AutoZone charges about $15 to $280 for a car key or key fob, depending on the type. But most AutoZone stores no longer cut or program car keys, so you usually still need a locksmith to finish the job. For a cut, programmed car key in Las Vegas, call (702) 356-0352.
What AutoZone charges for a car key or key fob
AutoZone sells uncut keys, remotes, and key fobs. A basic metal key blank is cheap, while a smart key fob with buttons costs a lot more. Here is what most drivers pay for the part alone.
- Basic metal key blank: about $15 to $30
- Transponder chip key: about $40 to $120
- Key fob or remote with buttons: about $80 to $200
- Smart key fob or push to start: up to about $280
You can view the prices online, order the key fob, and pick it up in store. AutoZone often stocks these remotes through a brand like Car Keys Express, so the exact fob depends on your car.
To find the right key fob, AutoZone asks for your year, make, and model, then shows the matching remotes on the product page. You can order online and pick up in store, or check the shelf. Either way, confirm the part number matches your car before you buy, because the wrong fob will not program.
The catch is simple. The price you see is for an uncut, unprogrammed key fob. You still have to cut the blade and program the chip before the key fob will start your car. That extra step is where most people get stuck.
Key fob battery replacement at AutoZone
Before you buy a new key fob, check the battery. A dead key fob battery is the most common reason a fob stops working, and it is the cheapest fix by far.
AutoZone sells the small coin battery for a few dollars. A key fob battery replacement is an easy DIY job. Pop the key fob open with a coin or a small tool, note which way the old battery sits, drop in the fresh battery, and snap the fob shut.
Most key fobs use a CR2032 or CR2025 battery. If your key fob has weak range, sticky buttons, or needs several presses, a new battery usually brings it back to life for under $10.
Change the battery first, then test every button. If a fresh battery does not fix it, the key fob itself may be broken, and then you need a replacement key fob and programming.
A weak battery can also make buttons feel broken when the fob still works. Change the battery, then check that the lock and unlock buttons respond. If the range is still short, the fob may be worn out, and a replacement is the next step. A working fob with a fresh battery is the cheapest fix, while a broken fob needs a full replace.
Does AutoZone cut or program car keys?
Mostly no. Most AutoZone stores sell the key fob and the battery, but they do not cut the blade or program the chip to your car. A store associate can ring up the part, not finish the key.
A few locations copy a basic metal key on a machine. But they cannot program a transponder chip or a smart key fob. For any chipped key, a customer still needs a dealer or an automotive locksmith to do the programming.
Some key fobs can be self programmed with a series of on and off turns, and AutoZone prints those steps for a few models. For most cars after the mid 2000s, though, programming needs a scan tool. For the full story, read our guide on whether AutoZone can program a car key.
Programming is the real hurdle. A transponder key and a smart key fob both need programming to pair with your car, and key fob programming can fail if the tool is wrong for your model. When self programming does not work, or the fob is broken, you need a pro to program the replacement key. A locksmith or dealer handles key fob programming for the cars AutoZone cannot. A locksmith service will program and cut the replacement key, then replace your lost key the same day.
Is an AutoZone key fob a good deal?
An AutoZone key fob can be a good deal on the part, and you can view the price on the product page or in store before you buy. Some drivers also compare the fob on Amazon to find a lower cost.
But a cheap fob is only a good deal if you can cut and program it. If you buy online to save a few dollars, then pay a shop to finish the key fob, the total cost often lands near a locksmith price. Add the time to find a store that programs your model, and the savings shrink fast.
The smart move is to price the whole job, not just the part. Check the product page, but a good fob is only good once it works. In store service to change and program the key adds to the cost. A working key that starts your car is the goal, not a fob in a box.
AutoZone vs a Las Vegas locksmith: the real cost
Buying a key fob at AutoZone can save a little on the part. But a half programmed key fob sitting in a drawer does not start your car, so the sticker price is not the true cost.
Once you add cutting and programming somewhere else, the AutoZone route often costs about the same as a locksmith, and it takes longer. You buy the fob, drive to a shop that can cut it, then find someone to program it.
A locksmith cuts and programs the key fob on site in one visit, so you drive away the same day. Our car key replacement service handles the part, the cut, and the programming together.
See our Las Vegas locksmith pricing for a flat rate that includes everything. When you compare the full job, a locksmith is usually the faster and simpler choice for a working key.
When to skip AutoZone and call a locksmith
Buy from AutoZone when you only need a cheap key fob battery or a spare metal key for an older car. Those are quick, low cost jobs you can do yourself.
Skip AutoZone when you have lost all keys, need a transponder chip programmed, or want the car key working today. Those jobs need tools and key stock that AutoZone stores do not carry.
An automotive locksmith comes to you, cuts the key, and programs the fob to your car on the spot. If you just bought a used car, you can check its history first with the NICB VINCheck tool before you cut new keys.
Ready for a key that actually works? Call (702) 356-0352 or book car key replacement with a Las Vegas locksmith. We serve the whole valley and finish the key on the spot, no second trip needed.