Skip to content
Free shippingOn all products Locksmith and trade support · (317) 793-0732 90-day returns
Cart0$0.00
Find your key Search by VIN
FCC, OEM ref or VIN

Transponder Keys

Compare profiles and pack sizes.

Showing 1–16 of 1041 results

This range covers aftermarket replacement remotes, transponder keys and smart keys, supplied uncut and unprogrammed for trade and retail fitting. Transponder keys contain a chip that responds to the immobiliser challenge on ignition. Cutting the blade alone is insufficient: without chip programming the vehicle will crank and stall, or refuse to crank, with the security indicator active. Chip families and programming routes vary by manufacturer and model year, so the immobiliser protocol should be established before ordering. Applicable to most platforms from the late 1990s onward; VIN lookup will confirm. Fitment is determined by the FCC ID and the OEM part number, not by year, make and model. The FCC ID appears on the rear of the original remote or inside the battery compartment; the part number is normally moulded inside the housing. A single FCC ID can span several part numbers across different vehicles, so both should be confirmed against the original before ordering. All items require programming to the target vehicle, and bladed keys require cutting. This is expected for aftermarket stock and is not a defect. Programming is typically completed by an automotive locksmith with diagnostic equipment; dealer-level access is generally only needed on very recent vehicles or where all keys are lost.

Transponder Keys — buyer questions

Read this before you order: matching the FCC ID and part number is what determines whether a replacement works.

What does a transponder key actually do?
It carries a small chip that answers a challenge from your vehicle immobiliser. When you turn the key, the car checks for the correct chip response and only then allows the engine to start. A copy cut to the same shape will turn in the lock but will not start the car unless the chip is also programmed.
Can a hardware store copy my transponder key?
A hardware store can usually cut the metal blade, but cutting alone is not enough. The chip still has to be programmed to your immobiliser with diagnostic equipment. If a cut-only copy turns the ignition but the engine cranks and dies, or a security light stays on, that is the immobiliser rejecting an unprogrammed chip.
How do I tell a transponder key from a plain mechanical key?
A transponder key has a thicker plastic head to house the chip, and the head cannot be crushed flat like an old-style key. If your vehicle is roughly late-1990s or newer and it has an immobiliser, assume the key is chipped. Your owner manual or a locksmith can confirm from the VIN.
How do I make sure a transponder key will fit my vehicle?
Match the FCC ID printed on your existing remote, not just the year, make and model. The FCC ID identifies the radio frequency and transponder protocol your car listens for, so a remote that looks identical can still be ignored by your vehicle. Where a listing also shows an OEM part number, confirm that against the number on your original fob. If your vehicle was built near a model-year changeover, the identifiers matter more than the year.
Where do I find the FCC ID on my key?
It is normally printed, etched or on a label on the back of the remote, and on many fobs it sits inside the battery compartment. Pop the cover and look for a code beginning with a short letter-and-number sequence. If the original is lost and you cannot read an FCC ID anywhere, an automotive locksmith or your dealer can identify the correct one from your VIN.
Where is the part number, and why does it matter?
The manufacturer part number is usually printed inside the fob housing or on the circuit board, and it is more specific than the FCC ID. One FCC ID can cover several different part numbers that fit different vehicles, so when both are available the part number is the deciding check. This is the single most common reason a replacement arrives and turns out to be the wrong key.
Does a replacement work straight out of the box?
No. Every replacement remote, transponder key or smart key has to be programmed to your specific vehicle before it will lock, unlock or start it, and keys with a metal blade also need cutting. That is normal and is not a fault with the part. Some vehicles allow an onboard programming sequence, but most modern ones require a locksmith or dealer with diagnostic equipment.
Should I use a locksmith or the dealership?
An automotive locksmith is usually faster and less expensive, and a mobile locksmith can often come to the vehicle. A dealership is the safer route when the car is very new, when the immobiliser needs manufacturer-level access, or when all keys are lost and the system must be reset. Either way, buying the part separately and paying only for programming is normally cheaper than a dealer-supplied key.
Questions? We’re here.Live chat