Avoid High cost of buying replacement car key from main dealers

Claire_B_3

Hi all i'm new to the forum but just wanted to share an amazing money saving tip.......I had two keys for my car one for me and one for my husband. He however managed to snap the blade part of his key so all he had was the actual key fob with half the key blade attached. I know for a fact that if I'd gone to the vauxhall dealer to order and pay for a replacement it would have cost me the best part of £150. So I decided to find a cheaper way of doing it. I firstly went to my local key cutters (Timpson) also a shoe repair shop to ask if they could cut a new car key as they usually only do door keys etc. I was told it was possible but couldnt guarantee it would work the charge would be £5-£6. I then bought a 'blank' key from a well known auction site for appx. £6 incl postage. This is an uncut key with nothing in the fob. When it arrived I took the new blank key and my good key to Timpson where they cut the key. When I got home all I did and this is all the car dealership would also do and charge the earth for is open my husbands broken key fob and very carefully remove the tiny plastic chip from the inside corner and place in the new key fob.Take care not to damage this as this is what actually starts your car with unique key codes. Then do the same with the small square board which also has the battery attached and place carefully in the new fob making sure they are in the same position. I also needed a new battery for new key which cost me appx £5. The key works perfectly :T Its really opened my eyes to what we actually pay for usually without question without realising there is a huge saving to be made by doing it yourself.:D Would love to know if Ive helped anyone by sharing this.......

forgotmyname

Or buy the complete thing off ebay for under a £10. Cut if you give them the code?

Or goto the local keycutters in the market that charged me £2 to cut mine?

The key part on most remotes are available on its own.

Well done for saving money but you could have saved more...

Pleas try harder next time

Apples2

I read the whole lot waiting for spam, I must be too cynical.

I am thankful for the inclusion of two smilies, it makes it look like there are paragraphs.

Hintza

I'll thank the OP, it should prove a useful post for anyone searching the problem.