Posted on 5/30/2025
Getting a new car key used to be simple. A locksmith could cut a blank to match your original, and you were back on the road. But today’s vehicles are equipped with electronic systems that require more than just a physical copy. If you’ve had a new key cut and found that it doesn’t work, it’s likely because the key still needs to be programmed. Modern vehicles rely on transponder technology and electronic communication between the key and the car. Without proper programming, your vehicle may not recognize the new key, leaving you stuck with a blank that fits in the ignition but can’t start the engine. How Modern Car Keys Work Most cars built since the early 2000s include an anti-theft system that requires electronic verification from the key. These keys are equipped with a small chip, called a transponder, that sends a unique signal to the vehicle's immobilizer system. If the signal matches what the system expects, the car starts. I ... read more