The common types of car keys are standard metal keys, transponder (chip) keys, remote head keys, flip keys, laser-cut keys, smart keys for push-to-start cars, and the emergency blade inside a smart key. You can tell them apart by the blade shape, whether the head has buttons, and whether the car starts with a button.
- Three clues identify almost any car key: the blade, the head and how the car starts.
- Most modern keys carry a transponder chip, so a metal copy opens the doors but will not start the car.
- A thick blade with a groove down the middle is a laser-cut key, which needs a specialized cutter.
- Push-to-start cars use a proximity smart key that usually hides an emergency blade for the door.
- Replacement cost rises with the cut and the electronics in the key, from plain metal at the low end to smart fobs at the top.
Locksmith makes a new key for a Mustang in Oxnard. Filmed on a real job by EZ Car Keyz.
How can you tell which type of car key you have?
Look at three things: the blade, the head and how the car starts. Those clues identify almost every car key in under a minute.
| What you see | Most likely type |
|---|---|
| All-metal key, no plastic head, usually an older car | Standard metal key |
| Plastic head, no buttons, notches along the blade edge | Transponder (chip) key |
| Lock and unlock buttons in the key head, fixed blade | Remote head key |
| Blade folds into the fob and springs out with a button | Flip key |
| Thick blade with a groove cut down the middle | Laser-cut (sidewinder) key |
| No blade showing, car starts with a button | Smart key (proximity fob) |
| Small metal blade that slides out of a smart fob | Emergency insert blade |
Many keys combine features. A flip key can have a laser-cut blade, and remote head and flip keys usually carry a transponder chip as well. The year, make and model settle any doubt, which is why they are the first thing we ask for when we quote.
What is a standard metal car key?
A standard metal key is a cut blade with no chip and no electronics. It works the locks and ignition mechanically, so replacing one is just a matter of cutting, usually in 15 to 20 minutes.
You will mostly find them on older vehicles. Many cars from the late 1990s onward, and nearly every car built today, use a key with a chip instead, even when it looks like plain metal with a plastic head.
Keys wear, and ignition wafers wear with them, which is why a key that only turns sometimes tends to fail completely later. A worn key copied from another worn key copies the wear, so a new key is best cut from the least-worn key you have, or by code.
What is a transponder (chip) key?
A transponder key has a small chip in the head that the car's immobilizer must recognize before the engine will run. The blade turns the ignition, and the chip gives permission to start.
That is why a metal copy without the chip opens the doors but will not start the car. A working spare has to be cut and then programmed to your vehicle.
Chips come in families, such as 4C and 4D carbon chips, Philips Crypto and Texas Instruments, and each vehicle expects a particular one. We carry common transponder blanks in the van.
Programming is usually done through the car's diagnostic port with a dedicated programmer. We use the Autel IM508 and AutoProPad, and our NASTF Vehicle Security Professional registry access covers the key codes and immobilizer PINs that some vehicles require. See transponder key programming, or read how transponder keys work for the full explanation.
What are remote head keys and flip keys?
A remote head key has lock and unlock buttons built into the key head, with a fixed blade. A flip key, also called a switchblade key, folds its blade into the fob and springs it out with a button.
Both usually carry a transponder chip and a remote transmitter, so a replacement means cutting the blade, programming the chip and pairing the remote. If only the buttons quit, try a new battery first. A broken shell or a tired flip mechanism can often be fixed by moving the electronics into a new case.
The short video below shows a lockout followed by a new flip key, cut and programmed on site in Santa Paula. For remote and battery problems, see key fob replacement cost.
Car lockout plus a new flip key in Santa Paula, CA
What is a laser-cut or sidewinder key?
A laser-cut key has a thick blade with a groove milled down the middle instead of notches along the edge. Many work in the lock either way up, and they need a specialized cutter to duplicate.
Plenty of people call them sidewinder keys. The precision cut is why they cost more to replace than an edge-cut key, and why not every key counter can make one. We cut them in the van on Xhorse Condor and Xhorse Dolphin machines.
Most laser-cut keys also carry a transponder chip, so after cutting they still have to be programmed before the car will start.
What is a smart key or push-to-start fob?
A smart key is a proximity fob. The car senses it nearby, so on most cars you can unlock the doors and press the start button while the fob stays in your pocket or bag.
A weak coin cell usually announces itself: shorter range, a low key battery warning on many cars, or a message that no key is detected. Most push-to-start cars have a backup method, usually holding the fob against the start button or a marked spot. Our guide to starting a car with a dead fob explains it.
The emergency blade inside
Most smart fobs hide a small metal blade that slides out to open the driver's door when the fob is dead. On many cars the keyhole sits under a cap on the door handle. If the blade is lost, a replacement is a quick job.
Lost the fob itself? See lost push-to-start key fob and our push-to-start smart key service.
What does each type of car key cost to replace?
Replacement cost rises with the cut and the electronics in the key. The table shows our current flat rates for one new key made at your car, in both service areas.
| Option | Ventura County | San Diego County | Time on-site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Metal Key Replacement | $50-$100 | $60-$110 | 15-20 minutes |
| Emergency / Insert Key Replacement | $75-$150 | $85-$165 | Quick service |
| Transponder Key Replacement | $150-$250 | $150-$275 | 30-45 minutes |
| Flip Key / Switchblade Key Replacement | $150-$275 | $160-$300 | Under 45 minutes |
| Laser-Cut / Sidewinder Key Replacement | $175-$300 | $200-$325 | About 30 minutes |
| Smart Key / Proximity Fob Replacement | $250-$450 | $275-$475 | Under 1 hour |
Flat-rate ranges from our current price list. The exact quote depends on year, make and model, and the price we quote is the price you pay. Full details: Car Key Replacement in Ventura County or in San Diego County.
Each quote covers the blank, the cutting, the programming and the trip, and the price we quote on the phone is the price you pay. Losing every key costs more than adding a spare. Our car key replacement cost guide explains why, and car key replacement shows how a visit works.
If you are down to one key, a spare costs less than replacing a lost set, and our spare key guide prices it by type. And whatever the key, we verify ownership first: photo ID matching the registration, the title with matching ID, or notarized authorization from the registered owner.
