Backup Keys and Remote Flip Keys
Spare Car Key in Carbondale, CO Before You Lose the Only One
One key is one bad day away from a big problem. Local Locksmith Company, LLC makes a spare car key in Carbondale, CO from the key you already have. Call (970) 510-0988.
Signs You Are Overdue for a Backup Key
Most people think about a spare only after the first key is gone. By then the job is bigger, because there is nothing left to copy. These are good reasons to order a spare car key in Carbondale, CO now:
- Your vehicle came with one key, or only one is left
- Two drivers share the car and trade a single key back and forth
- A teenager is starting to drive the family car
- The key head is cracked or the buttons are wearing out
- You head into the backcountry, where a lost key means a long walk
- You bought a used vehicle that came with a single key
Simple and Planned
How Getting a Spare Key Works
A spare is the easiest key job there is, because your working key gives us everything we need. Here is how it goes.
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Bring the Key You Have
Share the year, make and model, and keep your working key handy. It shows us the cut and, for chipped keys, the type of chip.
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We Match the Key Style
We choose a blank or fob that matches your vehicle, whether it is a plain key, a chipped key, a flip key or a smart fob.
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We Cut and Pair the Copy
The new blade is cut to match your original, and any chip or remote is paired with the car so it works on its own.
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Both Keys Get Tested
We check that the original and the spare each lock, unlock and start the vehicle before you put the new one away.
Car Key Duplication for Basic and Chipped Keys
Car key duplication used to mean a quick trip to a hardware store, and for many older vehicles a plain metal copy still works. Those keys have no chip, so a blade cut to match the original will open the doors and start the engine.
Most newer vehicles work differently. The key carries a transponder chip, and a copied blade without a paired chip will turn the ignition but never start the car. That is a common surprise for drivers who buy a cheap copy and find it only opens the doors.
A proper duplicate includes both parts: the blade cut to match, and a chip programmed to your vehicle. We handle both in the same visit, so your spare is a full working key rather than a door key.
Remote Flip Key Copies and Flip Key Replacement
A remote flip key folds its blade into the fob, much like a pocketknife. It combines the remote buttons, the chip and the blade in one unit, which makes it handy and a little more involved to copy.
A spare remote flip key needs three things: a matching shell, a blade cut to your locks, and a remote and chip programmed to the vehicle. Once it is done, it works exactly like your original.
Flip keys also wear out. The hinge can loosen, the spring can break, or the shell can crack. Flip key replacement gives you a new key, cut and programmed to your vehicle, before the worn one gives out. Replacing it early means you are not left stranded at a trailhead with a key that will not open the car.
Spare Key Fob for Push to Start Vehicles
Push to start vehicles use a proximity fob that the car senses when you are close. Losing that fob can leave you stranded, and a spare key fob is the best protection against it.
The spare is paired with the vehicle, so it unlocks the doors and starts the engine exactly like the first one. Most proximity fobs also carry a small emergency blade, which we cut to fit your door lock. Store the spare somewhere safe at home, not in the car, where it would be of no help if the vehicle is locked or stolen.
A vehicle with no working fob left needs more than a copy. Our car key cutting and programming page covers that work in detail.
What Affects the Cost of a Spare Key
The make, model and year matter, since some vehicles take more steps to program. Ordering a spare while you still have a working key is far simpler than replacing a lost one later. Call with your details for a clear quote.
A spare is usually the most affordable way to protect yourself, and we quote it before any cutting begins. The main factor is the key type. A plain metal copy costs the least, a chipped key costs more, and a flip key or a smart fob costs more again.
A Spare Car Key in Carbondale, CO From Your Local Locksmith
Car keys are most of what we do, so making a spare car key in Carbondale, CO is everyday work for us. The business was started from the ground up by a husband and wife who saw how few locksmiths served the Roaring Fork Valley, and vehicle keys have been its focus from the start.
We also work alongside many local mechanics and auto shops in the valley. When you want a spare car key in Carbondale, CO or a nearby town, we answer 24/7, explain the options and the price, and test both keys before we leave.
Backup Keys for Drivers From New Castle to Parachute
We are based in Carbondale and cover roughly a 60 mile radius. Drivers call us for spare keys in New Castle, Silt and Parachute along I-70, and east in Gypsum.
If your only key is already lost, a spare is no longer possible, and our car key replacement service builds a new key from the vehicle. The main automotive locksmith page covers all of our vehicle services.
Questions
Questions About Spare and Duplicate Car Keys
Not seeing your question? Call any hour and talk with the people who will do the work.
A hardware store copy may cut the blade, but most modern keys also need a programmed chip to start the engine. Without it, the copy opens the doors and nothing more. A locksmith spare includes the cut and the programming, so it works as a complete key, and we test it on your vehicle before you take it home.
For a plain metal key with no chip, the blade can be cut from the original alone. Chipped keys, flip keys and smart fobs need to be paired with the vehicle, so the car must be there. Tell us your key type when you call and we will explain what the visit needs to include.
Two working keys is a good minimum for any vehicle, one for daily use and one stored safely at home. Households with more than one driver often keep a key for each person. Having more than one key also makes life easier if a fob battery dies or a key is left in another jacket.
Keep it at home in a spot everyone in the household knows, such as a drawer or a key cabinet. Avoid hiding it in or on the vehicle, because a magnetic box under the bumper is easy to find and offers no help if the car itself is stolen. A trusted neighbor or family member is another good option.
No. When we add a spare, your existing key stays paired with the vehicle and keeps working as before. Both keys are tested after programming so you know each one locks, unlocks and starts the car. Erasing a key is only done on purpose, such as when a key has been lost or stolen.
Plan Ahead
Order Your Backup Key Before You Need It
A second key costs far less stress than a lost first one. Call with your vehicle details, and we will make a spare that works just like the key in your pocket.