Question 1

What is a transponder?

Accepted Answer

Chipped, or Transponder, keys are keys that have an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip inside the head of the key. These types of keys have become an industry standard for vehicle manufacturers. This is because the RFID chip adds an extra layer of security to your vehicle's ignition.  Without the correct transponder present the car will not start.

Question 2

Does every car have an immobiliser?

Accepted Answer

Since 1995 it has been a legal requirement for vehicles to be fitted with an immobiliser system for which a transponder key is required.  Some systems are a lot more complex than others, it is always advisable to have at least 2 working keys for your vehicle.

Question 3

What is a Proximity / Smart Key?

Accepted Answer

Proximity-sensing keys were first introduced on the Mercedes S-Class in 1998 (under the brand name ‘Keyless Go’) and today are common on even affordable vehicles.
The main benefit of proximity-sensing keys is they allow you to enter and start the car without having to manually fish out the key and unlock the car. Instead, as long as the key is on your person (e.g. in your pocket or handbag), the driver can push a button or touch the door handle to unlock and subsequently turn on the car.  In order for the Proximity function to work the key must have a battery, if the battery fails there is always a secondary way into the vehicle, usually a traditional lock on one of the doors and there will be an emergency start location in your vehicle – these are specific to model, please refer to owners manual or search online for emergency start procedure for push-button start cars.

Question 4

I’ve damaged my key – can you get me a new one?

Accepted Answer

To put this simply yes, we can get you a new key, nearly all keys are carried in stock.

Question 5

Do I need to come to you?

Accepted Answer

No need, we operate a fully mobile service and come to you wherever you are in the North East

Question 6

Do you need the car to program the key?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we need to be in the car to program your new key

Question 7

Do I need to have all keys available?

Accepted Answer

On some brands we can simply ADD a new key into the car, we only need one key available, on some brands, Peugeot, Fiat for example it is paramount that ANY key you have is made available whilst programming, if for example you have a spare key it may no longer work if it isn’t presented to us at the time of programming – we will always explain this again before commencing any work.

Question 8

Is your work guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

For new genuine keys that we supply we offer at least a 12 month warranty, for aftermarket we offer at least a 6 month warranty.

Warranty

All our work is fully insured and comes with the following warranty:

Gain Access:  When our service is required to gain access, we guarantee no damage, we only use highly sophisticated picks which cause no damage, we may use some lubricating oil and degreaser in the lock to make sure it is clear of debris prior to picking the lock to ensure we gain access safely.  Obviously once we have opened the door our work is complete and we will take payment.

Warranty on keys supplied:  Unless expressly pointed out at time of purchase, all our work is guaranteed, we offer a minimum of 6 months warranty on goods supplied.  In the unlikely event of any failure on parts we supply please contact us swiftly and we will endeavour to help you ASAP.  All goods are warranted on a minimum of return to base (RTB) in Darlington.  If we can, we will however try to come to you to resolve but this may not be practical at the time.  If the item you bought was specifically sold as a genuine key then we will extend this warranty to 12 months RTB.

Warranty covers items supplied by us to you, no consequential losses are covered and we do not cover any costs of you returning item to us.  We do endeavour but do not promise to be accommodating with any warranty claim and as such please contact us as soon as practically possible.   Batteries are specifically excluded from any warranty unless the battery in the fob is rechargeable (ie Transit MK7 / Transit MK8 genuine keys)

Question 9

My vehicle is coming to end of lease and I have lost a key?

Accepted Answer

If your vehicle lease is due to expire and vehicle is to be handed back, the lease company will want the vehicle back with the same number of key they supplied you with. If you have lost a key, they will charge you a lot more than getting us to provide you with a replacement programmed key.  This is by far the more cost effective solution if you have lost or damaged on of your keys.

Question 10

How much is a replacement key?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately there is no such thing as a rough price, there are so many variables at play, prices are based upon the cost and availability of the blank keys, the complexity of programming some are more complex than others, the location of the vehicle, the type of service required etc.. Please get in touch for a bespoke quotation.

Question 11

My vehicle is coming to end of lease and I have lost a key?

Accepted Answer

If your vehicle lease is due to expire, the lease company will require the vehicle to be returned with the same number of keys provided initially. If you have lost a key, getting a replacement programmed key from us is much more cost-effective than the charges from the lease company.

Question 12

How much is a replacement key?

Accepted Answer

The cost of a replacement key varies due to factors like the blank key's cost, programming complexity, vehicle location, and service type required. Please contact us for a bespoke quotation.

Question 13

I have locked my keys in the boot?

Accepted Answer

Don’t worry, we can help retrieve your keys. While some cars may only allow us to open one door, we always find a way to get you back into your vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

What is a transponder?

Does every car have an immobiliser?

What is a Proximity / Smart Key?

I’ve damaged my key – can you get me a new one?

Do I need to come to you?

Do you need the car to program the key?

Do I need to have all keys available?

Is your work guaranteed?

My vehicle is coming to end of lease and I have lost a key?

How much is a replacement key?

My vehicle is coming to end of lease and I have lost a key?

How much is a replacement key?

I have locked my keys in the boot?