20 Reasons Why Cut Car Key Will Never Be Forgotten

Car Key Cutting Explained

Car key cutting is a lot more than just shaping a piece of metal. It is a complicated procedure that ensures safety, functionality and longevity of keys.

It is not unusual to lose your car keys or have them break in the lock. To ensure you're able to always drive your car you'll need a new key cut.

Transponder Keys

If your car was built in the last 20 years, it's likely to have transponder chips. These microchips are situated in the key's handle and send a signal to your vehicle's onboard computers when you press the key. The onboard computer is able to verify the digital serial number of the chip before giving the car permission to begin. This prevents car thieves from stealing your car because they'd have to know the unique serial number.

The microchip inside your car key transmits an low-level radio signal to the car's receiver. This radio signal activates the microchip, which transmits a code to the onboard computer of the car. The car will be able to recognize this code and only allow it to start only if the key is the right one. This stops the use of "hot wiring" and other methods of stealing cars.

Car keys with chips can be made by an authorized locksmith who offers these services. Some car dealers, like AutoZone offer them. They have a huge variety of keys, and can assist you in finding the best one for your car. They can also help you program the chip to your vehicle, which is required to make it work.

Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. These keys are more secure than flat keys because they have a lock that is harder to pick. They are only duplicated with expensive laser key cutting machines, or with specialized software. This technology is more prevalent in high-end cars, but it is now accessible in many affordable models of cars as well.

Another type of key for cars that is hard to duplicate is the VATS (vehicle anti-theft system) key. The keys are black with a resistor on the blade of the key that is programmed with one of fifteen possible values to stop them from starting a vehicle that it's not designed to. These keys are more expensive to buy and require a specific key programming device that can only be found at a few locksmiths.

VATS Keys

Before the advent of transponder keys as well as cars with built-in computer chips to control the car's ignition, GM used something called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS utilizes a key that has an embedded resistor to ensure that the correct key was used to start the car. The black VATS Pellet that is located in the middle of the VATS Key is not a smart chip as found on most modern keys. It is simply carbon or a block that is sized to hold an electrical resistance value.

GM employed 15 different resistance values for the VATS pellets. They connected the key's blade, so that when the key is turned on in the ignition, a coded signal is transmitted to the module. If the signal 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 theft proof, but it will delay the theft by at least 15 to 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, after a significant amount of use, the VATS module in your car can start to wear out. The two wires that connect the ignition are moved each when the key is introduced. As time passes the wires could start to break. When enough wires have been broken the signal goes out to the module and the car won't start.

You can solve this issue at home by decoding your VATS code. It's not difficult to determine the resistance of a key using a multimeter. You can determine the resistance value by putting one of the leads on the metal prongs on both sides of your key.

This is also a good way to test the new key to determine if it will work in your vehicle. Remove the key from the ignition first before you test it. In the event that it is not removed, the key may have an incorrect VATS and will not work in your vehicle.

Smart Key Fobs with Smart Keys

Key fobs today do more than just unlock or start the car. They often have advanced features that a lot of owners are unaware of. They can be employed as a security tool or as a deterrent to theft. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, make chirping sounds to help you locate your car in a parking space or let you summon your vehicle by pressing the button on your phone. This is more than you could ever think of from a standard keychain remote. Unfortunately, all that extra functionality can mean that smart key fobs could be pricier to replace than traditional keychain remotes, and they usually need to be programmed by the dealer.

In fact, some dealers charge up to $100 to replace one smart key fob. It's a steep cost to pay for a product that is often jostled in purses and pockets in the event that it gets damaged, thrown or exposed to extreme temperatures and water. Certain automakers have developed strategies to protect smart key fobs from common electronic attacks, like relay attacks. They are typically used in combination with a remote-start hack that allows thieves to gain access to your vehicle's settings by transmitting a fake signal from another nearby transmitter.

One way to protect the key fob's RFID is to put it in a metal case or use an RFID blocking case that blocks the transmission of these signals. However, the necessity of removing the key fob from a protective case every time you use it undermines the convenience of the technology.

Fortunately, some newer car-insurance policies such as auto club memberships and extended warranty insurance policies will pay for the cost of a replacement or reimburse you for a lost fob. You can also save money on new-car dealership charges and get your fob cut at the hardware store or locksmith which offers key-fob cloning.

For most drivers, the decision to purchase a new key fob depends on the importance of your car's keyless entry and push button starter functions are. In any case you should have a spare fob or key in case you lose it. And if you need to buy a new replacement, Batteries Plus has a large selection of fobs to fit the majority of vehicles and trucks. We also offer an easy, fast service that costs roughly 50% less than the price you'd spend at the dealership.

Traditional Keys

The traditional car key is made of a single piece of steel with a series of grooves carved into it. These grooves are made to fit certain locks. These keys will unlock your locks and start the car, assuming you haven't exchanged them for a smart key or remote key. The only disadvantage of using the traditional car key is that you have to physically insert it into the ignition to start the engine. If your traditional key has been lost, damaged or stolen, you'll have to visit an Gainesville locksmith to get an alternative one made from the blank.

There are several choices to pick from based on how long it has been since you cut your keys.  car key cutting and programming  use mechanical cutting machines to create copies, while others use laser-cut keys that have been made with security features in mind.

Some of these advanced features that come with the modern-day keys include encryption as well as other security mechanisms. Encryption makes it harder for thieves to duplicate keys or take locks. Other security features to prevent theft include transponder chips that are embedded in the key to connect with your car and make it only work when it's within the range of your car.

If you decide to use a traditional, standard key, a locksmith is able to create a new key with a standard key cutting machine that can be found at many hardware stores. This is less expensive than using an electronic key fob or transponder key, and you'll still be able to use your doors, locks and trunk.

Another alternative is to get your standard car key replaced with a laser-cut version with a unique pattern. These keys first came out in the 1990s and are a popular choice for those who wish to provide extra security to their vehicles. The majority of laser cut keys have special transponder chips that are programmed to work only for your specific vehicle. If these chips are not installed in your vehicle, it will not respond to the signals transmitted by the key.