If you lost your car keys, need to replace them, or just want a spare before something goes wrong, Jacobson Locksmith is the right place to call. Below are the five main types of car keys on the road today and what to do if yours goes missing.
1. Traditional car key
The standard key used by the auto industry for decades is purely mechanical: put it in the ignition cylinder and turn. There is no chip and nothing to program.
If you lose it: call a Jacobson locksmith. We can come to your car and cut a new key on the spot from the lock or the key code — no original needed. See our key cutting service.
2. Car key fob
The first fobs were add-ons meant as a convenience. They lock and unlock the vehicle, but you still use a traditional key to start the engine.
If you lose it: if you lose only the fob, you can still drive. Jacobson Locksmith can supply a new fob and program it to your vehicle on the spot. See key programming.
3. Fob and switchblade key
After the detached fob came the combined version: a remote with a spring-loaded key that folds into it like a switchblade. Lose it and you lose both the remote and the key.
If you lose it: we cut the blade and program the remote together at your location, and can erase the lost one so it no longer works.
4. Transponder key
Introduced in the early-to-mid 1990s as an anti-theft measure, a transponder key has a plastic head with an embedded chip. The car checks for the chip's signal before it will allow the ignition to engage. A plain metal copy will turn the lock but never start the engine.
If you lose it: if you have no backup key, call Jacobson Locksmith. You do not need to tow the car — we have a full-size mobile shop and will come to you to make and program a new key on site.
5. Smart key
Also known as keyless ignition, a smart key is used in vehicles with a start button on the dash. A proximity sensor in the car detects when the smart key is nearby, unlocks the doors and lets the engine start with the push of a button.
If you lose it: like the transponder key, this is a job for our mobile automotive locksmith. We come to your vehicle, generate a new smart key and pair it to the car — no dealership appointment.
Not sure which type you have?
Tell us the year, make and model when you call and we will know. Jacobson Locksmith serves Seattle, SeaTac, Bellevue, Tacoma and surrounding areas 24/7. Call (206) 590-7999 or request service online.