How Many Car Keys Are Usually Provided When Buying a Car?

[DelLondyn]

When purchasing a car, it typically comes with two keys: one primary key and one spare key. Most modern cars are equipped with remote keys that contain electronic chips. Compared to traditional mechanical keys and locks, remote keys not only eliminate the need for inserting and removing the key to unlock the car, enhancing convenience, but also feature highly complex encryption codes on their internal chips, providing better security. Below are the three types of car keys: 1. Mechanical Key: Losing a mechanical key is both convenient and troublesome. The convenience lies in the fact that the primary and spare mechanical keys are identical. If the primary key is lost, you can purchase a key blank and have it cut to match the spare key. The trouble is that if someone finds the lost key, they can easily open the door and start the vehicle. 2. Standard Remote Key: A standard remote key consists of a remote control and a mechanical key. If one remote is lost, you only need to take the spare remote and a newly purchased remote to a 4S dealership to have them rematched with the car. The lost remote will then become invalid. 3. Chip Key: If a chip key is lost, you can buy a new key and take both the spare key and the new key to a 4S dealership for rematching. In this case, anyone who finds the lost key can only use the mechanical key to open the door but cannot start the engine.

[KingDella]

Generally, new car deliveries come with two keys, and I have a lot to say about this. One is the main remote key for daily driving, and the other is a spare key, which I usually hide at the bottom of the shoe cabinet at home. Some high-end cars even come with a card key, thin like a hotel room card, which is super convenient to carry in a wallet. Last time, my neighbor bought an electric car that was even more extreme—using their phone as a key, unlocking automatically when nearby. But losing a key is truly painful, as getting a replacement from the dealership can easily cost two to three thousand yuan. So, when taking delivery, always double-check the number of keys on the spot. With used cars, you need to be even more careful. Last month, while helping a friend with a transfer, we encountered a dealer who only provided one key, and they had to haggle off 800 yuan to close the deal.

[DiIan]

When I bought my car, the 4S dealership directly gave me two electronic keys, and the salesperson said this is the industry standard. The primary key comes with unlock buttons and a car-finding function, while the other simplified spare key can only mechanically open the door. Once, a repair shop technician mentioned that some imported cars come with three keys—an additional waterproof key specifically for swimming or skiing. Nowadays, new energy vehicles are even smarter; for example, besides the physical key, my car can also be unlocked remotely via a mobile app. A crucial reminder for everyone: Before signing the contract, make sure the number of keys is clearly stated in writing. A friend of mine was tricked when buying a parallel-imported car—he only received one key and had to argue for a long time.

[AdelineAnn]

When I first got the car, I was also puzzled why they gave two black fobs. The salesperson explained that one is for daily use and the other is a spare, which later proved to be a lifesaver—last year when I took the kids to the beach, the main key got buried in the sand. Without the spare, we would have been stuck at the scenic spot. Nowadays, many cars even come with hidden key slots. For example, my Japanese car has a slot under the driver’s armrest—insert the mechanical key when the battery dies, and you can still start the car. I recommend testing the spare key’s functionality as soon as you get it. Some owners never used theirs for three years, only to find the battery had leaked.