Going rate for new key
 

Hi

The disastrous happened - I lost my only key. Just so I'm armed with some info when I talk to the stealership tomorrow, what's the going rate for a new key, programming, and all?

Thanks. I'm in California, if that makes a difference.

I had a friend of mine tell me his wife had to pay $350 for a new key + programming. Looking online, you can get them much cheaper. I'd expect the programming to run around $100-150.

Here's what I was quoted:

2 keys - no remote - $260
2 keys - both with remote (switchblade type) - $760
1 key with remote, and 1 without - $510

That's pretty insane. I was seeing the entire switchblade keys online for $100-150. The blank transponder keys seem to go for about $20.

Did you get a price for just the programming?

I didn't ask. I was stranded, so I bent over. But I estimate about $130 for the programming.

If you lose all of your keys, it might actually be a more expensive process since it's a more complicated process without any keys.

So you do originally have the Switchblade or Card?

Normally, I think it's reasonable to expect at least $200 for a single key, cutting and programming included.

I originally had the switchblade

You ALWAYS want to have three keys (or fobs for keyless) for a modern car.

Almost universally, you can program a new key/fob yourself if you have two working keys. So when the third key gets lost, broken, or dies you can go buy another key from feeBay for cheap and make it work without paying a stealership highway robbery prices.

So if you buy a new car, insist they throw in a third key/fob for free to close the deal. (I ask for a service manual too.)
If you buy a used car, suck it up and buy/program as many keys/fobs as it takes to to get to three total.

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