Microchip car keys, which are commonly referred to as transponder keys, are common, and they are designed to make your car more secure. They contain a special code that the car must recognize before it starts. Without that key, and without the right programming, the car won’t start, and thieves will not be able to make away with your vehicle. All new cars are manufactured with transponder keys, so they are becoming more common.
Yet despite the ubiquity of these keys, there are still a lot of myths about how they work. Here are some of the common myths that auto locksmiths hear about these microchip car keys:
 
Only the Manufacturer Can Program a Transponder Key
Many people mistakenly believe that only the manufacturer of a vehicle can program its transponder key, which is part of what makes the key so secure. It is true that the manufacturer and the dealer can program the key because they have all the right tools and software to do the job. But it is not true that the manufacturer is the only source for programming these keys.
A reputable auto locksmith can also program transponder keys – and usually for far less money. You are almost always going to pay a premium when you get your services through the dealership or the manufacturer. By taking your business to an auto locksmith in Gauteng, you get the same quality of workmanship, but you pay a lot less.
You Only Get One Transponder Key Per Vehicle
The reason that transponder keys are so secure is that the coding makes it so that only that key works with only that vehicle. That feature has led many to believe that only one key will work with a vehicle. In fact, multiple keys can work on a vehicle. Manufacturers usually allow for a certain numb
What is important is that your transponder key has a code that will work on your vehicle. Without that code, the key won’t work.
 
Transponder Keys are Easily Disabled
People believe that high-tech thieves can steal their cars by using equipment that allows them to disable the transponder key. But this just isn’t the reality. Yes, transponder keys can be disabled, but it requires specialized equipment and software that usually only an auto locksmith or car dealership possesses. Thieves would have to be very sophisticated to have these tools, and frankly, the gain is just not good enough to make this kind of investment or effort worth it to them.
 
You Can Buy a Transponder Key Online
Well, technically you can buy a transponder key online, but it doesn’t mean that you’ll have a successful transaction. There are a lot of scam artists out there, and they are drawn to the lucrative car key replacement market. You can buy a key online that seems to work just fine, but it will likely stop working on you after just a few weeks or months. Your only option will be to buy a whole new key.
 
If you are going to shop online, you need to do your research to make sure you are dealing with a reputable supplier and that you are getting a good product. Your best options are to shop with an auto locksmith online or a dealership (if you can find a good buy).
 
Transponder keys help make your vehicle more secure, but the same technology that makes that possible also means that these keys require a little extra care. Always work with a reputable dealership, manufacturer, or auto locksmith when you are repairing, reprogramming, or replacing these keys.

The worst way to end a long day of shopping or hiking is to come back to your car and realize that you’ve either lost your keys or that they don’t work. Getting a spare set of keys to keep with a trusted friend or relative can help you avoid major delays, as can having the number of a good mobile car locksmith on hand.
 
You might also have to replace your keys if your toddler drops them down the garbage disposal, if they accidentally get thrown in the garbage, or for any number of other scenarios. It’s surprising how often you end up needing to get an extra set of car keys. When it comes time, you may first think to call the dealership where you bought your car for a replacement set. But that might not be the best option. In many cases, a auto locksmith is a better choice.
 
Here’s how a mobile car locksmith and a car dealership compare:
Price
You’ll pay much less to replace car keys when you go to an auto locksmith than you would when you go to a dealership. The cost of service at a dealership is notoriously high for just about everything, even simple services like rotating your tires or getting an oil change. Imagine the inflation on a more technical procedure like cutting a new car key or replacing a transponder key. A locksmith is almost always the better choice for getting replacement car keys.
 
Convenience
A mobile car locksmith coming to your location and cutting keys on the spot is far more convenient than having to make an appointment with a dealership and heading over to wait for service. It could take weeks to figure out a time that works for the dealership and for your schedule. If the dealership is not close, you could have to take out even more time to drive there and back.
When you work with a mobile car locksmith, you just have to make the call and the locksmith will be on site as quickly as possible. You can get mobile key making wherever you are and at any time of the day or night – assuming you call the right auto locksmith, that is.
 
Equipment
You may worry that if you call a locksmith, you might not be able to get the service you need for all types of keys. You may think that the locksmith won’t have the equipment to make specialty keys. The truth is that trusted and experienced locksmiths have the equipment to replace the keys for just about every make and model of vehicle. They also have the equipment to repair or replace door locks and ignition switches. So, if you aren’t sure about hiring a locksmith or heading to the dealership because of questions about equipment, know that it isn’t a barrier. You have your choice of providers.
 
