Current Events > Insane how much it is for a whole new car key

(+) Yeah! (+)

I broke the main key on my 07 Camry and only have what is called the "valet key". As in, it can't even open things like the trunk, only the door and start the engine. It has no fob also. When I went to the dealership, I was getting quoted $400+ to get a new key made. From googling, it seems a dealership is really the only way to go since I broke and lost all pieces of the main key
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I thought it was supposed to be $60-80. That's still a lot. But $400.00 or more is insane. How do they justify that? I would immediately start calling other Toyota dealerships in the area and see if that's standard.

EDIT: I was in a situation where I locked myself out of my trunk this past weekend, and my master key was jammed and unable to unlock it. It was a Sunday, and had it been open I would have driven to my local Toyota dealer and had them make me a new key that could hopefully get me back into my trunk.

I would have been absolutely floored if they'd presented me with a $400.00 price tag. If that's legit, I think it's probably better to just have them make a spare copy of the master key when you buy the damn thing.
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Car keys have sophisticated chips in them. This isn't like a house key.

Fair, next.
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Man that expensive.

I broke my car key once and need to pay $40 to make new one.
Not from dealership it 3rd party
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Yeah I'd call other dealerships, that sounds like they're trying to rip you off. You can even call dealerships in other cities just to see what they quote you
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eston posted...

Yeah I'd call other dealerships, that sounds like they're trying to rip you off. You can even call dealerships in other cities just to see what they quote you

Yes, it's likely cheaper to drive a couple hundred miles to a dealer who isn't crazy, and have them do it, than it is to shell out that money.
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eston posted...

Yeah I'd call other dealerships, that sounds like they're trying to rip you off. You can even call dealerships in other cities just to see what they quote you

I mean, yeah it wouldn't hurt. He should try this...

But his car IS an 07 model. I mean, his style of key is basically obsolete now probably. This price does not surprise me.
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hollow_shrine posted...

eston posted...

Yeah I'd call other dealerships, that sounds like they're trying to rip you off. You can even call dealerships in other cities just to see what they quote you

Yes, it's likely cheaper to drive a couple hundred miles to a dealer who isn't crazy, and have them do it, than it is to shell out that money.

A phone call does not cost money, and would allow him to determine if this is a standard price
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I can't remember if this is the model where they moved exclusively to fobs and digital starters or if that's the 08' model. I know this is around when they moved away from the physical keys.
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garlic powder posted...

Car keys have sophisticated chips in them. This isn't like a house key.

Fair, next.

A radio transponder isnt sophisticated or expensive. I feel like this is one of those dealer rip off pricings.
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Well that wouldn't surprise me. Car dealers would rip off their own mothers.
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I've called 2 dealerships so far, both gave me quotes above $400. It seems most of the cost comes from having to program a whole new key or something
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garlic powder posted...

Car keys have sophisticated chips in them. This isn't like a house key.

Fair, next.

You can buy a pc for that much, so no.
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Called a 3rd one.
Again, 400+. They were actually saying 550-600
Key, fob, programming, resetting the current system
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emblem boy posted...

I've called 2 dealerships so far, both gave me quotes above $400. It seems most of the cost comes from having to program a whole new key or something

You can buy a fob on ebay and program it yourself. There's YouTube videos on it.
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$400 sounds about right for a modern key
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J E S U S posted...

$400 sounds about right for a modern key

Its not just for the key itself youre paying for , its the programming

This.

Modern car keys are expensive, especially key fobs.
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note to self, never lose keys again.
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Cost me 250 for my key, it was an 02. But dude came to my house to do it though.
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Stop buying computer cars
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I mean, it's a 12 year old car...
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iron jojo posted...

emblem boy posted...

I've called 2 dealerships so far, both gave me quotes above $400. It seems most of the cost comes from having to program a whole new key or something

You can buy a fob on ebay and program it yourself. There's YouTube videos on it.

Not necessarily. A lot of makes require you to use their diagnostic software to initiate the programming process on newer fobs. It's not like the old days where you can get a basic chip key and do a certain sequence of key turns and button presses.

The keys themselves aren't cheap either, especially if they've an integrated fob.

I have a 2017 Subaru and $400 is also the price they said to replace it.

I do have a spare remote in case anything happens to the first one though.
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I called a locksmith and they're saying they can do it for like 175, which sounds too good to be true, but we'll se
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400 is about right.

Source: I work for a Toyota dealership. if it makes you feel better nobody likes quoting the price but it is what it is.
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Carlbertomfg posted...

400 is about right.

Source: I work for a Toyota dealership. if it makes you feel better nobody likes quoting the price but it is what it is.

Is it realistic to find a locksmith that actually would be able to do this?
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download a new key
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Either live within your means or quit complaining. I drive a 1994 Chevrolet Corsica and a new key costs me $30.

I find it hard to believe the actual cost of producing one of these keys comes anywhere close to what they're charging you

They're likely reaping a massive profit off of them
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emblem boy posted...

Carlbertomfg posted...

400 is about right.

Source: I work for a Toyota dealership. if it makes you feel better nobody likes quoting the price but it is what it is.

Is it realistic to find a locksmith that actually would be able to do this?

In my experience if you've lost the master key the answer is an unfortunate "no". Definitely go with one if you do though. Couldn't hurt to try to save a couple hundred bucks.
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I broke my key inside my lock and got my car key replaced for $60. And mine was a Chevy Cobalt 2007 or 8. Go to a regular locksmith and ask if they can quote you.
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This exact thing happened to my girlfriend. I ordered a new key for for her then was able to remove the chip from the old one and place it on the new one, while a locksmith just made a duplicate.

YMMV
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Another reason why I refuse to buy cars post 2000s. I made like 2 key copies of my car for like $60 each.

LookANinja posted...

This exact thing happened to my girlfriend. I ordered a new key for for her then was able to remove the chip from the old one and place it on the new one, while a locksmith just made a duplicate.

YMMV

I have no chip is the issue
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I have a chip in my key and it still cost me $60 and I live in a place that's notoriously expensive. Go check out a regular locksmith.
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make sense, because its expensive to put a program on a chip!

Carlbertomfg posted...

emblem boy posted...

Carlbertomfg posted...

400 is about right.

Source: I work for a Toyota dealership. if it makes you feel better nobody likes quoting the price but it is what it is.

Is it realistic to find a locksmith that actually would be able to do this?

In my experience if you've lost the master key the answer is an unfortunate "no". Definitely go with one if you do though. Couldn't hurt to try to save a couple hundred bucks.

From what you've seen, how do the dealerships feel about bringing in after market keys, and them just doing the cutting and programming
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emblem boy posted...

Carlbertomfg posted...

emblem boy posted...

Carlbertomfg posted...

400 is about right.

Source: I work for a Toyota dealership. if it makes you feel better nobody likes quoting the price but it is what it is.

Is it realistic to find a locksmith that actually would be able to do this?

In my experience if you've lost the master key the answer is an unfortunate "no". Definitely go with one if you do though. Couldn't hurt to try to save a couple hundred bucks.

From what you've seen, how do the dealerships feel about bringing in after market keys, and them just doing the cutting and programming

Not good. We can't ask the folks for a refund if they provided something bunk or the overall wrong product. If something goes wrong with the part or overall key we use - it's backed by a warranty. S'why you never really see a dealership that takes parts provided by customers to slide into their vehicle repairs in order to reduce cost.
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This is for YOUR SECURITY, people.
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My parents were thankfully able to find a spare of my master key at parents house and they'll be shipping it to me. I'll go ahead and make another copy of it, but it'll at least be cheaper.
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Always have a back up or two
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