Nowadays, you might have noticed that not all cars have the same type of entry systems. Some cars use traditional keys while others use transponder keys, designed to activate your ignition when near your car’s steering wheel. Because of this, the professionals at Ability Lock & Key in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad area offer services designed to suit both types of vehicle keys. However, to get the most out of their key replacement services, it’s important to understand the differences between transponder and traditional car keys.

How Do Transponder Keys Differ From Traditional Car Keys?

Transponder keys are equipped with a special type of transponder that wirelessly connects to a device installed adjacent to your vehicle’s ignition switch. The wireless device acts as a receiver, and as soon as the transponder is within reach of the device, your ignition can be activated.

Both transponder and traditional car keys have an actual key that can be inserted into the ignition to start the car in many cases. However, if your car requires a transponder key, it can be started only with the key that corresponds to the wireless device installed adjacent to your ignition. Auto manufacturers began creating such keys over 20 years ago to prevent hot-wiring. 

How Can I Tell Them Apart?

Telling transponder and regular car keys apart is easy because the plastic part of the key that houses the transponder chip is usually much larger than the plastic base of a regular car key. One of the leading benefits of transponder car keys over traditional car keys is that even if the key part breaks off in the ignition, your vehicle will still be able to start if its transponder chip is intact.

If you live in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad area and need a timely solution for your car key issues, contact the professionals from Ability Lock & Key today. Call (336) 407-1586 or visit their website for more on their services.