These days, car keys are not simple pieces of shaped metal. They have technology encoded into them to improve the security of the vehicle. Some keys have chips in them that are programmed to match the car, and some “keys” are really just fobs with mini computers inside to start the car or unlock its doors. You may think that if you have a car with one of these specialty keys that you need to visit the dealership to handle the advanced technology. But top mobile locksmiths also have the technology to program any car key. They can replicate keys with chips and program transponders and fobs. Anything that you can get from a dealership you can typically get from a mobile auto locksmith.
Ultimately, the best choice for replacing your car keys will depend on the things that are most important to you. You may prefer to visit the dealership, or you may find that you appreciate the cost savings and convenience that a Unique Locksmith can offer you.
Unique Locksmith is a trusted auto locksmith that specializes in mobile key making, ignition repairs and replacement, and lock repairs and replacement. We work on all makes and models of vehicle, and our technicians work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call us if you need to replace car keys or if you need a mobile car locksmith for ignition or lock repair or replacement.

The Internet has given us all more confidence than we deserve. You want to restore your tub, so you head down to Home Depot to buy a kit and follow along with that video on YouTube. You want to change your own oil, so you look up an article on WikiHow and get out your gloves.
It makes sense that if you come out of the mall after a long day of running errands and you find that you are locked out of your car that your first reaction is to pull out your phone and look up how to break into the car to get the key out. After all, it’s South Africa, and every second in the hot sun is sending sweat dripping down your back. You don’t have time for this, and you just want to get home.
But before you start trying to DIY this situation, consider these five reasons why you should NOT break into your own car:
 
You Could Get Hurt
You’re doing your best with that flat-head screwdriver or the crowbar from your trunk, but suddenly, your grip slips and you stab yourself in the other arm with the metal. Now you’re locked out of your car and you have a deep wound that will likely require a visit to the ER for stitches or antibiotics or both. Prying open your door may not seem that complicated, but you can easily hurt yourself in the process. You’re an amateur and you don’t have special tools, so the risk for complication is high. Better to call an auto locksmith in Gauteng who does this professionally.
 
You Could Damage Your Car
Even if you walk away from the situation unscathed, the chances that your car will are slimmer. While you are trying to break into your car, you are very likely to break the door lock, the window mechanism, or even the window itself. You are even more likely to scratch the paint or to ding the body panel – neither of which is cheap to repair. By trying to save yourself the money of calling car lockout services, you are likely to cost yourself far more in car repairs.
 
You Could Get into Legal Trouble
 
What’s there to distinguish you trying to break into your car from a thief trying to break into your car? If a cop comes along and sees you, chances are good that there is nothing that’s going to distinguish it, unless you just happen to have your registration or other information in your wallet. You can surely clear up the situation once you get into the car and get your paperwork, but when you are already stressed out and the situation is already tense, you are likely to have a scuffle with the police officer before that happens, which can result in legal trouble.
 
You Could Become the Target of a Crime
You are so focused on getting into your car that you don’t see the person walk up behind you with a gun. The next thing you know, you are handing over your wallet and all your other valuables. The thief might even break a window and make off with your car. If you are in an unsafe area, it’s better to call a auto locksmith to take care of the problem for you. Don’t risk your safety of the safety of your family who is with you.
 
You’ll Find the Job Harder than You Think
Most cars made in the last decade or so have extensive anti-theft technology built into them, and most cars on the road right now were made in the last decade or so. You may start trying to break into your car only to find that the job is much harder than you think. After a long time spent toiling away in the heat, you may come to the bitter realization that you aren’t going to make any progress. Just call an auto locksmith and save yourself the trouble.
Getting locked out of your car is no picnic, but trying to break into your own car is ill-advised. Just call in professional car lockout services to get back on the road quickly, with no harm to yourself or damage to your vehicle.
 
The professionals at Unique Locksmith offer 24/7 emergency car lockout services in Gauteng. We can cut car keys on the spot, fix broken door locks and ignitions, and even program new transponder keys. Our goal is to have you back in your car and on your way as quickly as possible. We create and program keys for all types of makes and models, including both domestic and foreign vehicles. Put our number on speed dial for the next time you find yourself locked out of the car, or call us to have a spare key made now to try to head off such emergencies.