Prius Prime Key FOB Lost / Stolen Replacement

For future reference ... If you're an Apple user you can hang an AirTag on your key ring. There are 3rd party similar device locators as well.
As an aside my son who looses things all the time purchased lost key insurance when he purchased his '21 corolla. No idea what it cost but it replaced his lost FOB 100% when, you guessed it, he lost his SmartKey FOB.

 

I have feared losing the fob when I first purchased the 2017 PP and planned to have a third fob pre-programmed in advance. I purchased virginized FOB online for ~$100 (not brand new, but very clean and looked new). Then asked around to see how much it cost to have it programmed. This is when I found out that a local locksmith would charge more than the dealer would. The dealer gave me an estimate of ~$100 but a few locksmiths I called quoted above $200 for just programing, and some would not work with BYO keyfobs, so I had to purchase a brand new OEM fob from them at MSRP. The only thing is that I never took the fob anywhere. I never programmed it for my 2017 PP. I am glad I did not, for I sold the car 2.5 years later. I still have the virginized fob with me if I lose the fob for my new 2021 PP. At this point, the chance of losing both fobs at the same time is low enough so that I am going to wait to use it until I really need to have another fob programmed.

Just curious, did it apply to the entire cost of replacing both lost FOBs for $450 + tax. What was the limit? Now come to think of it, would the comprehensive part of the car insurance cover such loss??? I think not, but never hurt to ask. We had AAA membership for a long time but have not used their services for years. The cost has gone up too much, something like $130 for two of us on Premium membership. I dropped our membership and switched to an insurance company's roadside assistant plan. The coverage is on cars rather than on the member, but it now costs only ~$20/yr for two cars for more miles of towing, Although I have not used their roadside service yet, so I don't know how well their service works in a case of emergency.

 

Yep, I was a proud member of NEW ENGLAND AAA for over 20 years. What I had was the same membership as yours. AAA Plus. $82 for myself and $51 for associate membership, total $133/yr. It was a wonderful service when we had less reliable cars and did more long-distance traveling and especially when our kids took a car to a college. But, after all our kids are out of college and got newer cars, and doing less and less long-distance traveling, the chance of using AAA service was getting so small I decided to stop the membership a few years ago. For the last 5+ years of AAA membership holding period, the only service I used was the free passport photo. That was worth less than $15. Not worth keep paying the membership dues. I do remember calling AAA for unlocking my car door with the key inside more than once. But since that was AAA service truck that came, I did not have to pay out of my pocket. I never lost a key.

 

I also lost one of my key fobs and was hoping to replace. Do you know the locksmith you used? I also live in the Boston area. Thank you so much