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Car Key Cutting Explained Car key cutting is a lot more than simply shaping an object of metal. It is a complicated procedure that ensures safety, functionality and long-term use of keys. It is not uncommon to lose your car keys or have them break through the lock. To ensure that you can always drive your vehicle, you will need to have a replacement key cut. Transponder Keys Transponder chips are likely be fitted in vehicles built within the past 20 years. These microchips are tiny inside the handle of your key that send a signal to the vehicle's onboard computer when you use it. The computer in the car reads the digital serial number inside the chip and allows the car to start if it is the right one. This prevents thieves from hijacking your vehicle, as they would need to know the unique serial number. The microchip in your car key transmits an low-level radio signal to the receiver inside the car. This radio signal activates your microchip, which transmits a code to the onboard computer of the car. The car will only begin if it recognizes this code. This prevents the use of “hot wiring” and other methods of theft of cars. Locksmiths that offer these services can design keys for cars that contain chips. They can also be bought at some automotive retailers, such as AutoZone. They have a huge selection of keys, and can help you find the right one for your car. They can help you program the chip in your vehicle which is needed to use the device. Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. These keys are more secure than flat keys because they have locks that are harder to pick. They are only duplicated with expensive laser key cutting machines, or with specialized software. This technology is more common in high-end vehicles, however it is now being used in a variety of affordable cars too. Another type of key for cars that is difficult to duplicate is the VATS (vehicle anti-theft system) key. The keys are black with a resistor in the key blade that is programmed with one of fifteen potential values to prevent the car from starting that it's not meant to. These keys are more expensive to buy and require a specific key programming machine that can only be found at a few locksmiths. VATS Keys Before the days of transponder keys and automobiles equipped with computer chips to control the car's ignition, GM used something called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS uses an ordinary key with a pellet of resistance embedded within it to verify that the correct key is being used to start the car. The VATS pellet in black in the middle of a VATS Key is not a smart chip as 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. They attached them to the blade of the key to ensure that, when the key is turned on the ignition a coded signal will be 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 begins to run. Continued doesn't make a car secure from theft however it will delay the theft by at most 15 to 20 minutes. Unfortunately, after a significant amount of use, the VATS module in your car can start to wear out. Every time a key is inserted into the ignition, it reroutes two small wires inside the ignition, and with time, the wires could begin to break. When enough wires have been broken, the signal is lost to the module and the car will not begin. The good news is that you can fix this issue 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 difficult at all. You can determine the resistance value by placing one of the leads on the metal prongs on both sides of your key. This method is also a great way to test the new key to determine whether it will work in your car. Remove the ignition key first before you test it. Otherwise, the key may have an incorrect VATS and will not function in your vehicle. Smart Key Fobs Key fobs today do more than simply unlock or start the car. They are also used as a security device and burglar deterrent, with a lot of them featuring advanced features that the owners might not even be aware of. They can lock and unlock your door from a distance, make chirping noises to assist you in finding your car in a lot or call it up by pressing a button. This is more functionality than you can get from a traditional keychain remote. Unfortunately, all that added features also means that smart key fobs can be more expensive to replace than traditional keychain remotes and they typically require programming by the dealer. Some dealers will charge up to $100 for a single smart fob. That's a lot to pay for a device that spends a lot of its time in purses and pockets where it is easily damaged, dropped or exposed to moisture and extreme temperatures. Certain automakers have devised methods to protect smart key fobs from common electronic attacks, such as relay attacks. They are typically employed in conjunction with a remote-start hack that allows thieves to gain access to the settings of your vehicle by sending an untrue signal from a nearby transmitter. One method to safeguard the key fob's RFID is to keep it in a metal case or a specially designed RFID blocking case that prevents the transmission of these signals. The convenience of this technology is compromised if must take your key fob out every time you need to use it from the case. Fortunately, a few of the latest car insurance policies such as auto club memberships and extended warranty coverages will cover the cost of a replacement or reimburse you for the lost fob. You can also avoid paying new-car dealership fees by having your fob cloned at a hardware or locksmith retailer that provides key-fob cloning. The decision of whether to purchase a new fob is largely based on the importance of your car's keyless entry and start functions. Always keep a spare fob or key in case you misplace yours. Batteries Plus offers a large selection of replacement fobs that fit in most vehicles and trucks. Plus, we offer an easy, fast service that is approximately 50% less than the price you'd buy from a dealership. Traditional Keys Traditional car keys are a single piece of metal that has grooves cut into it to fit into a particular lock. cutting car keys near me can unlock your locks and open the car, as long as you haven't changed them out to a smart or remote key. The only drawback to using the traditional car key is that you must physically insert it into the ignition to start the engine. If your traditional key is lost, damaged or stolen, you'll have to visit the Gainesville locksmith to get an alternative one made from the blank. There are a variety of choices to pick from based on how long it's been since you cut your keys. Certain keys employ mechanical cutting machines to create copies, while others employ laser-cut keys made with security features in mind. Modern keys have advanced features, such as encryption and anti-theft mechanisms. Encryption makes it harder for thieves to duplicate keys or open locks. Transponder chips are another anti-theft device. They are embedded in the key and can communicate with your vehicle. This means that they only work only when you're within a specific distance. If you opt to use a traditional key, your locksmith can design the new key using a standard cutter machine that is available at most hardware stores. This is less expensive than a key fob, or a transponder, and you can still operate your trunk locks, trunk locks, and doors. Another alternative is to have the traditional car keys replaced with a laser-cut version with a unique pattern. The first time these keys were introduced was in the 1990s and are a popular choice for those looking to enhance the security of their vehicles. Typically, laser cut keys contain transponder chips that are programmed to work only for your specific vehicle. If the chips aren't present in your vehicle, it will not respond to the signals transmitted by the key.