“We can’t warranty parts or labor, and if we try to program it and it doesn’t work, we still have to charge them for our labor.” “We shy away from working with aftermarket key fobs,” a service adviser at a Lexus dealer told us. Other retailers we called, including a Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge dealership and a Lexus dealership, said they don’t mind trying to program aftermarket fobs if that’s what the customer wants them to do, as long as the customer understands the risks involved. They almost always force the customer to go to a dealer because the digital key encryption is only programmable by the manufacturer in a few select outlets in North America, says CR’s Yu. This isn’t just the case for Audi, but European cars in general. The average price for an Audi key fob replacement, including programming, is $500, we were told. “The fob has become a critical part of the security of the car,” he said. The need for this chip is also why you can't buy a new aftermarket Audi key fob online.

There's a built-in security chip in the fob that cannot be reprogrammed for another Audi. “If you want a new key fob for your Audi, it has to come from us,” said a service adviser at Hoffman Audi of East Hartford, Conn.

“If you have a car that was built within the last five years, a new-car dealer will usually be your best bet when you need a replacement key fob, due to the expensive programming equipment that is required,” says John Ibbotson, CR’s chief mechanic.Īlthough it might be tempting to search for a cheaper key fob online, we learned from Audi and Subaru dealers that some won't work with aftermarket key fobs.

Key fob replacement chevrolet