Losing your car key and locking yourself out of your car can sometimes be very frustrating. It’s even more so when you consider the cost to having your key replaced at your vehicle’s local automobile shop.
You’ll be charged the towing fee, and opting for your local locksmith may come with its shortcomings.
In fact, you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle by having a spare key.
Does AutoZone make keys in order to spare drivers this hassle? If so, do they have your key available?
AutoZone does make keys, but not for all makes and models. It does make keys for most major vehicle manufacturers, like Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Nissan, and Chevrolet. It’s best to call ahead and see if they can make a key for you before going into the store.
In today’s article, we’re looking at the types of keys that AutoZone makes, their cost, time you’ll spend, and the ones they don’t.
Does AutoZone Make Car Keys?
We all know how frustrating losing your car key is, especially when you are miles away from your dealership.
It even worsens when you consider the cost of having one replaced.
Luckily, AutoZone makes and replaces keys for cars from all major vehicle manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Chevrolet, etc.
More specifically, they are your one-stop center for all your car ignition and key needs.
And what’s even more impressive is that they’re way cheaper, and you’ll spend a fraction of what you would have spent at the dealership to replace the key.
How Much Does AutoZone Charge To Make a Mechanical Car Key?
AutoZone charges between $2.50 and $6.00 to make a regular mechanical car key.
For most makes and models, the company has the materials, experts, knowledge, and technology to cut out a replica of your original car key.
And for the mechanical car keys, the process is easier and takes less time than when making a replica transponder key.
An AutoZone key expert will select the correct key blank for your car’s make, model, and year.
Next, a key cutting machine will trace the contours of the original key and cut them into the new key.
It’s as straightforward as that, and the whole process generally takes less than 15 minutes.
Does AutoZone Make Transponder Keys?
The rapid evolution in automobile technology has led to better car security systems, and one such was the rise in popularity of the transponder key.
Currently, more than 70% of all vehicles on the road use transponder keys.
Consequently, they are the highest number of car keys made at AutoZone stores.
They’re not easy to replace, since they require special Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and programming.
As a result, you’ll part with anywhere between $20 and $100 to have an AutoZone locksmith remake your transponder car key.
Additionally, most AutoZone car key cutting locations have a wide range of transponder keys. They make it easier for you to access the specific key when needed.
The company will allocate an associate to guide you through the selection process, as transponder keys may look alike but be programmed differently and thus fail to work.
Once you have the correct transponder key and it has been cut, an employee will program it specifically for your car.
And remember, a car that initially came with a transponder key will not start if you try doing so with the mechanical key blanks.
Additionally, it only works when the car’s sensor module detects and authenticates the code on the transponder chip.
Otherwise, it rejects the key, and the car won’t start.
And AutoZone knows how that can be irritating for the everyday commuters that rely on their vehicles for their daily commute or commercial purposes.
They have the technology to reproduce various transponder keys, including the blade style keys, the ones with a key fob, and the push-button ignition types.
Does AutoZone Sell Keyless Entry Fobs?
AutoZone has a massive selection of keyless entry fobs that work for most vehicles on our roads.
They don’t make the key fobs, but sell them and can program one for your car if you need it for $20 to $400.
Other shops price their key fobs expensively and charge between $250 and $740 for the same service.
And as much as you can still use the key after losing the key fob, chances are pretty high that you’ll need either during your drive.
Or you might have lost both, and we know how essential and convenient the keyless entry remotes or key fobs are.
They are small plastic remote devices that control the alarm system, the ignition, and even entry locks.
Furthermore, they use an RFID chip and antennae to transmit and receive signals from an RFID reader within your car.
If the transmitted code matches one on your car’s reader, your vehicle will respond specifically to your commands.
And their working principle is pretty simple, hence the need for individualistic security programming to make one specific to your car.
How Long Does It Take to Make a Car Key at AutoZone?
It takes an AutoZone locksmith between 15 to 60 minutes to make a car key, depending on the complexity of the key.
For example, it takes the locksmith approximately 10 to 15 minutes to cut the older mechanical blade keys.
The newer transponder keys are more complicated, and the key expert will need about 10 minutes to get a key code, 10 minutes to cut the key, and a maximum of 30 minutes to program it.
If you’re in a hurry, consult AutoZone offices in advance to avoid the long queues at their stores.
Does AutoZone Make Motorcycle Keys?
AutoZone does not make keys for any motorcycle brand currently.
However, they sell key blanks for select manufacturers such as Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha at a low price of $2.49.
Afterward, you’ll take the key blank to a locksmith or to your motorcycle retailer to have it cut out.
Does AutoZone Make Mailbox Keys?
AutoZone does not make any form of mailbox keys, as they’re not meant to be duplicated.
Consequently, if you’ve lost yours, contact your local post office, and they’ll send you a replacement key and lock.
These mailbox keys are usually delicate and illegal to duplicate; thus, no honest locksmith will risk their business copying one for you.
On the brighter side, it’ll only cost you approximately $20 to have one remade.
Final Remarks on If AutoZone Makes Keys
AutoZone is primarily an auto parts store, so the only keys they remake are vehicle keys.
They don’t make any other keys such as mailbox, house door, motorcycle, ATV, RV, or padlock keys.
On the brighter side, the company sells motorcycle and house key blanks for specific brands on their website.
As a result, you will have to consult your local AutoZone store to confirm if they offer these services.
