What You Need To Know About Key Fob Programming

When you purchase a key fob online, it is not going to magically start working with your car. You will have to program it to your vehicle. How do you do that? Well, depending on what type of vehicle you have, you can either program the remote yourself or you will have to get it professionally programmed.

First Let's Find Out If Your Vehicle Is Capable of Self-Programming

1. Check your owner’s manual. There is usually a section on keyless entry or key fob that will let you know if your key fob is self-programmable. The instructions are even printed here sometimes.

2. Visit our programming instructions page and search for your vehicles programming procedures.

3. Or finally you can call your local dealership, ask for service, then ask them if your key fob has self-programming instructions and if they will email or fax them or if you can just swing by and pick them up.

4. If your vehicle is self-programmable, just follow the key fob programming instructions and you're set. Be patient, the programming procedure can be frustrating. Some are easier than others. It’s all about timing. If you are having trouble, step away for a while and come back to it later.

Professional Key Fob Programming

1. Call a local locksmith; they can usually program a key fob significantly cheaper. Average price for programming a key fob is about $60.

   If your key fob and metal ignition key is one unit, these can be about $90 to program because you must program both the remote and the metal key (transponder chip) to the vehicle, so it is two steps instead of one.

2. Try your mechanic. They sometimes have the equipment needed to do key fob programming and they might even hook you up for free if you are a good customer.