What documents are needed to duplicate a car key?
2 Answers
To duplicate a car key, you need to bring the purchase invoice, all purchase documents, the vehicle registration certificate, and the owner's ID to the 4S dealership where the car was purchased. For domestic cars, the new key can usually be obtained quickly, estimated to take about a week. For imported cars, it may take around a month. Below are some precautions for using car keys: Do not leave the spare key in the car: Unlike regular mechanical keys, smart keys involve the vehicle's anti-theft technology. If a smart key is lost, simply making a new one won't suffice. It's understood that each manufacturer has strict procedures for keyless entry and key duplication in their after-sales service departments. Therefore, car owners are advised to protect their spare keys—avoid keeping the spare key together with the primary key or leaving it inside the car. Avoid placing it near electronic devices: Since smart keys use low-intensity radio waves, they may malfunction under magnetic interference. Frequently placing the smart key near a mobile phone can cause the key to malfunction because the chip inside the smart key may be disrupted by the phone's frequency, temporarily disabling the remote function. Additionally, exposing the smart key to high-intensity radio waves can drain the battery excessively.
As an experienced car owner who has had keys duplicated several times, I can share some insights. Generally, you'll need to bring the two most important documents: the owner's ID card and the vehicle license. Sometimes staff may also request the vehicle registration certificate, commonly known as the 'big green book'. Modern key duplication technology has become quite advanced, especially for chip-equipped remote keys. Technicians will use professional equipment to read the coding from your original car key, so it's best to bring that along too. In cases where all keys are completely lost, you might need a certificate from the dealership. By the way, if your car was purchased with an outstanding loan, remember to contact the financing company for an authorization letter in advance to avoid a wasted trip. After getting new keys, it's advisable to immediately delete the matching information of old keys - this way even if someone finds your old key, they won't be able to start your car.
