The vast majority of car keys are fitted with a chip or transponder inside the body of the key or remote access fob. When you put the key in the ignition to start the car, or present the fob to the car’s security system, the transponder communicates with the ECU in the car, and once the ECU has identified the key as being valid, the immobiliser in the car is disabled and the car can be started (some systems use a 2 way validation process).
If you lose or damage a key, and want to replace it, or simply want a spare, the main dealers will require you to take the car to them, where they will provide a new key, and programme it to the car, but this is a costly and time consuming process, with delays for new keys going up to 10 days in some cases, and the cost of the new keys being between £100 and £500 for standard cars, and a LOT more for some of the more advanced, high end models.
Here at Cumbria Car Keys we can cut a new key using our mobile key cutting machinery, then use our state of the art diagnostic programming equipment to programme a new transponder so that your car will recognise the new key, and the car can be started and driven off, allowing you to get back on the road as quickly as possible.