DISP-KT-001
Key catalogue
The single biggest factor in your replacement bill is which physical key your car uses. Identify yours before you ring anyone, then pick the channel that fits.
KT-01
Replacement
$30 - $150
Common years
Pre-1995, fleet, valet
A flat metal blade cut to match the lock pins. No chip, no electronics. Hardware stores cut these in five minutes for $5 to $20. Add $20 to $60 if a locksmith comes out.
Programming: None
KT-02
Replacement
$100 - $300
Common years
Most 1995 - 2010
Looks like a normal cut key but the plastic head holds a passive RFID chip. The immobiliser reads it on every start. Hardware-store copies turn the ignition but the engine refuses to run.
Programming: Required
KT-03
Replacement
$200 - $400
Common years
2000 - 2015
A combined transponder key and remote in one body. Buttons handle locking. Some flip out the blade with a button push. Both halves must be paired to the car.
Programming: Required
KT-04
Replacement
$300 - $700+
Common years
Most 2010+
Talks constantly to the vehicle on low-frequency and UHF bands. Push-button start without inserting anything. Houses an emergency mechanical blade for dead-battery scenarios.
Programming: Required
KT-05
Replacement
$200 - $500
Common years
European 2005+, US luxury
Side-milled, high-security blade with a flat profile. Harder to copy than a traditional cut. Often paired with smart-key electronics on European marques.
Programming: Required
At a glance
| Key type | Cost range | Programming | DIY | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | $30 - $150 | None | Yes | Hardware store, locksmith |
| Transponder | $100 - $300 | Required | Sometimes | Locksmith, dealer |
| Remote head / flip | $200 - $400 | Required | Sometimes | Locksmith, dealer, online + locksmith |
| Smart proximity | $300 - $700+ | Required | No | Locksmith (most), dealer (luxury) |
| Laser-cut / sidewinder | $200 - $500 | Required | No | Specialised locksmith, dealer |
Frequently asked
Open the door with the key, then check the head and the dash. A plastic head with a chip but no buttons is a transponder. Buttons on the head means a remote head key. No insertion slot and a push-button start means a smart proximity fob. A flat blade with a wavy line is laser-cut. Plain metal with no plastic is mechanical only and almost certainly pre-1995.
Three reasons. The fob itself is a multi-radio device with a battery, antennas, and rolling-code firmware. Programming locks the fob to your specific vehicle, often using software the manufacturer has only licensed to dealers. And the parts supply chain is OEM-dominated, so aftermarket alternatives are rarer and not always trustworthy on safety-critical pairing.
Some can cut the blade. None can program the chip. A hardware-store transponder copy will turn the ignition mechanically but the engine will refuse to start because the immobiliser sees no chip handshake. You will still need a locksmith or dealer to program the chip, which is the more expensive half of the job.
A mechanical key on a pre-1995 vehicle is the cheapest, often under $25. After that, a transponder chip key on a vehicle that supports onboard programming and has two existing working keys can be done for the cost of the blank alone, $20 to $60, with no labour.
Mostly yes for transponder and remote head keys, where the chip and circuit are well-understood. For smart proximity fobs, OEM is the safer choice because the rolling-code synchronisation and antenna tuning is harder to clone. Reputable suppliers like Tom's Key and OEM-spec Amazon sellers cover most mainstream makes well. Avoid the cheapest no-name fobs on smart-key vehicles.
No. Every key with a chip or electronics is paired to a specific vehicle through a unique transponder ID and a rolling code. Even two identical 2020 Honda Civic EX vehicles in the same colour need their own paired key. Mechanical-only keys can sometimes accidentally fit another vehicle, but the immobiliser stops anything newer than the mid-1990s.
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Updated 2026-04-27