“If ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That’s the attitude many of us have in life, which is fair. After all, most of us are trying to save time and money where we can and want to maximize our investments in the equipment, tools and devices we use daily.

The truth is, making a change with the items you use most often can make your life easier in the short run and even help you save money in the long run. Your car key is one such change. Should you stick with a traditional key or upgrade to a push-start version? Let’s discuss.

Traditional Car Key Advantages

These are the tried-and-true keys we’re all accustomed to using. The design has always been pretty simple, focused around a metal part that you manually place in the ignition barrel to release the locking mechanism and open the door or gate you’re trying to access. Here are some of the benefits that come with traditional car keys:

• More people are comfortable with using them and they’re easy to use in general.
• They tend to cost less than other car key options.
• They are durable and last longer than other keys, especially electronic ones.

Push-Start Car Key Advantages

Push-start car keys are known by a variety of terms, such as remotes and fobs. But they basically involve sending a signal to your vehicle to start it remotely. You don’t even have to be in the vehicle and these keys also usually won’t let the car lock while they’re inside. Here are some of the other benefits that come with push-start car keys:

• They’re much more convenient, as they can stay in your bag or pocket.
• You can warm up or cool down your car remotely before you even enter it.
• It’s more difficult to duplicate push-start car keys.

Dealership or Locksmith for Car Keys?

Whether you go the traditional or push-start route, you have to decide where you’ll get your keys the next time you upgrade, duplicate or swap them out. While a dealership will know the design of your vehicle and be able to provide factory-standard key and fob options, prepare to pay more. With a professional car locksmith, on the other hand, prices are usually a bit more affordable and you partner with someone who has your vehicle security and safety in mind.

If you’re ready to upgrade to a push-start car key or are interested in going over your options, stop by any of our DFW-area A-1 Locksmith locations today.

The good news is that there are ways to avoid losing your keys, especially if it keeps happening in your vehicle. Let’s go over a few reasons why some people keep locking keys in their cars.

Reason #1: There Are Changes In Your Routine

When there is something that affects your routine (e.g. you’re in a hurry), that’s when there is a good chance you’ll do something abnormal like lock your keys in the car. When you rush or do things differently than you normally do, it can cause your brain to misfire and you’ll forget about all of the steps that are normally part of your routine. Try creating good habits and realize when your route has been affected so you’re more vigilant about keeping track of your car keys.

Reason #2: They Blend In!

You could be losing your car keys often because they don’t stand out enough. If your keys are similar in color or texture to your seats, glove box, cupholders and dashboard, there’s a good chance you’ll miss them at some point. Instead, add some personality and color to your keys by personalizing them.

Reason #3: Your Car Uses A Fob

When your car doesn’t even use a key, you can’t lock it inside the car, right? Wrong. If your car utilizes keyless entry via a fob or other wireless device, it can be even easier to lock the device inside the car. This is because you get into the habit of not using your keys to start the vehicle and then one day, you forget to take the fob with you. The good news is that many automobile manufacturers these days are adding alarms to fobs that notify you when the key is still in the vehicle. Other cars won’t even lock if the fob is in it. But it’s something to keep in mind.

How To Avoid Locking Your Keys In Your Car

Many of the above situations can be avoided if you have a duplicate key on hand, preferably one that is strategically hidden on the vehicle itself. (In an area you only know about, of course, such as underneath the carriage.) A professional auto locksmith can duplicate a key for you efficiently and is often more affordable than a dealership. Even key fobs and other car access devices can be duplicated. Consider giving one to a trusted friend or family member and you’ll be less likely to be stranded if your keys are locked in your car again in the future.

If you’d like more automotive security advice or are interested in other ways to improve the security of your car, contact A-1 Locksmith today or visit any of our DFW-area locations.

Whether it’s the ignition or the door, it’s a fact that keys can sometimes get stuck in your vehicle. Let’s go over why this happens, some steps to take if this ever happens to you and how you can prevent it from happening again in the future.

Common Reasons Keys Get Stuck

First, let’s discuss why this happens. Here are a few of the most common reasons why key get stuck in vehicles:

• Obstructions like dirt and debris can get in the ignition
• Colder temperatures can cause a key to freeze to the ignition or door
• The steering wheel locks because a wrong key was inserted
• The car battery may die and leave your key stuck or reduce the temperature
• The key could break off in the ignition or door preventing use of a spare key

What To Do When Your Key Is Stuck

When a key is stuck, you have to decide if this is a situation you can address yourself or if you need to call a professional auto locksmith. If there’s an obstruction, for example, you can attempt cleaning out the ignition yourself. (If it’s an emergency situation and anyone’s life is in danger, be sure to call 911 first!)

Battery issues and troubleshooting steering wheel problems are also potential DIY issues. If the key is broken off in the ignition and you can’t get it out, however, it’s time to call a locksmith. This is probably also the best option if you’re not sure why the key is stuck, or you don’t feel confident in addressing the issue yourself. 

