What’s more frustrating than suddenly losing your car key when you have an important appointment to attend to? Don’t worry for every car owner can deeply empathize with you. You’re probably here after typing “How can I get a second key for my car?” on Google just like you always do whenever you encounter a problem. Well, you’ve landed on the right page!
Here are 4 steps on how to get a second key for your car.
Here are 4 steps on how to get a second key for your car.1. Get the Vehicle Identification Number of your car
The first thing you have to do in order to get a second key for your car is to look for its Vehicle Identification Number also commonly known as VIN. It’s like a code given to your car upon production. This series of numbers and letters work like your personal details such as name, birth date, and the names of your parents that give identity to you. VIN contains information such as when is your car made, who made it, and where it is made.
Search for a sticker with a combination of letters and numbers around your car. You can find the VIN of your car when you look at the driver’s side interior dash, outside at the bottom of your car’s windshield. Still can’t find it? Look at the vehicle certification label attached to the driver’s side center pillar. Other places you can find it is under the hood at the front of your car’s engine and at the front end of the frame for older cars.
2. Prepare proof of ownership
Before you contact a local locksmith around your area you will need other documents other than your car’s VIN. The locksmith will ask for documents supporting your ownership of the vehicle for legal purposes. If you fail to provide these, the locksmith will immediately abandon you.
The automotive locksmith will ask for your VIN, the model of your car, car registration, insurance card, title, and other proof that you really own the car. If these documents are locked inside your car your locksmith will do a lockout service to get that document. Just make sure that it’s really there otherwise your locksmith will relock your car and will put you on their list of blocklisted clients.
3. Contact a locksmith to make the key
The easiest and less expensive way to get a second key is to contact a locksmith around your area. Don’t worry if it’s in the middle of the night or early morning for there are locksmiths available 24/7 to save your life. Contacting your local dealership immediately to get a second key is a big NO for they are expensive and take a lot of time to assist you. Your local dealership may even contact a locksmith to pass on the job so why not contact a locksmith yourself? You save money and you save time. You will need a locksmith especially if you need the key as soon as possible.
However, in order for your automotive locksmith to accept the job, he will need documents to proceed. This is where the VIN and other proof of ownership will come into the picture.
4. Contact dealership to program the key (if needed)
If after the assessment of your local locksmith and he said he cannot complete the key replacement process you can now contact the dealership. Automotive locksmiths can only make second car keys for older cars and cars made by non-luxury manufacturers. They can make second keys for modern cars but they cannot program them. Some locksmiths are knowledgeable in digital programming replacement keys but they cannot imitate a code laser-etched onto the key. So whether you like it or not, because the dealership offers expensive service for a second car key, it’s the last option you will have.
The dealership will then contact your vehicle’s manufacturer because the key can only be made by them. It will take two weeks for your second car key to arrive and expect for it to be expensive since the car key will directly be coming from your vehicle’s manufacturer. If the price is your problem, you can talk to the dealership to ask the manufacturer for a discount or ask them if the warranty covers the cost of the second key.
Getting a second car key to replace your lost key or just to serve as a spare key need not be troublesome and stressful. Calm down for there are many ways to get you a second car key. Who do you usually call when you need a key? Yes, you call a locksmith! Search for a locksmith near your area and there, problem solved.
