A New Car Key Costs How Much!?!?!?!?

[hentob]

I lost my key/fob to my Toyota Highlander

I went to the dealership and they said it would cost $200+ to have it replaced

Really

I could kick myself.

Any ideas as to where to get it cheaper?

 

[Cindy B]

My DH had the same problem.

He found a dealer online that sold them much cheaper. It came "blank" and my DH had to reprogram the key fob himself. The reprogramming was explained in the owners manual.

 

[englishteacha]

Check at a local autoparts store. They sometimes have a generic remote that will work. My car only came with one remote, and DH is jealous and wants one of his own. Apparently a seller on Ebay sells remotes for newer versions of my car for $15. My car's remote is about $50. So you could check on Ebay, too. I guess you can set them yourself, with your car key and some combination of buttons on the remote control.

 

[WDW~Lover]

ol, mine cost about the same. But I flirted to get a new one free! lol..so I actually have 3 now.

 

[kimisabella]

We had the same problem a couple of years ago - we had to go to the dealer to have the key made because it has some kind of electronic chip in it that allows the key disable the alarm, and start the car.

 

[Honu]

The plastic ring on the remote fob for my Highlanger cracked and it fell off my keychain when I wasn't looking, so I feel your pain. I searched and posted on Toyota forums, but was told the dealer was the only place to go. Mine was about $200 too. I'm sorry.

 

[olena]

So did you lose the remote thing or one of those laser-cut keys? I heard the laser-cut keys are really expensive to replace. We got them with our new car last summer and DH said to be very careful not to lose either key.

 

[BratTink]

Its weird that this thread is here. I just took my father's car and he said "don't lose the key, its like $80 to replace"! That's amazing to me.

 

[disykat]

We're trying to decide how to handle keys once our DS starts driving. At some point, we'll have four drivers. Right now, DH and I keep the keys on our own key rings. However, if we have them with us and DS wants to borrow a car, he won't be able to.

We thought we get a 3rd set of keys made so dh and I could continue to carry our sets and one could be at home. We were shocked to find out getting new keys made for the vehicles costs so much money! We have 3 vehicles and it's going to be over $250 for just the keys - that doesn't even include fobs for the two vehicles that have them.

 

[coolbeans]

my pontiac grand prix was $70, DH accidently threw his keys away. (I now have a very cute hook behind my front door for keys that we check nightly before we lock up the house.)

 

[mgilmer]

I lost my key/fob to my Toyota Highlander

I went to the dealership and they said it would cost $200+ to have it replaced

Really

I could kick myself.

Any ideas as to where to get it cheaper?

I faced the same thing to replace the keys for my wife's Honda Accord. It had something to do with the security system.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Little tip.... when buying a car INSIST on one free extra key. I always do this and have never had a problem getting it.

 

[romymichelle21]

We lost one of our 2 after-market alarm remotes for my older Camry, it was actually in one of those 'emergency' magnet boxes underneath the car (not my idea), and flew open on the road! The box was still stuck there, but the key was gone. Nice design, eh?

So apparently they're like $50 to replace. Needless to say, we just have one right now.

 

[nhrenee]

DH found a locksmith that made a replacement key for much less. Call around.

 

[meb7]

Yes we lost one set for our Toyota shortly after buying it & were told it was $200 to $300 to replace. We have made do w/ one set now!

 

[LimeGreenEd]

Most new cars will not run without the "chip" key from the factory.
What a rip off. A car thief just pulls out the lock and can start the car without a key!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Little tip.... when buying a car INSIST on one free extra key. I always do this and have never had a problem getting it.

Yes, I did this when DH bought himslef a new Corvette about 14 years ago. We were sitting in the dealers office finalizing and paying...then I asked about only ONE keyfob??? He says, "yes the extra one is $xx" I said, for $40,000, I think you can give us a free fob..he did.

ETA: I now have a Toyota w/ 2 keys and one fob. I am horrible about locking my keys in the car, my old car had a combination key pad to get in, so I always just locked the key in on purpose..(I know not advisable.) So now I am in the habit, but my new car doesn't have a combination. So I bought one of those magnetic boxes, and since the keys are so expensive from Toyota..I got one from Walmart cut that will only open the door..so I can still get my keys if I lock them inside, but I can't start the car with the hidden key.

I'm really stupid about locking keys in cars..

 

[clh2]

Little tip.... when buying a car INSIST on one free extra key. I always do this and have never had a problem getting it.

This is exactly what we do too. We absolutely insist. While I don't know if it would be a dealbreaker for us - we certainly make it sound like it would be a dealbreaker. A dealer isn't going to NOT make a sale based on a $100 key.

 

[maelstrom]

It cost $75 per replacement key and $150 per replacement key with remotes for my 1996 Benz.

 

[clh2]

...and since the keys are so expensive from Toyota..I got one from Walmart cut that will only open the door..so I can still get my keys if I lock them inside, but I can't start the car with the hidden key.

I had NO CLUE you could do this! WOW! What a great idea!

Thanks!