A Consumer’s Guide For Car Key Replacement
If you are researching car key replacements, you’ve likely noticed a massive gap in prices. You might see “Universal” keys for cheap online, while the dealership quotes you hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars.
So, what is the difference, and which one should you choose? At Quick Keys, LLC in Spring Lake Park, we believe in giving our customers all the facts so they can make an informed decision. Here is your ultimate guide to OEM vs. Aftermarket car keys.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. These are the “official” keys made by the brand that built your car (like Ford, GM, Toyota, or BMW).
The Pros:
Perfect Compatibility: Since they are made by the manufacturer, they are guaranteed to sync perfectly with your car’s security system.
Durability: OEM keys are built with high-quality plastics and internal components designed to last for the life of the vehicle.
Resale Value: Having the original factory fobs can actually help when it’s time to sell or trade in your car.
The Cons:
Price: Buying these directly from a dealership is usually the most expensive way to get a key.
The Quick Keys Advantage: We often carry Refurbished OEM keys. These are genuine factory keys that have been professionally cleared and restored. You get the original quality and reliability at a much lower price than the dealer.
What is an Aftermarket Car Key?
Aftermarket keys are produced by third-party companies. Think of them like “generic” or “knockoff” versions of your car key.
The Pros:
Affordability: These are almost always the most budget-friendly option.
Availability: They are widely available for older vehicles where the manufacturer may have stopped producing the original keys.
The Cons:
Hit-or-Miss Quality: Some aftermarket keys are great, but many (especially the cheap ones found on discount websites) are made with thin plastic or low-quality circuit boards that can fail after a few months.
Programming Issues: Some “universal” aftermarket keys are difficult to program and may not support all the features of your car (like remote start or trunk pop).
More programming Issues: If you decide to purchase an aftermarket key online and have a locksmith program it, just know that they will need to charge you for the work performed even if your key doesn’t program. It’s not their fault you bought the wrong parts.
Resale Value: For most car buyers, seeing an aftermarket key is an immediate red flag.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on your vehicle and your budget.
For Newer/Luxury Vehicles: We almost always recommend OEM or Refurbished OEM. Modern security systems are very picky, and using a high-quality key ensures you won’t get “lock-out” errors or signal drops.
For Older “Beater” Cars: If you just need a spare for a 2005 work truck, a high-qualit
A Warning About "Buying Your Own" Online
We see it all the time: a customer buys a key for $20 on a big-box retail site, only to find out it’s the wrong frequency, wrong transponder chip, wrong FCC number, or has already been “locked” to another car. Most locksmiths cannot program these keys because they simply won’t work. If you decide to go this route and your key does work, you will still be charged if we attempt to program it. When we supply the key we guarantee it works or it costs you nothing!
When you work with Quick Keys, LLC, we provide the key and the programming. This means we guarantee that the key will work perfectly before you leave our shop or we leave your driveway.
Your Local Expert in Spring Lake Park & Minneapolis
At Quick Keys, LLC, we use specialized OEM manufacturer software to ensure your new keyfob—whether OEM or Aftermarket—is programmed correctly. We serve the entire Twin Cities metro with our mobile shop, bringing the right parts directly to you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question:
“If I have a used OEM key fob from my old vehicle, can you program it to my new vehicle?”
Answer:
The short answer is No. Although some key fobs that can reused, I’d say about 95% of the time this will not work as most key fobs lock once programmed. There are exceptions to this. Please call us if you have questions!
Question:
“I bought a key fob on Amazon and it looks just like mine, do you think it will work?”
Answer:
Probably not. If you’re going to take the risk of getting a cheap aftermarket key on Amazon, make sure you do your due diligence to make sure the FCC ID and button configuration are EXACTLY the same as your original. We do not recommend buying keys off amazon.
Question:
“I bought an OEM key online, but it looks Aftermarket as there is no logo”
Answer:
This is very common. Many times Key and Fob suppliers “reshell” or “recase” Fobs with an aftermarket shell but the electronics are all OEM original.
