We are able to duplicate and program most of the Transponder "Chip" keys being used today. Auto makers are using chip keys on more and more models. Procedures to duplicate and originate vary considerably, along with the cost.To learn more about a specific make, click on the appropriate link to the left.

We have made a substantial investment in various types of equipment in order to service and program automotive chip keys. We were the first locksmith in the area to purchase multi-brand programming equipment. We were also the first with the capibility of reflashing computers on Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

The formal term is really transponder key. 1995 was the first year transponder keys appeared in the U.S. These are not the same as GM VATS/PASS keys which contain a visible pellet.

Transponder keys, which incorporate a small radio frequency device, are now being used by almost all the auto makers on an ever increasing number of models.

Cars with this feature use keys which have a small “chip” in the head of the key. When you turn your key in the ignition, a digital code is transmitted from the key to an antenna around the lock. This digital code may have several billion or trillion possibilities. If you try to start a car using a key without the correct code, the car electronically shuts down. Thieves can no longer force and break to steal.

This greater security has a price. Expect to pay a lot more for a transponder key. Even though all these keys function with radio frequency, the procedure for originating and duplicating varies greatly by model. Some new keys may be programmed with simple on-board steps, or by using a programming device to clone the digital code to a replacement key. Most other models require connecting special diagnostic equipment to the car’s computer. In some cases, a vehicle specific PIN code is required for the process.