Car Key Cutting Explained

Cutting a car key is more than just bending a piece metal. It is a complicated process that guarantees security, efficiency and long-term use of the keys.

It is not uncommon to lose your car keys or even have it break in the lock. You will need a replacement car key to ensure you can drive your vehicle at all times.

Transponder Keys

Transponder chips are likely to be installed in cars built in the last 20 years. These microchips are tiny located in the handle of your key that transmit an electronic signal to the car's onboard computer when you are using it. The onboard computer checks the digital serial number of the chip before allowing the car to start. This stops thieves from taking over your vehicle because they'd have to know the unique serial number.

The microchip in your car key transmits an unintentional radio signal to the receiver inside the car. The radio signal activates microchip, which then transmits an informational code to the car's onboard computer. The car will only begin if it recognizes this code. This prevents "hot wiring" or other methods to steal cars.

Locksmiths that offer these services can create car keys with chips. They are also available at a few automotive stores like AutoZone. They have a vast selection of keys and can help you get the right one for your car. They can assist you in programming the chip in your vehicle that is required to operate the device.

Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. They have a lock cylinder that is much harder to pick, and they can only be duplicated using expensive laser key cutting equipment or specialized software. This type of technology is typically found in high-end vehicles, however it is now available in a variety of affordable cars too.

The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system), key is another type of key that is difficult to duplicate. The keys are black with a resistor on the key blade that is programmed with one of fifteen possible values to stop them from starting a vehicle that it's not meant to. These keys are more expensive to purchase and require a special key programming machine that is only found at some locksmiths.

VATS Keys

Before the days of transponder keys and cars equipped with computer chips that control the car's ignition, GM used something called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS makes use of a key with a resistor embedded in it to ensure that the correct key was used to start the car. The black VATS Pellet located in the middle of a VATS Key is not a smart chip like those used on the majority of modern keys. It is merely a block or carbon that is sized to hold an electrical resistance value.

GM employed 15 different resistance values for the VATS pellets and connected them to the key's blade to ensure that, when the key is turned on in the ignition a coded signal will be transmitted to the module. If it matches the resistance value of the transistor in the VATS pellet, the relay in the starter circuit is activated and the engine will start to run. This doesn't make a vehicle safe from theft, but it will delay the theft by at most 15 to 20 minutes.

After a long period of use the VATS module may start to wear out. Each time a key is inserted into the ignition, it moves two very small wires inside the ignition, and with time, the wires could begin to break. Once enough of the wires break then the signal to the module is lost and it won't start the car.

You can resolve this issue at home by decoding your VATS code. You'll require a multimeter and a chart to determine the resistance value of your key, but it's not difficult at all. All you need to do is put one of the leads of your ohm meter on the metal prongs that are hanging out on both sides of the key. Then look at the display of the ohmmeter to determine the resistance value of your key.

This is a great opportunity to test out a new key and see whether it works in your vehicle. Remove the key from the ignition first before you test it. Otherwise the key may have an incorrect VATS and will not work in your vehicle.

Smart Key Fobs for Keys

Key fobs today can do more than just unlock or start the car. They are also an alarm system and a security measure against theft, with many of them incorporating advanced features that owners might not even know about. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, emit sounding sounds to help find your car keys cut by code in a parking space or let you summon your vehicle by pressing the button on your phone. This is a lot more than you'd think of from a standard keychain remote. However, all that additional functionality can mean that smart key fobs may be more expensive to replace than traditional keychain remotes and they typically need to be programmed by the dealer.

Some dealers charge up to $100 for a single smart fob. It's a steep price to pay for a device that is frequently tossed around in purses and pockets in the event that it gets damaged, dropped, or exposed to extreme temperatures and humidity. Fortunately certain automakers have come up with ways to protect smart key fobs from common types of electronic attacks like relay attacks. They are typically employed in conjunction with remote-start hacks that allow thieves to access the settings of your vehicle by sending an untrue signal from a nearby transmitter.

One way to protect the smart key fob is to put it in an aluminum case or a specially designed RFID blocking case that blocks the transmission of these signals. The convenience of this technology is compromised if need to remove your key fob each time you use it from the protective case.

Fortunately, a few of the latest car key blade cutting insurance policies such as auto club memberships and extended warranty coverage will cover the cost of a replacement or pay for the loss of a fob. You can also save money on dealer fees and have your fob cut at an establishment like a locksmith or hardware store that offers key-fob cloning services.

For the majority of drivers who are buying an extra key fob will depend on how crucial your car's keyless entry and push-button start functions are. It is always advisable to keep an extra key or fob on hand in case you misplace yours. Batteries Plus offers a large range of replacement fobs that fit in most vehicles and trucks. We also offer an efficient, quick service that costs roughly 50% less than you'd buy from a dealership.

Traditional Keys

The traditional car key is made of a single piece of steel with a series of grooves cut into it. These grooves are designed to fit certain locks. These keys will unlock your locks and also start the car, assuming you haven't exchanged them for a smart key or remote key cut. The only drawback to using traditional keys is that it must be physically inserted into the ignition to start the vehicle. If your traditional car key has been damaged or lost, you will need to visit a Gainesville Locksmith to have a new one created.

There are a variety of options to choose from depending on how long it's been since you've cut your keys. Certain keys utilize mechanical cutting machines to make copies, while others use laser-cut keys that are specifically designed with enhanced security features in mind.

Modern keys come with advanced features like encryption and anti-theft mechanisms. Encryption ensures that only the right key is used to start your car, making it more difficult for thieves to duplicate or pick locks. Transponder chips are another security feature that prevents theft. They are incorporated into the key and communicate with your vehicle. This means that they only work only when you're within a specific distance.

If you decide to use a traditional key, your locksmith can make a new key with an ordinary cutter machine that can be bought from most hardware stores. This is cheaper than using the key fob or transponder key, and you'll be able to operate your locks, doors and trunk.

Another alternative is to get your traditional car key substituted with a laser-cut version with a distinctive pattern. The first time these keys were introduced was in the late 1990s, and are a popular choice for those looking to enhance the security of their automobiles. Typically, laser cut keys have special transponder chips that are designed to work only with the specific vehicle you own. If these chips are not present in your vehicle it won't respond to the signals sent by the key.