I have no experience but ACE Hardware and some other places claim to replace FOB's. I'll be interested in seeing other replies.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE ON THE FORUM

 

I would also suggest contacting a lock/keysmith and see what they say about programming aftermarket fobs. You definitely want fobs with immobilizers especially if the car isn't a push button start.

 

With a pro level scanner, programming is not an issue, key/fob.

 

You can buy a key FOB -- I purchased one from South Korea because it was a lot cheaper. I went to the dealer I purchased the car from, and they programmed the key when I got an oil change from them for free. I did go to a locksmith to have the key cut, however, and because it was not a normal key like your house key, it did cost a lot more.

 

You can get a replacement fob usually ONCE from your car insurance. Give them a call, most policies cover it

 

Even if it's covered, you need to weigh the downside of making a claim for something like a keyfob.

 

There are keymakers in trucks that occasionally hang out at Sam's Clubs and/or Walmarts. One quoted me $250 for a FOB for a 2017 Sportage. Buying one from eBay or parts store still requires taking it to a dealer for programming.

 

Well, I bought a FOB off ebay and dealer 7 min away said they can program it for me for $85. I called 2 other dealers who said they wouldn't. Called 2 locksmiths that were of no help and ACE Hardware could do it but maybe $60 cheaper than the dealership.

Lesson to learn - make sure the car you buy has 2 keys before you finalize the deal. Keating Toyota in Houston gave me a good deal but refused to even contribute anything to the cost of a new FOB.

 

I'm an automotive locksmith and won't program a customers bought fob unless it's OEM. I can't warranty that and even if you explain that customers will still complain when it stops working. Aftermarket fobs are hit and miss. Not joking and lesson learned we have about $10,000 worth of aftermarket fobs our dist. has agreed to take back. We won't sell them any more, too many issues. OEM or refurb OEM is the way to go. Ilco makes really good aftermarket but they are more expensive than the cheap Chinese kaka Chuck in truck programs for $100 and 3 months later stop working and Chuck doesn't return your calls. Not being cocky but we do 120 to 150 calls per week. I don't deal with people who want discounts, tire kickers, or people I can tell are going to be a pain in the ass. We have too much work as it is and too little time. The other issue we have with customers is when we tell them before we touch their vehicle if they find their old fob it's not going to work any more and if they want it to work there will be a programming fee. I can't tell you how many of these people say we never told them that after they find their lost fob. I don't know why but people who lose their keys are sometimes the worst people to deal with.

So the answer is no you can't program your fob unless you have a programmer that can do it. Not all of them can and sometimes they don't work on all vehicles so you have to try another programmer. A company sent me a free programmer worth about $800 for an Amazon review. It won't program fobs as is. It can do some if you pay them a fee per vehicle so be careful if you buy one. If you asked me what to buy I would say an Autel 508 is a good place to start. Autel also got into the fob business. They only make push to start though currently. If you need a key type with a transponder they don't have those yet. We have about 8 different programmers. There isn't one that will do all makes reliably. Every year this business gets more complicated. Some vehicles need to have the cluster removed, some need the glove box removed to get to hidden connectors. If something takes longer than an hour and half the car needs to come apart we decline them. We do most under $300 where the dealers charge closer to $700. I'm talking all keys lost not dupes this is totally different. We aren't duplicators unless they want a second fob after a lost one.

 

its covered under lock services not colprehensive

Hey there. I have a 2017 Sportage. I bought 1 Fob on Ebay for $16. Went to a special car key place here in my home country of Costa Rica and they programmed it for me. Cost me $80. Way cheaper than the $300 the dealer wanted. Works perfectly fine for me. I made sure when on EBAY:
1). I bought from a place that sold them as OEM
2). Take a picture of your Fob and it's info and send it to the seller to verify that it WILL work on your car.

FYI...I bought my car brand new in Costa Rica where I live and bought the replacement FOB on Ebay and brought it back with me after visiting the states. Works fine for me. GL!

 

No way that's a new OEM for $16 and I don't care what they told you. There are refurbished OEM's but those aren't $16 either. There are a lot of counterfits out there that look exactly the same. We have $10,000 worth of Chinese shit our Dist. told us were good to go. They are garbage crap out in the field. They finally agreed to take them all back. I will only use OEM (real ones), OEM refurbs, Ilco, or Autel as of this post. So much garbage out there. A refurb would be an OEM board in an aftermarket housing (shell) or an OEM with a bad part like a coil that was replaced and resold. A local supplier sells aftermarket at wholesale for $1.99 for what the dealer charges us $125 for. They are not even close to the same. The stuff we are returning was hit and miss out of the package if they would program. Some work fine, so won't program at all and some last for a few months and shit the bed. You can't run an honest business like that. I need to know everyone I program will be as good as OEM.