transponder keys

Have you lost your transponder key? If so, we sympathize! The staff here at Naperville Locksmith Pro knows what a hassle it is to try and find it, much less replace it. That’s why we’ve made this post – to be helpful to those that need help with lost transponder chip keys.

First of all, don’t panic! It’s hard to do but stay calm. Getting stressed out can lead to cloudy judgement calls and further mistakes. You may be wracking your brain, trying to remember where you lost your key. You may be worried that the wrong person might find your key and steal your car. You may be stressed out over the hassle and added expense of having your transponder key replaced. Relax. Take a deep breath and know that you still have options.

The million dollar question…

It’s true; many people don’t know what a transponder key actually is. Our Naperville, IL lock professionals often find that there is confusion as to just what constitutes an actual transponder key. There’s really no mystery. The word TRANSPONDER means “to transmit” and that’s exactly what these keys do. The chip embedded in the key handle transmits a signal to the computer in your car telling it that it’s alright to start the engine. If the wrong key is used, the signal won’t match and your car will not start. This is why transponder keys have been so instrumental in lowering the rate of car theft for so many years. These specialized keys are not easy to just go and duplicate. The transponder key must be programmed to match your car and only authorized car dealers have been previously allowed to provide this service. It’s complicated, expensive and very time consuming.

Are you just missing part of your key?

Here’s another little known fact; the chip in your transponder key can actually fall out! Does your key still work? Yes and no. It will still work on your door and trunk locks but it will NOT send a signal to your car’s computer; hence, it won’t start. Do you still need a key replacement? You do if you want to drive! Don’t worry – we mentioned that previously only authorized car dealers could program and duplicate transponder keys. The good news is that now your better quality automotive locksmiths can too! More on that in a minute!

The affordable plan

When you use a full service automotive locksmith to replace your car’s transponder key you reap many benefits. Here in Naperville, IL there are quite a few shops that offer this service, including ours. We suggest that you call around and find a lock and key establishment that you can work with. Do this BEFORE you’ve lost your key. In fact, once you find a shop that resonates with you, enter their contact information into you smart phone for handy access anytime you need their help. A licensed, bonded and insured lock professional can come in handy anytime you have car lock issues or needs. A well rounded and skilled locksmith can also help with home, business and emergency locksmith needs. From transponder key duplication and programming to deadbolt installation and keyless entry repair, your locksmith can be a real boon to your overall security and safety.

Why not call a car dealer?

If you lose your transponder key you most certainly can call your car dealership for help in replacing it. It’s A choice but it’s not the BEST choice, and here’s why. In order to perfectly match your new transponder key to your car’s computer you will have to have your car towed in to the dealer’s location. Once there you will have to endure long service area waits as well as pay middle man fees as they have to call THEIR locksmith in to do the actual work.

A fully certified automotive locksmith can come directly to you and do the work on-site and at your convenience. No towing, no high mark-ups, no service area waits; just convenient and affordable service that will result in a newly programmed and duplicated transponder key, just for you.

Can’t I buy a transponder key online?

Yes, you can. Good luck with that as online transponder keys are not authorized and rarely work. Even if they come with a guarantee, that’s only as good as the people behind it. If they choose to ignore you and not pay out your refund, you are out time, money and a few hairs on your head. Many of these are found at E Bay, Craigslist, Backpage, and other similar sites. You can even purchase transponder key replacement insurance but usually the cost of a policy is less than that of a local locksmith service call. You can dance around replacing your transponder key the legitimate way but you are only prolonging the situation and running up your bill in the process.

Your best choice

Well, your best option is to NOT lose your transponder key in the first place! Try keeping it in the same place so that it’s easy to find when you need it. Too often, people just throw their keys on a bed, sofa or desk and then have to hunt around for them later when those keys are actually needed. It’s too easy for something as small as a key to fall behind a couch cushion or to be dropped by child who was playing with it and suddenly lost. This is not so bad if you are dealing with a “regular” key and have a drawer full of spares but with a one-of-a-kind transponder key, it’s a whole different matter!

