How Do Locksmiths Make Car Keys

Lost car keys is one of the biggest pains you can encounter. Not only is it stressful, but it puts a block in your scheduled meetings and sudden need for grocery trips, leaving you to use public transportation or find other stressful means of travel. 

Luckily, with the help of a locksmith you can replace your car key. Locksmiths are one of the oldest professions there is. They are trained to handle keys and locks and have a large collection of locking materials and a wide array of skills to replicate keys and replace them. 

Before you begin searching for “car key locksmith near me,” here is all you need to know about how a locksmith makes car keys and what a car key replacement entails. But first, it’s crucial to understand the different types of car keys.

Understanding Different Car Keys 

Most contemporary car keys combine three types of keys: mechanical keys, coded transponder chips, and remote keys.

A Mechanical Key:

In order to unlock the steering lock, the metal portion of the key, which is also used to manually open doors, is inserted into the ignition chamber. Only mechanical key carving or laser cutting can handle these keys.

Read More: 5 tools you must have in your car lockout kit

Mechanical Cut Car Keys:

With this key, the blade's leading edge is carved into a sequence. A mechanical key cutting machine is used to create mechanically cut automobile keys; this is the same process a locksmith would use to create keys for other common locks like front doors.

Laser Cut Car Keys:

The more high level method is laser cutting automobile keys. Laser keys have similar cuts on both of the sides of the tip and dull edges. Unlike mechanical keys, they may be used in any direction to start an automobile.

A Coded Electronic Transponder Chip: 

In order for the automobile to read the key, it must be put into the ignition, this is where a coded transponder comes in.

Transponder Chip:

The chip doesn't require batteries since it is passive; the code is activated when you twist the key into the ignition. In the event that the transponder chip is missing or damaged, the engine won't start.

Rolling Codes:

Rolling codes cause the transponder code to change each time the key is turned.

A Remote Control: 

Newer automobiles come with remote controls that can secure and release vehicles as well as turn off the alert security system. To communicate a coded signal to a detector on the automobile, manufacturers usually require a radio signal, while some do it with lasers.

What You Need When Contacting a Locksmith About a Car Key 

You must be prepared to provide a locksmith with your personally identifiable information and vehicle's identification number. These specifics will be used by the locksmith to verify your ownership of the vehicle. Alternatively, the locksmith might use your details to contact the National Automotive Service Task Force and get a special code. A new key can be cut using this special code. After this procedure is finished, the locksmith might have to reprogram your car's internal system to identify the key codes.

How Car Keys Are Made By Locksmiths 

Tracing the key code: This is the most integral part of the keying process. Your locksmith will decipher this key code and cut the key appropriately. The locksmith can determine the right key blank and the specifications to produce the key by utilizing specialized software and checking the vehicle data.

Key cutting:

Because metal is cut during the cutting process to create a vehicle key that matches your key code, this procedure involves the use of a very accurate key cutting machine.

Programming the key:

A new key must be programmed. In order to finish the procedure, your automobile key locksmith must program. They typically turn the ignition to the on position after inserting the key and repeat a process of turning the ignition on and off again for around 30 minutes. It depends on the car model but, we don’t recommend you do this on your own.

Scoping:

The scoping procedure enables locksmiths to scan the wafer, enabling the automobile locksmith to view the grooves in a lock and decipher it in order to make a new copy.