Losing your car keys can be a stressful experience, especially when you're away from home. But did you know that you can replace your car key with the vehicle's VIN number? The answer is yes, and the experienced team at 3 Guys Locksmith can help you do just that. When your locksmith says they can't complete the key replacement process for you, it may be time to look for other locksmiths who are willing to help. They can provide step-by-step instructions on how to replace your VIN.
If you need an ignition key (that opens all doors and starts the vehicle) or a remote control (to unlock specific doors), the VIN is the best place to start. If your key contains the vehicle identification number, you can get a new one from any locksmith or dealer. If you have a transponder key (the ones with an electronic chip inside) and you want to duplicate it or make it yourself at home, there is a way to do it. You'll have to take your new key to a car dealership or even your vehicle's insurance and warranty provider, if you have one of those, in order to program it. If your vehicle was manufactured before 1981, you should be able to easily get a replacement key made for you, as the vehicle will not have a remote control. If for some reason you can't find the VIN number, it will be difficult to replace the keys if you don't have the replacement kit.
You'll need a specialized key cutting machine that can read the electronic chip from the transponder key and program another one into it. If you need new locks for your car, you can go to a locksmith or dealer and ask one of their locksmiths to extract the VIN from the key. Part of the serial number (VIN) appears on the vehicle's license plate, but this only indicates that you are the owner, not what type of key is needed to enter it or start it. So if you ever find yourself in need of replacing your car keys, don't hesitate to contact 3 Guys Locksmith and they will be more than happy to help.
