A proximity key never leaves your pocket — the vehicle detects it and you push a button to start. There is no blade to copy and no mechanical workaround. Replacing one means programming a new fob into the encrypted system at the car.
I handle the common makes on site, usually in about twenty minutes. A spare is added to the existing set; an all-keys-lost job originates a fob from scratch and clears the lost ones.
Why a proximity fob costs more
The fob itself is more expensive than a bladed key. The programming is an encrypted session that can take the longest of any key type. For all-keys-lost, a PIN is extracted from the immobilizer before the new fob is paired.
That work is why the range runs from about $250 for a spare up to $550 for an all-keys-lost job on a higher-end vehicle.
Which vehicles use these
Most cars built after about 2014 offer push-to-start, and many have it standard. Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Subaru, Ford, and Jeep all use proximity systems I program on site.
A few model years on a small number of makes encrypt programming to the dealer only. When that applies to your vehicle, you are told before any charge.
Proof of ownership
Before any key is cut or programmed, the registration or title in your name and a matching photo ID are checked. This is the reason a key made through this business cannot be used to steal a car. It is stated as a feature rather than a hurdle — it keeps every vehicle safe, and it deters the kind of request that no honest locksmith should take.
Questions
- My push-to-start stopped working. Is it the fob or the car?
- Often it is the fob battery. A battery replacement and test is $25 and is the first thing tried. If the fob itself has failed, a replacement is programmed at the listed range.
- Can I have more than one proximity fob?
- Yes. Multiple fobs can be paired to the same vehicle. A spare proximity fob is one of the most useful keys to own, because losing the only one is an expensive all-keys-lost job.