How to get a replacement jeep key

It wasn’t that long ago that misplacing or losing your car keys wasn’t so big a deal. However, the complexity of car keys has increased along with technology and the need for enhanced security, making them more difficult and expensive to replace than ever. Jeep keys are no different.

If you have lost your Jeep keys and have no spare, it’s easy to feel panicked, having no way to move, with the potentially enormous costs looming. Only you don’t have to – so long as you know how to deal with it. 

Here’s what you need to understand before going about solving your lost jeep key no spare trouble with a local dealer or locksmith. 

Gather Your Jeep Owner Information

The first thing to do before anything else is to have your jeep owner’s information ready. Locksmiths, or even dealers, will need to confirm that you are the vehicle’s rightful owner before starting their work. Besides, the information will be crucial to getting the correct key for your jeep. You’ll need the following:

• Jeep Model and version
• Year made
• Registration number
• Title 
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Your dealer or locksmith will use this information to determine what type of key you need for your Jeep. The VIN will be on the dashboard or in the driver’s door. 

Understand Your Lost Jeep Key Type

There are several types of Jeep keys available, and understanding yours can help you deal better when getting the proper replacement. Jeep keys differ depending on the year they were released, just like any other car. 

You can get a standard key from any handyman or locksmith if you’ve got a 1981 or older-made model that has no sophisticated electronic components. But updated models may have several variations of advanced keys, which also vary in price. These include: 

Transponder Chip Keys:

The Cherokee, Commander, and Compass, along with some other Jeep models released after the late 1990s, feature transponder keys for anti-theft purposes.

A transponder key contains a microchip that transmits a low-level signal for a receiver to read. Manufacturers program these microchips with unique serial numbers. An RFID (radio frequency identification) receiver locks or unlocks a door by detecting the correct serial number.  

Also, when the driver turns the key, the car will only start if the transponder’s digital serial number matches the car’s one. Your locksmith or dealer must program and set up the frequency in your Jeep’s key correctly for the locks and ignition system to work well. While these complexities necessitate hiring an authorized technician, they also increase the replacement cost considerably.

Remote Key Fob:

Remotes used for keyless entry are often called key fobs. Keys like these are always in communication with your vehicle, allowing you to have greater access to it.

A keyless entry remote has many advantages, but it’s hard to recognize any of them once you lose your keys because key fobs are more expensive to replace than traditional keys. Even more so for Jeep models that pair key fobs with transponders. It is because you may need to turn to a dealer rather than a locksmith in most cases.

Regular Ignition Key:

Traditionally, car keys have been the same throughout the years, including Jeep keys. It’s relatively easy to replace or replicate them since they have existed for years. These keys are a standard in older Jeep models (before the mid-90s) unless modified. 

These keys aren’t very secure, but if you lose yours and can’t find a new one, they’re the next best thing. Their replacements are available everywhere, even at a local hardware store, at a much cheaper cost.

Should You Contact Your Jeep Dealer or Head to a Locksmith?

So now that you know the types of keys, you need to find a replacement for your lost key. But would it be wise to contact your Jeep dealer right away?

Well, not necessarily. Most locksmiths today specialize in providing Jeep keys, including transponder keys. In fact, expert locksmiths are now often hired by the dealers to perform this service. 

Going to a dealer straightaway will only result in more expenditure since there will be additional paperwork and lots of technical stuff to go over.

On the other hand, going directly to the source will save you a lot of time and money by not paying a markup for the locksmith you could have hired yourself.

But one thing might worry you here. There’s no problem getting a replacement ignition key from any locksmith, but a transponder or key fob requires a little more expertise due to their complexity in programming. It’s possible for a wrongly programmed key to malfunction all of a sudden, causing you unknown difficulties.

So, if you are highly concerned about that, you can do the following. Get a locksmith to make you a key and then head to a dealer to program it. When a locksmith cannot program the new key, visit the dealer for the final step. 

A dealer might charge a lot to program a module, though, so it’s better to look for other options as well. On Amazon, for example, you can buy replacement keys with the program requested for almost any car. 

How Much Does It Cost to Replace Lost Jeep Keys?

Generally, replacing a Jeep key costs between $30-$430. Factors that influence the cost are:

1. Type of key
2. Year of manufacture
3. Date, time, and location
4. Where you replace your key (Dealership, locksmith, online, etc.)
5. Availability of key code
6. Original or custom ignition

The two most significant factors are the type of key you used, and the year your car was produced. A replacement key for a newer model will likely cost more than $250 because of the better security features, unlike regular ignition keys that cost as little as $30.

Even though locksmith services are less expensive than those offered by your local dealer (around 15-25%), locksmiths have no set fee structure. Therefore, it would be ideal to get quotes from several locksmiths simultaneously.

Furthermore, be aware that if you require a new key to be made outside of regular business hours, the cost may increase. Also, if you have changed the Jeep ignition cylinder before, which is usually the case with older cars, the keycode will probably not work. In that case, the key will have to be made manually, or the ignition will have to be changed again, which will add to the bill.

What Models of Jeep Keys Can a Locksmith Help You With?

An experienced locksmith should be able to make keys for most Jeep models. Even if a locksmith has no experience with yours, they can recommend someone who is.

Can You Get a Jeep Key Made Without the Original?

The short answer is yes. Today, many experienced locksmiths can cut and program an exact duplicate of the car key you have lost. In contrast to popular belief, you do not have to have your keycode available when calling a locksmith – all you’ll need is the information we discussed above. 

Can a Locksmith Replace Your Electronic Chip or Remote Key Fob?

As a general rule, an experienced locksmith has all the tools necessary for duplicating or programming a blank key to work with your vehicle’s lock system. 

Do You Need to Take Your Jeep to the Locksmith to Have Keys Made?

Usually, no. One of the hallmarks of a good locksmith is their ability to provide mobile services and perform the job on-site. It’s one of the distinctions between a dealer and a locksmith. Locksmiths come to you, whereas you usually have to tow the car to your dealership for service.

How Long Does It Take to Make a Spare Set of Jeep Keys?

Depending on the type of key and the complexity of the transponder or fob system, a Jeep key will take 20 to 45 minutes to create. It will be even faster if you can provide the key code.

Thoughts

Hopefully, reading this write-up helped you in some way if you’re having trouble with a lost jeep key with no spare. By now, you should have a general idea of what you can do.

On a final note, we recommend that you always have a few spare keys handy as a preventive measure if you’re yet to lose the last one you have. Also, it’s an even more brilliant idea to have Jeep’s Uconnect technology set up in your car, so you can start your engine even without a key whenever necessary.

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