Preventing Keys From Getting Stuck

You can prevent many of the issues above by being a little proactive. Clean the interior of your car (and its ignition) regularly to prevent the buildup of dirt and debris. Keep a duplicate copy of your original key in a safe place and maintain other elements of the car. Finally, make sure you’re using the right key and don’t leave a key in the ignition when there are cold temperatures.

If you’re in need of automotive locksmith services, don’t hesitate to reach out to A-1 Locksmith. Give us a call at (972) 284-7500 or stop by any of our DFW-area locations today.

Automotive security technology has advanced tremendously in recent years. With this comes a rise in costs for manufacturing. Let’s take a look at why it’s so expensive to replace your car keys these days.

Types of Car Keys

First, it should be noted that not all car keys are expensive to replace. You can get a basic key duplicated or replaced for as low as $50 many places. The cost really depends on the type of car key and the brand. The more advanced the key (or car company), the higher the cost. Here is a basic overview of the different types of car keys you’ll find today, in order of how expensive they tend to be (including rough cost estimates):

• Mechanical keys: basic keys used in older car models, or to access the door or trunk only. These are the cheapest to duplicate and replace.
• Programmable remotes: not really keys; they’re buttons that you use to lock your car, unlock your car, sound the alarm and/or open the trunk. These are typically comparable to the price of mechanical keys.
• Transponder keys: the most common car keys you’ll see out there, these keys have electronic components in the head that communicate with the car to confirm that the key is valid. Due to added complexity, these are a tier up in cost from mechanical keys.
• Laser-cut transponder keys: transponder keys with a bit of extra security. Extra security equals extra complexity so these are the next tier up in terms of cost.
• Remote/key combos: aka switchblade key; a combination remote and key. Given the dual functions of these devices the cost rises a tier for duplication or replacement.
• Proximity FOBs: remote-like devices that can start the car or unlock the doors when you’re near the vehicle. While all of these options can range greatly in price for different makes and models proximity FOBs have the greatest variance across vehicles. Your best option here is to get a quote for your vehicle specifically.

Factors in Car Key Cost

As you can see above, the cost for auto keys goes up with its technology. Basic keys and fobs don’t feature advanced mechanics and can be duplicated with relatively simple machines or tools. Modern keys feature advanced transmitters, codes and programming, which leads to a higher cost because they take more time to duplicate and the actual hardware is more expensive. Finally, if you’re dealing with a luxury car brand, expect higher costs as a result.

Best Way to Replace Car Keys

A bigger cost than all of these options is if you lose all copies of your car keys. In that case, you might need to replace the locks, which can easily run you $1,000 or more. Your best bet is to ensure you have multiple copies of your keys and backups of them as well. You also should consider using a professional auto locksmith instead of going to a dealership, as you’ll be able to get an affordable product that’s still high-quality. (Just think twice before going to KeyMe or a similar key-cutting solution, which you can’t do anyway if you’re dealing with an advanced key.)

If you’re in need of new car keys, we’ll work with you to provide a solution that’s both useful and affordable. Contact us today for a consultation.

As a company that has been around for more than 70 years, we’ve seen how car keys have changed over the years. Let’s look at some technological advancements of car keys and look at the options you have today.

Early Car Key Designs

Believe it or not, early cars didn’t used to have starter keys. There were keys for doors (and keys to lock the ignition) in the 1910s, but there weren’t any keys to start the vehicle itself. It wasn’t until 1949 when the starter mechanism was introduced by Chrysler and the first “car keys” (as we know them today) were created. These Chrysler keys looked a lot like your average house key today and only had one side. Prototypes of “flip keys” were soon developed after that (in the 1950s) and double-sided car keys were manufactured in the 1960s. 

Technological Advances

Car keys took a large step forward in the late 1980s with the development of remote entry for doors. Keyless entry fobs would gain mainstream success shortly after that in the 1990s. Another phase of technological advancement happened in the same decade was the invention of laser-cut keys and first (unsuccessful) early versions of proximity keys. Different forms of key cutting and shapes were also developed during the 1990s, but major breakthroughs didn’t occur again until the 2000s.

Car Key Options Today

Vehicle manufacturers started making remotes standard with car keys in the early 2000s and variations have included standalone remotes, integrated remotes and smart keys. Most remotes have the ability to unlock and lock doors, open the trunk and sound the alarm. Keyless vehicle ignition soon followed. Today, there are smart keys with all sorts of technology and the features continue to advance. There are touchscreen keys that connect to smartphone apps and can park the car with no driver, as well as keys that tell you the fuel level, whether the lights are on and more. The future is definitely exciting for car keys!
We hope you enjoyed this short history lesson. Whether you need a new car key or an auto key duplication, A-1 Locksmith is here for you. Drop by any of our Dallas-Fort Worth locations today and we’ll get you a key that meets your needs.