How much does it cost to get a spare car key these days?

[undeterred]

Hint: I went out to get one (from the dealer) this morning and came home without one.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

1. stupid little anti-theft thingies...

just get them to make you a valet-key...

sP

[undeterred]

3. What is a valet key and who will make it?

I went to the dealer and they wanted $260 for a programmable key and gave no other choice.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

4. WOW... for our POS minivan

the dealer made one...it is just the key without the programmable/remote part. it was still $60...

sP

[undeterred]

5. The last Mazda I had the programmable key was $85

and the regular keys were $9 each. That was at the same dealer a few years ago.

Today I walked in and it was $260 or nothing. I couldn't believe it. I told them no thanks and walked out.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. It depends. Gotta shop around cause the dealer will SCREW you.

[undeterred]

6. I don't think anyone else can legally copy a car key.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

12. sure they can

I got three new keys for my Jeep just a few days ago...at Ace Hardware...

sP

[undeterred]

15. Copied from a key that is in the program case?

[ProdigalJunkMail]

22. this Jeep is a little old for that so, no.

this was just a key...I don't know if anyone has the tech to make a key with the integrated chip stuff...

sP

[bigwillq]

7. I paid $150

for the key and around $300 total to get system reprogrammed. My keys were stolen a month ago.
I have a Nissan with the push button starter. They gave me new key, reprogrammed system and made key that was stolen inactive.

Just got it done yesterday.

Didn't really want to get it reprogrammed, but I had to pay $150 anyway for spare key when I go and turn my car in next year (I lease).

[meegbear]

8. What's the make/model?

[undeterred]

9. Mazda5 2009

I bought it used in December at a Ford dealer. It was a rental and it only came with the one key. It also came without a manual. I asked aout that at the dealer today and they said it would cost $40 which is also bullshit.

[Ptah]

10. Download a pdf of the manual here:

http://www.mazda.ca/files/2009_mazda5_om_eng.pdf

[undeterred]

13. I've got it, thanks

But its a few hundred 8x11 pages and doesn't exactly fit in the glove compartment.

For actually buying a Mazda you'd think I could at least get a manual and a spare key from them without getting totally ripped off, wouldn't you?

[Ptah]

16. Yeah, not exactly user friendly.

I agree, you should have a copy of the original.

I freaked when I had to pay $40 for a spare key.

Maybe a local locksmith could give you a better price?

[undeterred]

17. I will try that.

I have a history of locking myself out and now I am freaking out about it.

The guys at the Dealer felt bad about it. I'm sure it wasn't their decision. Some corporate asshole way at the top decides to force the consumer to spend $260 on a spare key. I'm the only driver, so I don't need a second key- I need a "spare" key just in case I lock myself out some time.

[LeftyMom]

18. If you only need a key to open the door and not to start the car

Any key copy made at the hardware store for $1.50 should do the job.

[undeterred]

19. Hmmm

Often when I have gone to the Hardware store they are looking for the top of the key to match up with the key I have. There is no top of the key visible when all I have is the electronic key. So how do they make a copy?

[LeftyMom]

21. They should look at the shape of the rest of the key.

They probably also have a chart showing what car key blanks match up to which badges and years.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

27. I had good luck on Ebay with remotes.

The remotes were really inexpensive - like 20 bucks a piece PLUS they sent me reprogramming instructions. The dealership wanted 100 bucks to program the remotes. The process included pressing different buttons in sequence and shutting the ignition on and off. The dealerships really gouge on that stuff.

IIRC, I thought I saw cheap cheap blanks also.

[meegbear]

11. Asking because of those "chip keys" they make now ...

I want a spare for my car 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix and was told I gotta goto the dealer or a car locksmith because of that.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

24. For future reference and anyone reading this: Always check for two keys and a manual BEFORE ..

... saying yes.

I know. I spent 11 years at a dealership in F&I management.

If you ask for the keys before you agree to the deal, the new/used car department will pick up the bill and charge it to their P&L.

If you wait til after the deal is done, they will make the salesman/woman tell you it's your problem.

This has been a big bone of contention every dealership I worked. The GM gets the "key bill" at the end of the month and screams bloody murder. The salesmen get put in the middle because they don't want to be rude (or pay out of pocket).

