First introduced in 1999, this is a popular alternative to the transponder car key for one very simple safety feature. This type of car key is one of the most secure options out there. These keys are a popular intermediary between smart keys and laser cut keys, as they allow remote locking/unlocking of the car as well as locating your car in a crowded parking lot, but you can still unlock the vehicle with a physical key if the fob portion is dead or malfunctioning. The key portion of the fob is needed to start the ignition, and sometimes can be used to manually unlock the car doors. Instead, the battery-powered fob has a transponder with buttons that can lock or unlock the doors or active a panic alarm. Unlike laser cut car keys, the key portion of a remote car key fob doesn’t have a transponder chip. Remote Car Key ComboĬhances are, when you think of key fobs, you’re picturing a remote car key. They have instead been supplanted by laser cut car keys and digital key fobs.Įven though there are less of these keys around, meaning fewer car owners accidentally leaving their keys in the ignition for car thieves, car theft continues to increase. These keys have no digital components and can be copied using a standard key blank at any hardware store.īecause of this, mechanically cut keys are no longer common and will usually only be found on older vehicles. These are a more traditional style of car key that remained popular for a large percentage of automobile history. Of course, this doesn’t stop a determined car thief, and there are ways to illegally obtain or create master car keys. Master car keys are often regulated by law, and simply being in possession of one without legal grounds can result in very serious criminal charges. However, these keys are highly sought after by criminals, as they can also make auto theft much easier. Ideally, their purpose is to be used by locksmiths and certain professional automotive services to access cars which may have been abandoned or the owner has locked themselves out. They’re designed to be able to work on the doors and ignitions of many different vehicles. This is precisely what a master car key is. Imagine having a skeleton key that works for cars. This makes it even more difficult to copy the key by adding a second layer of security. In newer cars, laser cut keys often include a remote handle equipped with a transponder chip. This makes it extremely difficult to make copies. Initially used in the 1990s for luxury cars, the laser cut key is thicker than a normal car key and is laser-cut to have matching teeth and grooves on both sides. Laser cut car keys are designed to foil this plan. Of course, this also means that someone who obtains your car key or makes a mold of the lock can create a replica and potentially steal your car. This meant that copies could be made by using a grinder to shape additional keys to match the original. Traditionally, car keys were made in the same manner as other keys. In fact, there are a number of services available that can take other types of car keys and convert them into flip style keys. This type of key has become increasingly popular among car manufacturers and car owners alike due to their compact nature. When not in use, the key folds into the key fob, saving space and protecting the key from being damaged. These compact car keys have earned the nickname of “switchblade car key” because of their unique folding mechanism. The crank key quickly became obsolete with the advent of the electric starter. ![]() In order to safely use the crank key, the motorist needed to stand beside it and keep their thumbs facing the same direction as their fingers to avoid injury from slips. Safety was also a huge concern, as it was easily to lose your grip on the crank and have it spin at you. Instead, they were hand cranks that were inserted directly into the engine and wound to get the vehicle started.Īs early automobiles had all-metal construction (excluding the seat cushions, of course), starting the car could be quite difficult. As it is the highest value Master Key among the set, it cannot be upgraded further.The very first car keys were unlike modern keys. The Master Key - Legendary can only be downgraded to a Master Key - Epic at a cost of 15,000. Cars that have a final rank of the following:. ![]() ![]()
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