Need a new key fob, or already have one that needs programming? We handle both at your vehicle, anywhere in Columbus. If your fob is lost or broken, we supply a compatible one from our own stock and program it on site. If you bought one online, we check that it is the right part and program it to your car.
If every key and fob to the car is gone, that is a car key replacement job, and most vehicles are still done the same day.
Which kind of fob do you have?
People call three different things a key fob, and the work is different for each:
- A remote. Separate from the key, with buttons for lock, unlock, trunk and panic. You still start the car with a key.
- A push-to-start fob. It stays in your pocket or bag while you start the car with a button.
- A key with the remote built in. Remote-head keys and flip keys, where the buttons sit in the head of the key. On many Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles it is a FOBIK, the fob you push into a slot in the dash.
Not sure which one you have? Tell us the year, make and model and how you start the car, and we will know.
Key fob replacement
Most replacements start with a fob that is lost or physically broken: a cracked case, buttons worn through or falling apart, a fob that went through the washing machine or got dropped one time too many. Some simply stop talking to the car one day. A lot of people keep using a damaged fob long after it starts coming apart, until the day it stops working in a parking lot.
We bring a compatible fob from our own stock, OEM or a reliable aftermarket part depending on the vehicle, and program it at the car. Before we leave, we test that it locks and unlocks the doors and, on a push-to-start car, starts the engine.
We generally replace the complete fob rather than rebuilding a damaged shell, because the condition of the electronics inside an old or damaged fob cannot always be guaranteed. A new case on a failing circuit board just moves the problem somewhere else.
If a fob was lost or stolen, tell us. Depending on the vehicle, we may be able to remove the missing fob from the car’s memory while we program the replacement, so it no longer starts the vehicle.
Key fob programming for a fob you already have
The most common call here is a fob bought online. The good news is that most of them work, as long as the right part was ordered.
The hard part is knowing which one is right. Two fobs can look identical and still have a different chip, frequency, part number or emergency key blade. Toyota is especially confusing around certain model year changes, and some Ford, GM and Nissan push-to-start systems have the same problem. Other fobs bought online turn out to be used and already locked to another vehicle, or simply defective.
So before you buy, send us the part number or a photo of the fob and the listing, along with your year, make and model, and we will check it for you. If yours turns out not to work, we can usually supply one that does from our own stock.
If you bought a remote-head key online, or a fob with an emergency blade, the metal part also has to be cut to your car. Programming alone will not make it turn the lock.
One thing worth knowing up front: if we program a fob you supplied and it turns out to be defective or the wrong part, the programming charge still applies, because the time and setup went into it. Parts you supply are also not covered by our parts warranty. The details are on our terms page.
Found your old key after getting a new one?
It happens more than you would think. The key gets lost, a new one is made, and later the original turns up and no longer starts the car. When every key is lost, the programming on many vehicles clears the keys the car knew before, and on others the missing keys are removed on purpose. Either way, a found key does not always work again on its own. In many cases we can check it and, where the vehicle supports it, program it back.
Before you replace it, check the battery
Not every dead fob needs replacing. A caller recently told us another company had quoted her around $300 for a new one. She sent us a photo of her fob opened up, and the new battery had simply been put in upside down. We talked her through it on the phone, and she did not need a fob at all.
Before you pay for a new one, check three things: that the battery is fresh, that it is in the right way up, and whether the car still starts with the fob held in its backup spot. Most push-to-start cars have one, usually against the start button or in a marked pocket or slot in the console. If the car recognizes the fob there, the problem may be the battery or the remote side of the fob, not the car forgetting the key. Call us either way and we will help you sort out which.
Factory remote start you may already have
Some vehicles came from the factory able to remote start, even though the fob you have has no remote start button. We see it on Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Buick and other GM vehicles, and now and then on Jeep and Dodge. On those vehicles, programming the correct factory-style fob with the remote start button can switch on a feature the car already had.
A recent Buick customer had an original fob with no remote start button. We programmed a compatible fob that had one, and the factory remote start worked. It depends on whether your specific vehicle is equipped and set up for it, so ask us before you buy anything. We do not install aftermarket remote start systems, but we can point you to installers we know and work with.
What it costs
These are starting prices. What you pay depends on the vehicle, the fob, what the programming takes, and whether we supply the part.
| Service | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Push-to-start fob, when you still have a working one | From $175 |
| Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep FOBIK | From $145 |
| Remote-head key | From $120 |
| Programming a push-to-start fob you supplied | From $100 |
Flip keys, and jobs where every fob is lost, are priced by vehicle. Some vehicles with a working key are quick and others are not, so give us the year, make and model and we will give you the real number on the phone.
Makes we work on
Most domestic, Asian and European vehicles: Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Nissan, Infiniti, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Subaru, Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover. Whether a particular fob can be done depends on the year, model and system, and for some vehicles we use manufacturer level software.
What we need from you
- The year, make and model
- Which kind of fob it is, or how you start the car
- Whether you still have one that works
- If you bought a fob, its part number or a photo of it
- Where the vehicle is parked
We will also ask for photo ID and something showing the vehicle is yours, such as the registration or title.
Common questions
Can you program a key fob I bought online?
Yes, if it is the right part for your vehicle. Send us the part number before you buy and we will check it.
Do I have to bring my car to you?
No. We program fobs at your vehicle, at home, at work or in a parking lot anywhere in Columbus.
Will my old fob still work after you program a new one?
On some vehicles it does, and on others the procedure clears it. If you want a lost fob removed from the car, tell us and we will let you know whether your vehicle allows it.
Can you replace just the cracked case?
We generally replace the whole fob. The electronics inside a damaged fob may be failing too, and a new case does not fix that.
My fob stopped working. Do I need a new one?
Not always. Check the battery and that it is in the right way up, then try starting the car with the fob in its backup spot. If that does not solve it, call us.
Can you add remote start to my key fob?
If your vehicle came with factory remote start support, often yes, by programming the correct fob. We do not install aftermarket remote start.
How much does key fob replacement cost in Columbus?
Push-to-start fobs start at $175 when you have a working one, FOBIKs at $145 and remote-head keys at $120. Give us the year, make and model for the exact price.
If your fob is lost, broken, or one you bought needs programming, call 844-644-6539 with the year, make and model. We will tell you what it takes, what it costs, and when we can be there.