Sadly, I forgot my own advice last year when the SO bought a Milan at a ford/mercury dealer. We got in to a huge beef cause the SO went back to sign some paperwork without me and they tried to screw him over. I never had a problem paying for the key (because it's an actual part) but I didn't want to pay an hour (130 bucks) technician time to "program" the key when I know for a fact the service writer can do it. The mechanic wants a "gimme" to do the easy task.

[undeterred]

29. Yeah, the guy who did the sale acted all surprised

when I mentioned that he only gave me one key and no manual. Since nobody else is driving I didn't think about it at first. But now that I know these two items add up to $300 - and they should come with the car - it really pisses me off.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

36. You might have a little leverage.

When the Ford dealership saw I was rally pissed off, they came out in the parking lot to stop us. They offered to pay for the programing if we bought the key - which is exactly all I really expected.

They then sheepishly asked us not to wreck them on their CSI (customer satisfaction index) rating. Ford sends them out even for used purchases. I'm not sure if you will get a survey from Ford (we purchased a used one year old ford product) but you WILL most likely get one from the company they pay to "pre interview" you. They sometimes hire their own survey people to head of the trouble customers and smooth things over. The Ford ratings, IIRC "Blue something or other", are very important to dealers. Especially when the herd gets culled by the manufacturer in slow times. Money bonuses are also in play.

[LeftyMom]

14. Too much at the dealer.

Call around to locksmiths and find one who handles the fancy anti-theft car keys, it'll be cheaper. Still crazy expensive for a freakin' car key, but less than the dealer by a whole lot. If you were around here I'd suggest a guy. I found him on yelp, so maybe you could search for your area and see if somebody who does that sort of work has good reviews?

[Silver Swan]

20. When we needed another key

One dealer said it would be $150.00, but another dealer did it for $85.00. It pays to shop around even among dealers.

[HopeHoops]

23. Just the PK3 for an American-made car was about $65 at a local family-owned hardware store.

The little "fob" remote thingie would have been another $65 but I didn't get one when mine suffered an unfortunate accident (details will NOT be provided). I was fine with using a key to get into a car when I started driving 32 years ago and I'm fine with using one for that purpose now.

[MilesColtrane]

25. Call a locksmith first.

Depending on the make of car, they can make a key and program the chip inside for less than a dealer would charge.

I got a spare that way for about 75 bucks.

[pitohui]

26. it cost me $3 AND i had to go to four different places

i have an old car, the kind of key made out of metal instead out electronics -- as another poster said, the ace hardware turned out to be the place that actually had keys that old

i heard from hubby that his car key would cost $75 so he doesn't have a back-up, for that kind of money, you might as well wait until you actually lose the car key which (knock on wood) hasn't happened yet

[Broken_Hero]

28. I picked other:

45$ for a key, for both a Chevy Aveo, and a Chevy Malibu Maxx...

The kicker is, I wanted the remote/wireless key doo-hickey, and they had the nerve to ask me for 130$ for that little piece of technology. I didn't get it, but to be blunt, I was pretty upset over paying 45 for a key, I thought it was a ripoff.

[mokawanis]

30. I just paid a locksmith $240 for 2 keys

for a Dodge Caravan. I long for the old days when I could get duplicate keys made at a hardware store for a buck.

[undeterred]

34. Yeah, me too.

Doesn't exactly seem like we're making progress, does it?

[femmocrat]

31. We paid around $200 for one about four months ago.

It's not really a traditional "key" but looks like a plug-in thing. Huge ripoff.

[KT2000]

32. $2 at Home Depot

for a 2000 Toyota
Boy - was I relieved.

[CaptRandom]

33. 3something b4 tax...

damn VW and their weirdly cut grove thing they call a key....

[hunter]

35. If I'm ever forced to have a car with one of those expensive locking systems...

... it won't have it for long.

My car keys cost $2.

[undeterred]

37. I don't really feel the need to lock my car that often.

The only time would be if I was doing some shopping and leaving something valuable in the car between purchases. I'm not too worried about the car being stolen at home or anywhere else. Once in a while I lock the car because I am leaving my purse inside- and thats when I am afraid of locking myself out. But I guess if I do it with the key I will still have it, as long as I don't lose it.

[Seedersandleechers]

38. Got one from the dealer just a month ago

$20.

[Throd]

39. For a 1968 Oldsmobile it is $2.99 plus tax.