While you’ve probably thought to insure your car, what’s your car without a key? Lost car keys can become the nightmare you never planned for. Here’s why Key Angel Insurance could become your saving grace.
We know what you’re thinking. It could never happen to me. The reality is that misplaced or stolen car keys can happen to even the most responsible car owners. If your handbag gets stolen, your house gets burgled, you leave them by the till at your local store or your toddler plays a game of car-key-hideaway, you could be left keyless at the most inconvenient times.
Still, feel like there’s no reason to fuss? Then consider the surprising costs of car key replacement. Even if you have a spare, you’ll eventually need to get another key made. If you’re without a spare, it’s an even trickier situation. Now not only are you stranded without access to your vehicle, but you’re in for a costly surprise.
Most comprehensive insurance plans won’t cover lost car key replacement. If they do, claiming will still see you dealing with a large excess or losing out on your no claims rewards. Paying out of your pocket for a locksmith, a flatbed towing company, key cutting services, or alternative transport will add up to thousands of Rands on top of the inconvenience you experience.
The costs increase significantly if you don’t have a spare key and need to get a smart key like a programmed transponder or a keyless entry remote. Different makes or models of vehicles will also influence the costs. The solution? Car key insurance designed specifically to make your life easier in the event of loss or theft.
How much does a replacement car key cost?
Just like anything nowadays, cars have gotten more technologically advanced, and so have their keys. This means that your car keys are more expensive than ever to replace.
Depending on what model and year your car is, replacing a lost or stolen key can set your bank balance back several thousands of Rands.
The different types of car keys
There are several different types of car keys and each differs in the cost to replace.
Traditional car key or key fob
This type of key is simply used to unlock the doors of your car and to start your car. If you lose this type of key, you can usually replace it fairly easily through dealerships or auto parts stores.
Transponder keys
Transponder keys gained popularity in the 90s. They are almost the same as any other car key, except they have a chip in them that communicates with your car. If the chip is not detected, then your car will not start. If you don’t have a spare key, you’ll need to have your vehicle towed. On top of the towing charges, you can expect to pay anything from R1,500 to around R3,000 for this type of key.
Laser cut keys
This type of key is designed using a laser that shapes the groves of the key. It’s fairly easy to tell if you have a laser cut key because your key will be thicker than the average key and will have a unique sideways carving. Laser cut keys will also usually have a transponder chip in them.
Smart keys
A smart key is used for a car that has a keyless ignition. These vehicles do not need a physical key to start and operate using a push to start button on the dashboard. These remotes allow you to enter a vehicle and start it while the key remains in your pocket or bag.
The keyless entry keys are the most expensive that you can get with some costing up to R10,000 for a single key. The luxury brands are even more expensive for a replacement.
What happens if you lose your smart key?
When a person loses a standard key, there’s typically nothing really to worry about, since the missing key will likely not be able to locate the specific car it belongs to. With a modern smart key system in place, however, it is directly connected to the vehicle. Replacing a smart key, therefore, requires much more than simply making a new key. Your vehicle must be reprogrammed. A newly programmed key is matched to your vehicle to create the smart key connection and this overwrites any previous keys associated with it.
Unfortunately, this process is quite expensive. The good news, however, is that Key Angel also covers smart keys!
Where can I get my car key replaced?
If you’ve lost your car keys and have no spares, you can usually get a replacement for a locksmith or a dealership. In the case of most smart keys, you will, however, need to get the key from a dealership.
What do I need to get my car key replaced?
To get a replacement key from a dealership or locksmith, you will need to have the following information at hand:
- The make of the car
- The model of the car
- The year of the car
- Car registration
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Your log book or proof of ownership
- Your ID document
Before the locksmith or dealership can give you a new key, they will need to ensure you’re the rightful owner of the vehicle.
The benefits of Key Angel Insurance
If you’re feeling flustered that the admin involved with lost car keys had never crossed your mind, there’s no need to sweat. We’ve designed a product that does all the thinking for you. Our Key Angel Car Key Replacement Insurance plan covers all the nitty-gritty involved with lost or stolen keys.
Losing your vehicle, home, and office keys could cost thousands of rands.Get a Key Angel to provide you with car, home, and office key insurance.
Key Angel is an innovative product from Bidvest Insurance that ensures you will still be able to get around even when you can’t access your car, home, and office.
Some of the key benefits include:
- No excess payable
- The cost of replacing your lost or stolen keys is covered. This simply excludes batteries.
- Stuck somewhere with no keys and no spare? We’ll arrange safe, courtesy transport to keep you moving.
- We’ve also got locksmith or flatbed towing needs sorted.
- By claiming from Key Angel instead of your comprehensive car insurance policy, your no-claim rewards will be protected.
What am I covered for?
Vehicle Key Replacement
Losing your vehicle key could cost thousands of rands. We relieve your stress by providing cover for a key replacement.
Car Hire
You won’t have to worry about not having a vehicle or being left stranded. Car hire is one of the many added benefits of our cover.
Flatbed Towing Service
Need help with moving your vehicle? We’ve got your back with our flatbed towing service at your disposal.
Locksmith Services For Your Car
Getting locked out of your car is not a pleasant experience. With our Key Angel insurance, we’ll get you back in your vehicle in no time thanks to our locksmith services.
Courtesy Transport
Need to get somewhere in a hurry but you’re locked out of your car? Don’t panic! One of the many benefits of our policy is that we offer courtesy transport.
Locksmith To Access Your Home
Not only do we assist you with your vehicle, but we also provide assistance with locksmith services for your home and office.
Why do I need this cover?
Have you ever had that sinking feeling that your car keys have gone missing?
You empty your pockets, bag, your shopping bags… nothing. So, you retrace your steps and still can’t find them. Panic starts to set in. You think to yourself, how am I going to get home, how am I going to get into my car? And worst of all, how much is this all going to cost?
With Key Angel insurance, of course, there’s no need to panic.
We’ve even added extra home and office key cover to the plan. We provide the additional benefits of key and remote replacement for your home or office as well as locksmith assistance.
At Bidvest Insurance, our goal is to design products that consider every angle of the problem, helping minimise any extra out-of-pocket costs. Our Key Angel plan is just one example of an extra insurance product guaranteed to give you more bang for your buck when you need it most.
For more information or to take out our Key Angel Policy, click here.
