Transponders · smart fobs
Car keys and fobs cut and programmed at your vehicle, no dealership tow
Lost, stolen or damaged car keys and fobs cut and programmed where the vehicle sits, usually in 30 to 45 minutes and for about half the dealership price.
A car key is a blade plus a chip, and both have to be right
Most keys made in the last couple of decades carry a transponder chip in the head. When you turn the key, the immobiliser reads that chip and only releases the engine if the code matches. A blade cut perfectly to the ignition will turn the cylinder and still not start the car if the chip has never been paired.
So a replacement is two jobs. The blade is cut to the vehicle, either from the lock's code or by following a working key. Then the new chip is programmed so the car accepts it. Locksmith Of Gilbert does both in the van, parked next to your vehicle.
Keys made the old way, a plain metal blade with no chip, are a one-step cut. If you are not sure which kind you have, call (480) 980-9308 with the make, model and year and we will tell you what the job involves.
Key-cutting machine in the back of a work van with a car key blade clamped mid-cut
Smart fobs, remote heads and the keys in between
A remote-head key folds the blade, the lock and unlock buttons and the chip into one piece. A smart proximity fob has no blade you turn at all: the car senses it in your pocket and the start button does the rest, with a small emergency blade hidden inside the fob for a dead battery.
Each style is paired to the car differently, and a fob that has been dropped, soaked or chewed by a dog often needs its shell or board replaced rather than a fresh key. Damaged locks are a separate fix: a worn ignition or a door cylinder that no longer turns smoothly will chew through new keys until the lock itself is dealt with.
Fleets are a regular job. Reprogramming fobs and cutting keys on site means a work truck is not sitting at a dealership service desk while the crew waits.
Lost every key, or just need a second one
People call us for four reasons: they bought a car that came with one key, they want an additional key before the only one goes missing, the keys were lost or stolen, or a lock or fob is damaged. All four get the same answer: Avoid The Dealership. Get a fair price and have the team come to you.
Programming with us typically runs about half of what a dealership charges, and it usually takes 30-45 min once we are at the car. If every key is gone, proof of ownership may be required before we cut a new one. That protects you, because a locksmith who makes keys for any car with no questions asked is a risk to every car owner.
Call or text your address and the vehicle, and we will confirm the price before any work starts. Locksmith Of Gilbert covers Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek and the rest of the East Valley, day or night.
“They can reprogram key fobs and cut new keys right on sight.” JLM Air Conditioning and Heating, a fleet customer
Fob handovers
Fobs and keys, handed over at the car.