If you do happen to lose your transponder key; call a local Naperville, IL automotive locksmith that is established, fully certified as well as bonded and insured. Insist on 24-hour emergency service availability with fast response times; even if you don’t need it at the moment. Most lock shops like this are more affordably priced than your other options and they also offer faster, more convenient service, as well.

When you want or need a transponder key replaced, your first inclination may be to contact a dealership. While this may sound like the most logical thing to do, it isn’t the most practical thing to do. If you wish to save time and money, opt to allow a qualified locksmith service in Naperville, IL handle the job for you. Naperville Locksmith Pro helps many motorists who need additional keys. Although not having a spare key can pose various problems, hiring the wrong person to make a new key for you could be very frustrating. If you find yourself locked out of your car without a spare key, under any circumstances, it would prove to be very frustrating within itself.

This is compounded when you do not have a spare key. We know that it isn’t as though most motorists are resistant to having a spare key made, it is usually because they feel that it is too much of a hassle to have another one made. Still there are others who know that having a new transponder key made is more expensive than it is to have a regular key made. It stands to reason that a transponder key will cost more because of how they are designed. This type of key uses advanced technology and parts that are not used with a standard key. There are locksmith services in Illinois, such as Naperville Locksmith Pro, who offer 24-hour servicing and who have the right equipment needed to make you a new transponder key. We offer you what you need at a price that you can afford.

You might not think that a locksmith service will have all of the necessary equipment to handle the job but trust us when we tell you that most locksmiths know just how necessary having these tools are to their bottom line. If they want to gain a significant amount of the market share, they realize that they have to invest in this type of equipment. This is why you can be sure that most locksmiths will have the needed equipment to handle the job of making you a new transponder key. Since newer model automobiles are designed to use transponder keys, not having this type of equipment would become a financial problem for the locksmith service who doesn’t have it.

This is why it is in the best interest of a locksmith to have the appropriate equipment. The amount of money spent on this equipment will prove invaluable to most locksmith services. They can gain their fair share of the market and still help out those motorists who have transponder keys get back on the road again. Since the locksmith doesn’t have the same amount of overhead expenses that an auto dealership has, these savings are passed on to the customers. This is certainly a good enough reason to rely on the services of a locksmith instead of an auto dealership for your service needs.

Additional reasons for relying on a locksmith instead of an auto dealership:

Serviced by a Professional Locksmith

Most locksmith services hire their locksmiths based on their training, skills and qualifications. In doing so, they are able to offer their customers the service they deserve from the most qualified service professionals. Knowing that you have someone on the job who is effective in handling the job means you’re sure to be able to get what you pay for. A reputable locksmith service who wishes to maintain their reputation will usually make sure that every employee meets specific qualifications before they will allow them to handle your service needs. They want to be certain that they will be able to help them maintain their status as being reputable. They will certainly make sure that their locksmiths are efficient in programming transponder keys. Their level of professionalism will be invaluable to continuing to grow their business. This is why you can be sure that they you will receive professional locksmith services.

Emergency Lockout Services

Whenever you’re locked out of your car, you can always count on a 24-hour locksmith service. While you can opt to have your car towed to a dealership, it would be much more cost effective to contact a locksmith to come to your aid. Most have emergency lockout services available around the clock. This is not necessarily the case when you rely on the services of a dealership. You might find yourself locked out after hours and may not be able to get into the dealership when you need to. When you contact a locksmith service, they will come to wherever you are to administer the help you need. You won’t have to worry about the added expense of a paying for a tow service on top of the expense of having your transponder key made.

Locksmiths Come to Your Location

We already mentioned that you are able to save money on the expense associated with getting your car to the dealership. In addition to paying for a tow service to take your car to the dealership, you’ll also be responsible for service fees that may not be directly related to what you are having the car towed in for. Remember those extra fees that they tack on due to their overhead expenses. When you rely on a locksmith, the locksmith will come to your location to address your service needs. When they arrive they will have the necessary tools and equipment to handle the job you have for them. There are very few locksmith services who do not offer 24-hour mobile services. It would be in your best interest to only allow a qualified locksmith service to attend to your service needs given all of the benefits it offers to you.

When you have an unexpected problem and need a new transponder key made consider what a locksmith is capable of doing for you. When you take the time to really think about how much time and money you save, we’re sure you’ll make the right choice.