Automotive professionals deal with thousands of daily call-outs, emergencies and repair issues, not least auto locksmiths who help countless drivers and van owners manage problems ranging from snapped keys and broken ignition switches to faulty door lock cylinders and malfunctioning fobs.
Eydens Auto Locksmiths, a long-established specialist in automotive access and security, is one of many who recognise that specific marques and models have more sophisticated and complex locking mechanisms that mean issues aren't necessarily more common, but something some auto locksmiths cannot help with.
Today, the team has summarised some of the main makes and models that command specialist assistance, those marques for which it may take longer or be more expensive to secure a replacement key, and explained why these contrasts exist.
Reviewing the Manufacturer-Standard Security Built Into Modern Cars
We'll start by talking about security since each manufacturer might have varied approaches to locks, immobilisers, and tracking systems. A consumer buying a car may not even realise that the in-built devices and solutions can vary considerably between car marques.
There is zero doubt that vehicle thefts, van break-ins, and key cloning crimes have risen sharply in recent years. That's largely down to the fact that contemporary cars are designed with keyless entry systems. These might be more convenient, but they also give criminals simpler ways to clone, hack, or steal fobs without ever needing to get their hands on a key.
However, car manufacturers have also begun to respond, moving away from standardised electronic fobs that could be cloned or hacked from quite a distance and paying more attention to vehicular security. They are creating fobs and locks that are all but impossible to pick, break, bypass, clone, or copy.
This means that the marques we work on most often aren’t necessarily those with poorer-quality locks or keys that are prone to breakages. Instead, many auto locksmith call-outs are for vehicles with cutting-edge locks and alarms, especially higher-end cars that are a target for thieves but are also very difficult to steal.
While a big proportion of emergency call-outs relate to lost keys, we also spend a large percentage of our time assisting clients who have found they need help getting into a vehicle, changing the ignition cylinder, replacing a damaged door lock barrel or replacing their keys when someone has tried and failed to bypass the vehicle’s security.
The Difference Between Standard Car Keys and Fobs and Cutting-Edge Designs
Within the auto security market, the norm is for manufacturers and OEM producers to design new car key fobs every three to seven years. This is why you might find that you and a friend or family member have completely different cars, but your keys look almost identical aside from the logo.
It is also more common for cars bought brand new from the showroom to have smart keys, which work on a proximity basis with sensors that activate keyless ignitions.
These fobs open doors provided the key is within a minimum distance and allow the engine to be started with a push-button. They are also more complex and require specialist locksmiths who have the necessary equipment to offer a fully programmed, functional replacement.
From a locksmith perspective, keys that are non-standard and look or work differently from universal fobs, often with performance variants for specific models, such as HVs, hybrids and top-of-the-range models, pose a more complex challenge.
Drivers might need to choose between an experienced, accredited auto locksmith offering a mobile service to get them back into the car as quickly as possible or taking the vehicle to a showroom or manufacturer-approved service centre that provides key programming or replacement services.
It's almost always the case that an independent auto locksmith is more cost-effective. Still, some marques have advanced security, which might mean not all locksmiths can assist, especially if they offer generalised car key replacement services or have less expertise in providing smart and keyless keys.
Eydens can assist with a wide range of replacement keys, vehicle trackers, and van security requirements. We've put together a more detailed overview of the keys, fobs, and entry systems on some of the UK's most popular cars via our site to give you an idea of how straightforward it might be if you need an emergency call-out.
UK Car Models With More Complex Key Replacement Considerations
As we've noted, the vehicles we work on most often as auto locksmiths aren’t generally lower quality; they tend to be marques with complex, unique, or customised keys, fobs, or immobilisers.
Marques like Toyota have keys that are programmed within the Engine Control Unit (ECU), which means getting a set of replacement keys involves reprogramming the ECU alongside the smart box and the immobiliser—a very expensive task for a lost key.
Audi drivers are also well-advised to ensure they've always got a backup. While we can and do help with replacement keys and emergency call-outs, this marque embeds a serial number on a microchip concealed within each key. That code needs to match the serial number built into the immobiliser system, which complicates the car key replacement service.
This also applies to other models and makes within the VAG Group, including Seat, Skoda, and Volkswagen. Therefore, it could take longer to replace a key or require specialist tools, equipment, and knowledge, even for everyday cars driven by thousands of people, not only top-end vehicles.
Advice for Drivers Without a Backup Set of Car Keys
Every manufacturer is different, which is why we can't offer one universally accurate price list. Keys that have stopped working due to a simple battery failure, for instance, might take minutes to reactivate. In contrast, keys that have become disconnected from integrated immobilisers may require far longer to ensure your vehicle is fully accessible.
If you’ve experienced problems with damaged or faulty car keys before or don't have a spare as a backup, we'd direct you to our Replacement Car Keys pages.
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About Eydens Auto Locksmiths and Vehicle Security
Eydens Auto Locksmiths have over 20 years of experience and are members of both the MLA and the ALA, providing auto lock and key services to motorists in Coventry, Rugby, Nuneaton, Bedworth, Kenilworth, Leamington, Stratford upon Avon and Warwick.
