A good friend of mine gave me some advice growing up and it always stuck with me. I was trying to order some parts for my first car and the local car dealer was charging more than I felt the car was worth. It was a shock for my inexperienced brain. This old timer sat me down and gave my some sage advice.
He said, “Kid, the car dealership is not your friend. The car dealership will give you information that is not entirely the truth. The car dealership will charge you as much as they can get away with.” While these statements are true, the car dealership has the best product from the car manufacturer.
OEM Car Remote Keys and Smart Fobs
The car dealership has OEM car remotes and smart fobs. OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. It’s the car key from the dealer and the part information is sourced off the vehicle identification number (VIN) from the dealer super computer. If you buy the remote from the dealer at List Price, and then pay car dealer service fees to have them program the car remote fob, it can get pretty expensive.
The good news is that you can buy OEM parts from other sources besides the dealer. There are many online companies that make a decent profit buying and reselling OEM car keys, car remotes, and smart fobs. You still need a locksmith that can program the key. The car dealership may tell you that they are the only ones that can program your car remote key to your car without damaging the computer. This is simply not true. We live in the 21st century. In this exciting technological age, there are many electronics companies that sell programming tools that can program car keys. Automotive locksmiths buy these key programming machines, and use them to program keys all day, every day.
Refurbished OEM Car Remote Keys and Smart Fobs
There is also a “refurbished” car key market. What does that mean?
A refurbished car remote is a fancy way to say a used OEM part. It once belonged to a specific car and for whatever reason, someone has gotten a hold of it, and is reselling it. Used or refurbished OEM parts cost less than a brand new part and that’s great news!
There are some things to look out for when buying refurbished car keys.
- Locked Remote Fob A big one is that some car keys lock to the car. What that means, is that when the car remote was new, it was in a virgin state and once it has been programmed to a car it cannot be reprogrammed to another car, until it has been unlocked. A good example of this is some of the Nissan proximity keys.
Car proximity keys can be unlocked, and usually are unlocked, if they are being resold by a reliable source. The remotes on auction sites, however, may be a bit more suspect. Unlocking is not required for all car remotes. Most car remote fobs are reuseable without needing to unlock them. Do some independent research, and see if that is the case with your vehicle. When I say independent research, I don’t mean call the car dealership and ask them. They may not be completely honest with you about such things. - Visible Wear and Tear Sometimes, refurbished car remotes will be scuffed up and might not impress your cool friends. Who’s really looking that close at your car keys? If your friends are being judgey about the aesthetics of your car keys, you might think about reevaluating some those friendships and maybe get some new friends. Experienced sellers will reshell their car remotes with a new plastic casing and these car remotes will look brand new. They may not have the car brand logo on them. Good websites will rate refurbished car remotes with an A grade or B grade rating to indicate what condition they are in.
Aftermarket Car Remotes and Proximity Smart Fobs
Then you have the ocean of aftermarket car keys. Aftermarket car keys are more like the Garbage Patch in the middle of the ocean. Aftermarket car remote keys are not my favorite.
Aftermarket car remote keys, while often more affordable than those from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), can present a variety of issues. Here are some common problems:
- Limited Functionality: Aftermarket keys might not support all the functions that an OEM key does, such as remote start, trunk release, or panic buttons.
- Complex Programming Process: Aftermarket keys often require professional programming, which can be more complicated than programming an OEM key. Some vehicles require specialized tools or software that aren’t readily available.
- Frequent Reprogramming: Even after successful programming, some aftermarket keys may lose their programming over time, requiring frequent reprogramming.
- Poor Build Quality: Many aftermarket keys are made with cheaper materials, making them less durable and more prone to wear and tear, such as buttons wearing out quickly or cases cracking.
- Battery Life: The battery life in aftermarket keys is often shorter, leading to frequent replacements.
- Reduced Security Features: Aftermarket keys might lack advanced security features present in OEM keys, such as rolling codes that change with each use to prevent cloning.
- Potential for Cloning: Some aftermarket keys are easier to clone, which could increase the risk of car theft.
- Void Vehicle Warranty: Using an aftermarket key could potentially void certain aspects of the vehicle’s warranty, especially if the key causes damage or malfunctions.
- Lack of Support: If something goes wrong with the key, getting support from the manufacturer can be difficult, as aftermarket key manufacturers often offer limited customer service and warranties.
- Range Issues: Aftermarket keys might have a shorter range for remote functions, meaning you need to be closer to your vehicle for the key to work.
- Interference Problems: These keys can sometimes be more susceptible to interference from other electronic devices, leading to inconsistent performance.
That being said, there are companies that put out a consistently good aftrmarket product. ILCO, the grand daddy of aftermarket keys in general, do make a solid aftermarket key for many cars. The only problem that I’ve run into with their product is some require that you use proprietary software to program them. Some automotive locksmiths may not have the software to program their aftermarket key. Call ahead to make sure that their software is compatible with the car remote that you have purchased.
While aftermarket car remote keys can save money upfront, they come with a range of potential problems that might not make them the best choice for everyone. If reliability, full functionality, and security are top priorities, investing in an OEM key might be worth the extra cost. There is another quote that comes to mind when thinking about aftermarket car remotes. “You get what you pay for.”
I get it. The dealer is expensive. That’s putting it nicely. It has been my experience that the best route to save money on car remote keys is to get a refurbished unlocked OEM car remote from a reliable source and have it programmed by an experienced automotive locksmith at their local shop.
We do just that sort of thing at our Pacific Beach locksmith shop in San Diego. We are located at 1478 Garnet Avenue, San Diego CA 92109. Give us a call at 858-750-2224 and we can schedule an appointment. Bring your car in with all the keys you have for for the car and the new remote key you want programmed. Dup-A-Key locksmiths can program your keys and off you go. We also have a huge selection of car remotes and smart fobs in stock. Save yourself the hassle of searching online for the correct part and let us handle the entire process. You are in good hands with Dup-A-Key. Give us a call and schedule your appointment today!