksmith company. We program and cut your keys right at your car during the car key replacement procedure.

    If you’re not totally sure what your car uses? Tell Vortex Car Locksmith your car year, make and model, we’ll know exactly what key you’ll need. Request a quote or call [vortex_phone].

  • Cut a Spare Car Key Now, Before You’re Down to None

    Very few people give a spare car key much consideration unless they find themselves locked out of their car in a parking lot. There’s some dark comedy in there because spares are cheapest and easiest to duplicate before losing a key and most expensive afterward when they have no key whatsoever. car key replacement what drives key replacement cost

    The price advantage isn’t close

    Duplicate a key you have and things go quickly and cheaply. Lose them all and you need new codes programmed straight from your vehicle with the possibility of needing to bring your car along for a tow at extra cost. As we see in the factors affecting the price of rekeying, the gap is significant.

    No keys makes the problem more complex

    Having to deal without any working keys to open the door can slow everything down considerably and drive prices up on nearly any vehicle, remember having just one spare key in reserve takes care of everything.

    A spare key can prevent future problems

    Besides losing a key, there’s broken blades, failing fobs, and locking doors with keys inside. In these situations, having a spare solves each and every issue.

    Where can you store it

    The key needs to be in a safe place and indoors – not in the vehicle itself where a thief can easily take it and certainly not in an environment that exposes the spare to heat and moisture, with Arizona’s hot summers, it’s best to keep the spare in something cooler.

    It doesn’t take long of your precious time

    There’s not enough time to spend in the middle of the day waiting around. Bring us your vehicle or just the key itself and we’ll duplicate and program the spare.

    Using only one key for your car? Get an extra cut by Vortex Car Locksmith. Request a quote or call [vortex_phone].