Our Blog Get the latest information and tips when it comes to key replacement and lock technology.
We’ve all done it. You find yourself rummaging through pockets, walking briskly from room to room, looking under couch cushions, retracing our steps—and maybe even blaming the dog—all for a lost set of keys!
Often times they never turn up. In the case of car key fobs, the loss can lead to costly replacements and time spent without the use of a vehicle.
At Sonic Locksmith, we have several proactive solutions to avoid the frustration and expense associated with misplaced keys.
People often wonder: Why are spare keys cheaper than replacement keys? The answer is simple. For cars, dealerships charge a substantial fee to “re-key” new fobs to program them to properly function with your car and security system. For homes, a new deadbolt and keys cost significantly more than a simple set of spare keys.
For over 20 years, every BMW on the road has been equipped with sophisticated anti-theft systems. Their system verifies that the key fob and proper key are in place before the vehicle is able to be started.
So what happens when you lose your BMW key? The choice is yours, but the financial impact will vary drastically if you opt to use a locksmith instead of visiting the dealer. Below you will find some of the ins and outs how to manage the headache in Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and surrounding NYC areas.
The process of obtaining a new key and key fob is not a quick one. Most dealerships will have to order a special key designed to match your vehicle type. The production and delivery of the key are said to take upwards of two weeks.
Instead of waiting or renting a car, a locksmith equipped with the proper tools can manage the job in a single day. You won’t have to leave your location, and you won’t face any wait times for keys to be shipped.
At Sonic Locksmith, we have the equipment and key fobs available to take care of the problem on site. Your new key will be programmed and tested before our technician leaves. Once the job is complete, you can go on with your day.
You can never be too careful in today’s world, especially when it comes to the security of your home or car. Locksmiths have tools designed to bypass locked doors, which grants access to your property, garage, home, and business facility.
With your security and safety at risk, knowledge of how to ensure you hire a trustworthy locksmith is key. Below you will find useful information from the pros at Sonic Locksmith.
Generally speaking, locksmiths are licensed and insured for the areas they operate in. Occasionally, a company will make a trip outside of their area to provide service in a location where their insurance and license is not valid. In some states such as Florida, locksmiths do not require a license, but this tip is very important in states that require them.
Losing your keys in Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, or the surrounding areas can be a major inconvenience. You lose access to your home, your car, and potentially other things like a P.O. box or padlocks. It’s generally easy to locate spare keys to most of those, but a car can be more difficult, especially if you don’t have a spare key.
We rely on our cars almost every day to get us where we need to go and we need to be able to access them as quickly as possible. When the key is lost, you need to call someone who can get to you the fastest. You need a locksmith.
Your first inclination may be to call the car dealer, but there are several reasons you shouldn’t do that. You can end up incurring more costs and waiting longer than if you called a locksmith instead.
More often than not, you’re going to end up paying a lot more at a dealership for any kind of car parts. This holds true when it comes to replacing keys as well.
Dealerships also won’t come to you, meaning you will have to figure out a way to get your car to them so they can help you obtain a new key. Remember, you can’t drive your car, so you may end up having to call a tow truck or take a cab to obtain their services.
When you go to a dealership for a key replacement, remember -- that’s not the only thing they do. They sell cars, they service them, they’re busy handling hundreds of other administrative tasks. Your emergency may not be an emergency to them. They may just end up calling a locksmith for you and you may end up owing them a service fee for doing something you could have done on your own.
Additionally, most dealerships are only available during office hours, whereas other options like Sonic Locksmith are accessible 24 hours a day.
