As far as cars go, it is safe to say that your car would be of very little use to you if your car key was not working, or if you did not have it around for some reason. If you had a gorgeous new Nissan Altima, you probably wouldn’t be able to take it out on the open road if you did not have the corresponding Nissan car key.
In situations like this, most drivers usually resort to carrying out a Nissan car key replacement. Car key replacements usually go very smoothly, however in some cases, it can get a little complicated if the original key is not present. Which leads most people to ask the question, can I get a new car key made without the original?
The simple answer is that you can, in fact, get a car key made without the original. Most drivers will agree with the statement that car keys have become an intrinsic part of our daily lives. This tends to hold true regardless of whether or not you drive a car or own a car. It is likely the case that in some way or form, someone’s access to a working set of car keys will affect your daily routine.
That being said, it would be extremely unfortunate if your ability to get a working car key was limited by the absence of your original car key. In the past, it would have been very difficult to do this, but in this day and age, it is extremely easy for the right automotive professionals to make a car key without the original. There are still some things that cannot be done, like using a bump key to open a car, but we’ll take what we can get.
Why do I have to make a car key without the original?
Do not be misled into thinking that you have to make a car key without having the original key present. That is most certainly not the case. It is easier to make a duplicate car key with the original key (or another working key) present. The process for making a car key without the original is usually undertaken when the original car key is no longer accessible.
Due to the importance of car keys in our daily lives, it always helps to have mechanisms in place that help us cater to the maintenance of car keys. A good example of one such mechanism is a spare car key. Spare car keys make it easier for drivers to remain in control of their cars, no matter the technical difficulties they may be faced with.
The factors that will give rise to the need for a new car key are often varied. For some drivers, it could be as simple as needing a car key replacement because you lost your other car keys and have no spare. On the other hand, some drivers will not have access to their original set of car keys because some aspect of the car key itself has been damaged.
This is a more common occurrence than most people would like to admit. It is possible that you could have broken your car key off in the lock, and if this happens you will probably have to get a new car key made without the original. In some instances, the broken key pieces can be fixed, but this is not always the case.
Once this happens, most people find themselves stuck trying to figure out if they can get a new car key made without the original. Since this isn’t something that people think about on a regular basis, drivers are usually thrown for a loop in this scenario. Luckily enough, the solution for this problem can be obtained fairly easily.
Where can I get a new car key made without the original?
There are always options available close by that can be used to make car keys near you. Choosing the right place to get a car key made without the original is not necessarily tricky. It simply boils down to calmly assessing all the options at your disposal, and selecting the one that is guaranteed to help you get your new car key made.
For most drivers, the main factor that determines the solution they choose is often the cost of getting a new car key made without the original. In many ways, the cost of getting a new car key made is in line with other automotive locksmith costs.
The cost of getting a car key made with a locksmith will vary greatly from what it might cost you to get a new car key made with your respective car key dealership. The final decision will fall to you, but it is imperative that you understand all the avenues that are at your disposal.
Having a locksmith handle this job tends to save you a bit more money. Also, there is the added bonus of most locksmiths being mobile locksmiths, something which allows them to conveniently meet you at your location and assist you with getting a new car key made.
1. Determine which key you have
Before you take the step to reach out to a car locksmith, or a car dealership, you should figure out which key you have. Tackling this preliminary step will help facilitate the entire process, and it will make it much easier for you to get assistance. A car key is tied to the vehicle that it operates. However, since all vehicles are built differently, all car keys are built differently. For instance, if you wanted to replace a Toyota car key, the replacement car key for a Prius would not be the same as it would be for a 1995 Toyota Corolla.
Now, before you get yourself in a tizzy, you do not necessarily need to have your original set of keys on hand to figure out which kind of car keys you have. You simply have to be aware of whether or not your car uses a traditional mechanical key, a transponder key, or a car key fob.
You will have to make sure you know which car key best suits your vehicle. Being armed with this knowledge ensures that you get the right car key, and it also ensures that no additional services are overlooked. Common examples of these additional services include calling a locksmith or calling a locksmith.
2. Choose a key replacement solution
Once you have figured out the kind of key that is paired with your vehicle, the next step would be to choose a replacement solution. As we talked about above, there are a few avenues that drivers can use to get a new car key made. This ranges from handling it on your own via a DIY approach, scheduling an appointment with a car dealership, or calling a locksmith.
Keep in mind that the solution that you choose is based on a variety of different factors, which includes cost, as well as how fast you need your new car key to be made. Once you settle on an option for replacing your car key without the original, you will have to gather a bit of information that pertains to your car and its corresponding car key, but we will get into that later.
Cost is the main driving factor for most car owners. (See what I did there?) So it is often the case that drivers will choose the most cost-effective solution, which usually happens to be an auto locksmith. This is not to say that you should not venture out to a car dealership if you absolutely feel the need to.
3. Gather the necessary information about your vehicle
Once you have settled on your solution, you need to make sure that you have all the necessary information required to help with the making of your new car key. This step has to be carried out to ensure that the auto locksmith or the car dealership knows the car key they are going to be making.
Making a car key without the original involves using your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), which is relatively easy to spot. As I told you earlier, the process is not complicated at all. It merely requires that the right tools are in the right place, and in this case, you simply have to ensure that you are armed with your VIN and proof of ownership. The VIN can easily be found by examining your dashboard or your engine bay. However, if you are having a hard time finding the numbers, allow the professionals to handle it.
The presence of a vehicle identification number makes it easier to find out which key corresponds to your vehicle, and this, in turn, makes it easier to craft a new car key without having the original. Locksmiths have access to car key code information which comes in handy when the original car key is broken or lost.
Car dealerships also have access to this information if need be. Armed with the right identification numbers, the process of cutting a car key to code without the original becomes much easier.
4. Wait patiently for your car key replacement
Once you have all the necessary information and you have taken it to a car dealership or a locksmith, you simply have to wait patiently so you can get your new working car key. You should be aware that the process of getting a car key made without the original takes a tad bit longer than other car key replacement processes.
On the part of locksmiths, the process takes longer because the locksmith will have to use your VIN to comb through the vehicle database in order to get the key just right for you. If the original was present, it would be as simple as duplicating the car key and moving on.
Make it a point to ask the automotive locksmith or the car dealership if your new replacement car key has to be programmed to your vehicle. For most modern vehicles, a transponder key is used, as such the keys have to be paired accordingly.