ATL: Car keys replacement costs & AAA
Ask The Locksmith Question:i was wondering two things...one, how much you charge in the event of a lost set of car keys...and two, if you work with AAA.
Hi There...
The price for replacing car keys depends on the make, model, and year of the car with missing keys... In general, if the car has no transponder (chip) technology, the rate is $115.00 or $125.00. If the car has transponder keys, the rate is $175.00. In any case with missing keys, state law requires the owner be present, with state or military issued picture ID, as well as paperwork for the car (registration, etc.) matching the name on the ID.
Yes, we are an authorized AAA agent. The work must be arranged with AAA in advance, and they must call with a PO to contract us in order for the work to be done.
thanks for your promp reply. it is a 1997 isuzu rodeo. i have no idea if it has a chip or not in it.
Sorry for the delay. No, the '97 does not have a chip. And yes, we can make those keys. :)
Give a yell or have AAA give a yell if we can help.
do the prices change if after hours? i thought since this was a holdiay it may have a bearing on the price you have to come out.
No, for the most part our prices remain the same regardless of regular days. Christmas, New Years, 4th of July, and Memorial Day are the only holidays that can quote higher.
Difference between $115 and $125: If someone calls us anew, after 9pm, the same quote would be $125.00 as mentioned previously. But if someone has us come out after hours, after already having gotten a quote, and making an appointment, we have no problem keeping the price at $115.00, even if it's after hours. :)
i have spoken with an isuzu dealer and they said that i could get the key codes from them and then have a key made from that. you charge 125 for that????
A locksmith charges what they do because the process of creating a key from whole cloth is a laborious one (See The Pin Code Panic post for some detail of what is involved in creating keys). We also have to come to where the car is, a service call being a portion of that $115 or $125 charge (We actually charge $115 for most plain keys creation and code cutting - $125 is no appointment, late night charge). Very rarely do dealers give out valid key codes without in-person verification of ownership of the vehicle (this is the law in California), and if they do, those key codes apply only to the ignition that was installed at the time the vehicle was built. What we run into in some cases when customers have been given old key codes for older vehicles, is that the ignition has been changed out at some point, rendering original key codes useless.
That being said, if you can get the key code for your vehicle from the dealer, and if it is valid for the ignition that is in your vehicle, then most mobile locksmiths would charge you the normal service call (ours is $45), plus the cost of cutting a key to code. We charge $10 for non-transponder keys cut to code. Other locksmiths may charge more or less.
You can also, if you have the key code, take that code to a locksmith shop (not a hardware store, their machines are generally not calibrated well, and they may not have the right key blanks), and have them cut it for you there. You can then take the key home and try it on the vehicle. Sometimes you get lucky, and the key works on the first try. If it does not, there are many possibilities as to why not... it may be a badly cut key, it may be a bad key code, it may be that the ignition has been changed out at some point, who knows... Without a locksmith there AT the vehicle, able to try different things, you're then stuck going back to a locksmith shop, getting it cut again, or calling the dealer and making sure the code is right, and so forth. If this happens, and the key still does not work, you're back at step one. A car without keys, and needing a professional to create keys for you.
If you have a code, my advice would be to try taking it to a locksmith shop first. It's inexpensive, and no more than a little inconvenience. If the key doesn't work when you get it home, then you can consider your other options.
Yell if you have other questions!
thank you so much for your help and information. i know i have been a pain in your...well, computer. i am limited to this means of info and you have been the only person who has even sent me a return email. now one last question...if i get the codes, then your service call would be covered by my AAA? (they cover 60 of locksmith fees).
You haven't been a pain. :) Most e-mails I get that require long(ish) answers get used on the blog on the website (without names) as "Ask the Locksmith" questions and answers. That way the information is available to other people as well. :)
As far as AAA, remember, most locksmiths don't bill AAA directly, instead we are contracted by them, and given a PO number. I believe you can specifically request a certain locksmith when calling them, but as far as what they charge/pay for, I think it's by individual contract. Based on what you state your coverage is, if the "60" mentioned is a percentage, then they would cover $33 of a total $55 charge ($45 service call + $10 key by code) - If it is a flat rate, then yes, the $60 would cover the services in this instance. AAA has to be the one to call us out to you in order for that 60% to be covered.
You can ask all the questions you want, no problem. :)
Cheers!
Kim
We're not your normal locksmith company™... :)
read or link to the full post here...
