Losing car keys can be an incredibly frustrating experience, particularly if the spares are also missing or the motorist is too far from home to retrieve them. Yet it’s a problem that affects many car owners every year: according to research conducted by the RAC, more than two million drivers have admitted to permanently losing their keys, with the majority having no idea where.
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.
Advances in vehicle security have significantly reduced the number of car thefts in the UK in the last 30 years, but car crime is a persistent problem that hasn’t gone away.
When a customer loses their car keys, inconvenience is unavoidable, particularly if they are away from home and, therefore, not within reach of the spares. However, the consequences aren’t limited to disrupted routines, particularly as modern car keys and fobs are equipped with advanced security features that make it challenging to duplicate a lost key.
Before electronic car keys were a thing, flat-bladed keys were the norm and, not coincidentally, rates of vehicle theft were alarmingly high. These keys could be easily duplicated for only a few pounds on the high street, allowing criminals to open and start virtually any car.
It was in 1949 that US car manufacturer Chrysler launched the first car key that, by itself, could be used to start a vehicle’s engine. Prior to this revolution in automotive technology, the car key was simply a way to activate the electrical circuit: the engine itself would have to be cranked by hand.
Car keys have undergone a remarkable transformation in recent decades, driven by rapid advances in technology and soaring demand from motorists for more innovative and intuitive designs. Some car manufacturers have ditched the classic key altogether in favour of high-tech fobs, while others are giving classic keys an aesthetic overhaul.
If your business reprogrammes replacement car keys and fobs, a major change in industry regulations will affect you in 2024 with the introduction of SERMI certification. Without this, you will no longer be authorised to access vehicle security information, so it is vital that you act quickly to prepare for the change.
In this article, we’ll explain what SERMI is, who it affects, and how you can register.
For garages who are striving to stay one step ahead of their rivals, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and customer satisfaction are vital ingredients of business success. Adding spare car keys to your existing range of services could be a lucrative decision, but it is advantageous to buy spare keys from a wholesaler in bulk rather than individually, the reasons for which we will outline in this article.
In the garage services sector, customer satisfaction is the key to business success and profitability. While the focus often revolves around providing efficient repairs and maintenance, spare car keys are often overlooked as a valuable source of income and a vital service for increasing footfall to the forecourt.