What is a “Chip Key” and Why is it so Darn Expensive?

Oct. 7, 2010 - PRLog -- As an expert locksmith at Green Locksmith Huntington Beach, I hear many questions, complaints, and frustrations around chip key blanks and transponder key replacements. Customers are typically surprised and horrified by the hundreds of dollars they need to spend, especially if it’s due to a careless mistake of misplacing or losing one’s car keys.

Before we can address the question of price, we must first clarify what exactly a chip key is – and how it works. What is a chip key? Also known as transponder keys, these electronic chip keys come with the car during purchase and provide for radio transmission between the car and the key. This radio transmission makes it possible for this specific key to be programmed to start a specific, individual car. As a result, only the person who is in possession of a car’s chip key will be able to start and drive the vehicle, making it difficult for car thieves to run off with your car. Transponder car keys are available for many different makes and models, but are more commonly found in high-end models recent models.

]How does a chip key work? A microchip resides in the top of the key, usually underneath the plastic encasing.  This microchip has a serial number, which a transponder key programmer has made unique to that key. The electronic/engine control units (ECU) will send a request to the vehicle for it to validate the serial number. If the car doesn’t recognize any serial number within its set of confirmed and correct numbers, the car will not start.

Now we can start tackling the big question of price. Why is transponder key programming so costly? Pricing can vary depending on the car model and who performs the transponder key programming. Regardless of who you turn to, (even yourself and eBay!), there is likely a base level cost of $100 (buying the key blanks and shipping costs). That’s because of the technology that’s involved in purchasing a blank transponder key and formatting the microchip and ECU serial number to synch properly. You have three main options: 1) Dealership, 2) Locksmith, 3) DIY (do-it-yourself). The third is the cheapest, at least for the blank key, but again – prices can vary greatly depending on the year and model of your car. The second part is the actually programming. For some vehicles, it can be worthwhile to program the key and ECU on your own. For example, for not-so-recent Toyotas, you can probably find “How To’s” online to perform transponder programming in your own garage. However, you’ll need to research this part on your own. The upside of turning to a dealership or car locksmith is that you can rest assured that the programming is being handled professionally and accurately.

When purchasing a new vehicle that includes chip keys, it's always a good idea to have at least two keys. Sometimes keys are lost and having that second spare key can save you troubles, time, and money down the road. If you do lose your keys and are without a spare key, do your research before jumping to conclusions. If you do not have a preferred locksmith service provider, our team at Green Locksmith Huntington Beach would be more than happy to help guide you further. Check out out website for weekly special offers and deals! http://www.greenlocksmiths.com/Huntington-Beach

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Green Locksmith business Owner, Tamir Hadad, has been involved in the locksmith industry since 2002. Green Locksmith serves hundreds of costumers each day in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.