Least expensive smart key duplicating? (SF,CA)

Are you near Berkeley? Then Art's Auto. Just had a similar situation to you. We bought a used 2012 Prius v 3, 6 weeks ago. Had 2 key FOBs but the second one wasn't for the Prius v we purchased!

Our regular mechanic and several mechanics we called didn't know what to do with it. Dealer insisted we'd have to spend around $400 to get a new FOB and others (if they could do it at all) also quoted around this price.

The first place I called that sounded really knowledgeable was Art's Auto (they also have a long article about key fobs on their site). They also gave me the lowest quote at $291.08 (quote was a month ago so may have changed by now).

When I got there and showed them both keys, I was incredibly delighted to find out that, only recently, they now have an easy time reprogramming a used key fob if it is exactly the same type. It was of exactly the same type so they charged $87 altogether for both a physical key and the reprogramming.

That was the tipping point that decided us that we were going to switch away from our current mechanic (who is great for regular Japanese cars but not so knowledgeable about Prius or other hybrids). We are going to used Art's for everything going forward.

I have no experience but if you search the forums, there is also a great place in SF called Lucius that specializes in hybrids. I have no idea if they are as good with key fobs as Art's Auto.

You can also do this at any Toyota dealer but my guess is they'll charge at least $400.

 

Hi Erika,

I just went though this myself a couple weeks ago. I wound up buying one on Ebay from this listing: 09-13 OEM VIRGIN TOYOTA SMART KEY KEYLESS REMOTE FOB PROX TRANSMITTER HYQ14ACX | eBay

MAKE SURE that if you go this route that the numbers on your fob match up to what is advertised. If not, check his other listings.

The fob I got looked brand new and works fine (once programmed). It came with a new key emergency key blank, but Cobb County Toyota said it was garbage and charged me for another one ($10.00). Programming the transmitter was $55 at C.C. Toyota. Plus all the other stupid "shop supplies, compliance fee" etc fees they charge.

I do not know about your area, but I called 8 local locksmiths within a 25 mile radius. NONE of them wanted to touch this.