The Evolution of Car Keys: From Traditional Mechanics to Keyless Cars

22 August 2024
Blog

As the younger generations become the main drivers on the UK’s roads, fewer motorists will recall the simple flat blades that, until the 1990s, were common across all makes and models of cars. Made from metal and featuring distinctive ridges and grooves that matched the locking mechanisms on the vehicle, these primitive keys were easy to duplicate but, conversely, easy to steal.

Much progress has been made since then with the advent of electronic keys and programmable fobs. Consequently, it has never been more important that motorists who lose their keys or whose fobs become damaged have quick and easy access to wholesale car keys to ensure they can get back on the road as soon as possible.

So, what options do motorists have in 2024 and what does the future of car key technology hold?

The Ultimate In Convenience

Flat metal blade keys were superceded in the 1990s and early 2000s by remote car fobs which allowed vehicle owners to unlock or lock the car from a distance, instead of having to manually insert the key. Equipped with a foldable or fixed key blade , these fobs were electronically tuned to the car’s engine to eliminate the problem of illicit duplications.

Today, virtually all new vehicles are equipped with keyless technology. Fobs, which often do not have a visible key blade at all (other than the internal emergency blade), can be used to remotely activate the door locks and will even allow drivers to start the car by pressing a button – so long as the fob is within range. If it isn’t, the immobiliser will kick in and the engine will refuse to start.

Some keyless cars don’t even need the driver to press a button on the fob to unlock the doors but will automatically unlock once the fob is close to the vehicle. If the fob moves out of range, the doors will lock.

Keys That Do More

The next evolution in car key technology is smart keys or fobs, which feature an expanded range of functions. Users can remotely activate the locks or the headlights, view essential vehicle information such as fuel levels or interior climate, and even move the car a few feet if it is parked in a tight spot and the doors won’t fully open.

Smart technology is also taking advantage of mobile phone apps, allowing motorists to use their smartphones to access their car and start the engine. This is of particular value to fleet operators, allowing them to issue individual access permissions to designated drivers or to eliminate the problem of physical keys being handed round a number of staff which increases the risk of loss or theft.

Think Smart: Prepare Your Business For The Future

Given the rapid advances in car key technology in the last three decades, it is certain that new innovations will surface in the next few years, especially as vehicle manufacturers devise more robust ways to tackle car crime, such as relay attacks.

Therefore, it’s crucial that you equip your business with replacement key and fobs and programming equipment to ensure you can deliver a reliable and seamless service for your customers, so they won’t be left stranded when their keys go astray or stop working.