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Car Key Cutting Explained Car key cutting is a lot more than just forming a piece of metal. It is a complicated process that guarantees security, function and durability of keys. It is not unusual to lose your car keys or have it break off in the lock. To ensure that you are able to always drive your vehicle you'll need a new key cut. Transponder Keys If your car was built within the past 20 years, it's likely to have a transponder chip. These chips are tiny microchips in the handle of your key which transmit an electronic signal to the car's onboard computer when you use it. The computer onboard checks the serial number digitally of the chip before giving the car permission to begin. This prevents car theft since thieves need to know your unique serial number to have a chance at hijacking it. The microchip in your car key sends an unintentional radio signal to the car's receiver. The radio signal activates your microchip that then transmits the code to the computer onboard of the car. The car will recognize this code and will only allow it to start only if the key is the right one. This prevents the use of “hot wiring” and other methods of theft of cars. Car keys with chips can be created at a locksmith that offers these services. Some car dealers, like AutoZone sell keys with chips. They have a huge range of keys and can help you find the best one for your car. They can even help you program the chip to your vehicle, which is required to make it work. You can also purchase laser cut keys, which are more secure than conventional flat keys. They are more secure than flat keys because they have locks that are harder to pick. They can only be duplicated using expensive laser key cutting machines, or with specialized software. This type of technology is typically found in high-end cars, but it is now being used in a wide range of low-cost cars too. The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system) key is a different type of key that is difficult to duplicate. These keys have a resistor that is black on the blade of the key. It can be programmed to one of a variety of values to prevent it from starting a vehicle it's not intended to. These keys are costly and require a key programming machine, which is only available at a few locksmiths. VATS Keys Before transponder keys or cars with computer chips built in to control the ignition, GM used a system known as VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS makes use of a regular key with a pellet of resistance embedded in it to confirm that the correct key is used to start the car. The VATS black pellet that is in the center of the VATS key isn't a chip like those found on modern smart keys. It is simply a block of carbon that is sized appropriately to have an electrical resistance that is specific to. 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 in the ignition a coded signal will be sent to the module. If the signal matches that of the transistor in a VATS pellet, then the relay in the starter circuit will be activated and the engine will start to run. This does not make a car safe from burglary, but it can delay a thief for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Unfortunately, after a significant amount of usage, the VATS module in your car may start to wear out. The two wires that connect the ignition move each time a key is introduced. As time passes the wires can start to break. Once enough of the wires break, the signal to the module gets lost and it won't start the car. The good news is that you can solve this problem yourself at home by decoding your VATS key. You'll require a multimeter as well as a chart to find out the resistance value of your key, but it's not that difficult. You can determine the resistance value by putting one of the leads on the prongs of metal on both sides of your key. This can also be a good method to test a new key to see whether it works in your vehicle. Make sure you remove the key from the ignition before you begin testing it, or else the new key could have an incorrect VATS value and may not work in your vehicle. Smart Key Fobs for Keys Key fobs today can do more than simply unlock or start the vehicle. They often have advanced features that a lot of owners aren't aware of. They can be employed as a security tool or as a deterrent to theft. They can lock and unlock your door remotely and make chirping sounds to help you locate your car in a lot, or allow you to summon it by pressing a button. This is more than you'd imagine from a traditional keychain remote. Smart key fobs are more expensive to replace due their extra functions. key cutting car need to be programmed by the dealer. Some sellers charge as much as $100 for one smart fob. It's a steep price for a device that is often jostled in pockets and purses in the event that it gets damaged, dropped or exposed to extreme temperatures and humidity. Certain automakers have developed strategies to protect smart keyfobs from common electronic threats, including relay attacks. These are often utilized in conjunction 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. To protect a smart fob to protect it, you can place it in a casing made of metal or use an RFID blocking case. This will stop the transmission of these signals. However, the necessity of removing the key fob from its protective case each time you want to use it undermines the convenience of the technology. Fortunately, some newer car-insurance policies and auto club memberships and extended warranty coverages will pay for the cost of a replacement or pay for the loss of a fob. You can also avoid paying dealership fees by having your fob cloned at a hardware or locksmith retailer that provides key-fob cloning. For most drivers, the decision to purchase a new key fob depends on how crucial your car's keyless entry and push button starter functions are. In any event it is advisable to keep an extra fob or key in case you lose it. Batteries Plus offers a large selection of replacement fobs that fit most cars and trucks. We also offer a quick, convenient service that is roughly 50% less than the price you'd spend at the dealership. Traditional Keys Traditional keys for cars are a single length of metal that has grooves cut into it to fit a specific lock. They can open your locks and start your car, assuming you don't replace them with an electronic key or a remote key. The only disadvantage of using an old-fashioned car key is that you must physically insert it into the ignition to start the engine. If your traditional key has been lost, broken or stolen, you'll have to visit the Gainesville locksmith to have a new one cut from the blank. You have a few options to choose from depending on how long it has been since you've cut your keys. Some keys use mechanical cutting machines to make copies, whereas others use laser-cut keys that have been specifically designed with enhanced security features in mind. Some of these modern features that come with modern keys include encryption and other anti-theft mechanisms. The encryption makes it difficult for thieves to duplicate keys or take locks. Transponder chips are a different anti-theft device. They are embedded in the key and communicate with your vehicle. This means that it can only effective when you're within a certain distance. If you choose to use a traditional standard key, a locksmith is able to create a new key with a standard key cutting machine which can be purchased at the majority of hardware stores. This is less expensive than using an electronic key fob or transponder key, and you'll still be able to use your locks, doors and trunk. Another alternative is to get the traditional car keys replaced with a laser-cut version that has a unique pattern. These keys first came out in the late 1990s, and are now a popular option for people who want to add extra protection to their vehicles. The majority of laser cut keys contain transponder chips that are programmed to work only with your specific vehicle. If the chips aren't present in your car it won't receive the signals emanating from the key and won't start.