Replacement Car Keys

[Old_Geezer]

Had the misfortune recently to find one of my bunches of keys are missing. Since they have failed to turn up after a couple of weeks I started getting replacement keys cut. But I've just had the Hyundai dealer tell me that a new encoded car key will cost all but £400 !

Clearly ridiculous for a key. Is there a more reasonable cost way to get a working replacement ? I did enquire at a local Timpson's but they said I'd have to go to a particular branch, and now I hear the cost of the dealer supplying, I'm wondering if other merely supply an uncoded key, or something.

Cheers.

[sunny-dave]

Try searching on here :

http://www.car-keys-online.com/

[ you can get much cheaper ones from china on ebay - but I wouldn't ]

[furrypusscat]

There are certain motoring shops around that can do these keys but I understand you have to produce the log sheet to prove you are the owner/keeper. Will be cheaper than main agents.

[Old_Geezer]

Thanks both.

I'm not confident that an online purchase would be coded, surely one needs to know the car to do that ? I'd be concerned I'd end up spending on a "white elephant", even though there are a few of my car model keys there.

I may try the local motor factor shops then, but again I wonder about the encoding.

[bhg481]

I suspect you'd have to take the new key along to a dealer, along with the old one or proof of ownership, and then they'll register the new key with the car (for a fee).
It's probably as cheap to go straight to the dealer, cough up, and be careful not to lose your keys in future.

[Old_Geezer]

I can't really be more careful than to put my keys in my pocket and trust that they will stay there. At present I'm thinking I have no desire to spend that sort of rip-off money on a key. I'd try to survive on one first.

[bhg481]

You might be able to claim on your car insurance but it might affect your NCB and also incur an excess, so probably hardly worth it.

[sunny-dave]

Just a thought - would your house/contents insurance cover the cost of replacement?

[Arrods]

Unlikely Sunny-Dave - there's usually an exclusion for things motor.

[Old_Geezer]

The lady PC at the cop shop suggested house insurance for the house keys and the car insurance for the car keys, but I've not yet checked that out. I just got the house one cut anyway.

I have protected NCB for the car, but as other road users get worse and worse every day, these days, I'm unsure a claim is useful as who knows who'll hit my car next. Especially if one has to pay an excess anyway. I've had hit & run drivers on my parked car, and some other idiot who stopped without clear reason so I had to stop behind him, and then he reversed into me having claimed not to see me, not so long ago. Driving is getting to be a nightmare for some reason, they seem to be letting all sorts of idiots on the road. No sense, no courtesy. But that's another issue. I'll try to find the enthusiasm to look it up later: meanwhile I'll continue to hope they'll turn up unless I find a "bargain".

[Old_Geezer]

... house oneS ...

[Old_Geezer]

... hit & run drivers hit my parked ...

[EDDIE51]

If you have one key there are many outlets that can cut and code a new one by copying the old one, you need ID and proof of ownership.

[bhg481]

Spending a few quid on house key and hoping the bunch will turn up is no good OG. You know full well that Sod's Law states that you have to replace the most expensive key at £400 before the bunch will turn up.

[furrypusscat]

This appears to be a legitimate site. You can always make a tentative enquiry, you don't have to follow it up.

http://www.locksmiths.co.uk/services/auto-locksmith-locked-out-lost-or-broken-car-keys/car-key-programming/

[Islay]

I had a ford escort with coded key and was told that it was £300+ to get a replacement, but I was then told that the car itself does the coding, so bought a key from Ford for £50 - popped it in and it worked, alarms all worked as did central locking.

Might be work exploring a little further.

[bhg481]

That doesn't sound very secure Islay; it implies that anyone with a key that fits your car can link it to the security system and start the car, unless there is a ritual you have to go through involving a "good" key.

[melv16]

Pop in to your local Timpson's, I know they cut and programme car keys.

[melv16]

Whoops, should have read the op in full.

[Old_Geezer]

Now there's a coincidence, encouraged by answers here I've been searching the web for a local source and have contacted The Auto Locksmith, and come back here to see fpc suggest them. They seem to have been suggesting coming out to me as they were concerned where I was calling from. Quoted £150 I said thanks and I'd think about it; but I'm beginning to feel at that price it might be worth doing anyway, and if the other turn up then I'll just have 3 keys. Maybe I'll get back to them later.

[Old_Geezer]

I did try Timpson's, but was told I had to go to another branch for car keys, and I don't recall which as the place name wasn't familiar to me.