Transponder Key Programming in Enterprise

A transponder key has a small chip in the head that the vehicle reads before the engine is allowed to run. In Enterprise we cut the blade and pair the chip with your car's immobilizer right at the vehicle, so the new key both turns the lock and starts the engine.

Many chip keys also include lock buttons, and some vehicles use a push to start fob instead of a key you turn. For those situations, our page on remote key fob replacement in Enterprise explains what changes.

• The chip must matchA perfectly cut key will still not start the car until its chip has been paired.
• Programmed at the vehicleOur programming equipment travels in the van, so the car never has to move.
• Spares and lost keysWe program a copy from a working key, or a brand new key when none are left.
• Ask before buying onlineCheck with us before ordering a chip key online, since some aftermarket chips cannot be programmed to your particular vehicle.

How a Chip Key Starts Your Car

Understanding what the chip does makes it easier to see why an inexpensive copy so often fails.

• The chip sends a codeWhen you turn the key, an antenna ring around the ignition reads a code from the chip, and the chip needs no battery to do this.
• The vehicle checks the codeThe immobilizer compares that code to the keys it already knows, and a wrong code means the engine either will not crank or will stall right away.
• Programming adds the keyWe connect a diagnostic tool to the vehicle and use it to add the new chip to the car's list of approved keys.
• Lost keys can be removedOn many vehicles we can clear old keys from that list, so a lost key will no longer start the engine.

When Drivers Need a Chip Key Programmed

Most of the calls we get for chip keys fit one of these four situations.

• "I want a spare before something goes wrong."We copy your working key and pair the new chip, which is the simplest version of the job.
• "Every key is gone, and the car is sitting in the driveway."We produce a key from the vehicle identification number or the lock and then program it, and our guide on lost car keys with no spare explains what to do first.
• "The key turns but the car will not start."We test the chip and the car's antenna to find out which one failed before replacing anything.
• "I dropped my key and now it acts strangely."Chips can crack after a hard fall, so we test it and program a replacement if the chip is damaged.

How Transponder Programming Goes

1. 1

   Tell us the car and how many keys you have

   One working key, two keys or none at all changes the steps, and we will quote the job on the call.

2. 2

   Prove the car is yours

   We check your photo ID along with the registration or title before any key is made.

3. 3

   Cut the blade and pair the chip

   We cut the key, connect our equipment to the vehicle and add the new chip to its memory.

4. 4

   Run a start test

   We start the engine several times with each key so you know every one of them works.

What Transponder Key Programming Costs in Enterprise

A transponder key in Las Vegas typically costs $150 to $350 with programming, and where you land in that range depends on the vehicle, the type of chip and whether you still have a working key. Calls on nights, weekends and holidays tend to add $25 to $75. You hear the price before we cut or program anything, and you can confirm our license on the license verification page.

Chip Keys for Enterprise Drivers

We program chip keys in home driveways in Southern Highlands and Silverado Ranch, in apartment parking lots in Mountain's Edge and at workplaces along Las Vegas Boulevard South. Since the vehicle never has to move, the service suits anyone whose key quit at home or who would rather skip a long dealer trip across the valley.

Watch Us Work

Programming Key Fobs on Site