Car Keys For Aging Parents and Loved Ones

Caregivers of elderly loved ones sometimes find themselves facing difficult choices. If an elderly parent or loved one is driving recklessly, it may be time to take away their car keys.

A lot of cars come with a driver's setting that is set to a specific key. This feature is especially beneficial if you share your vehicle with a number of people.

Transponder Keys

Transponder keys are common in a majority of modern cars. They provide an additional layer of security to the car that regular keys cannot. They are tiny microchips in your keys that send a signal to the car's immobilizer system that allows it to start only if a valid key is within reach. This kind of technology has drastically reduced car theft rates across the world.

It's not 100% secure. Professional thieves have found ways to fake the signals while still hotwiring the vehicle. They can also repurpose key blanks to create their own transponder. Even if your car is equipped with transponder keys, it's worth getting a spare.

A reputable locksmith can create them for you at much less than the price of car dealerships. They will analyze your key to determine the most effective methods of programming and copying. The new key can be programmed to work with your vehicle.

A reputable locksmith should also be able assist you with non-transponder keys or "flat" keys. These keys function mechanically by cutting the sides of the key, and they don't use any electronic technology to communicate with your vehicle. These keys are easy for children to use as they are less secure. Anyone with a key-cutter may also copy keys.

Smart Keys Keys

Many modern vehicles are equipped with smart keys, a type of key fob that can perform the basic functions of a remote, but also comes with additional features. Smart keys are able to lock and unlock your car from a distance without you needing to touch any buttons. You can also use them to start your engine. These functions are functional even if the key is in your pocket or purse.

Smart keys are extremely secure. Hackers can't easily steal your car since the signals they send are encrypted. A computer in your car verifies the rolling codes generated by the smart keys prior making the engine start.

You may encounter some bugs as the technology is still in development. For instance, if you key and your phone are too close to each other, your cell's normal operating signals could interfere with the signal your smart key transmits.

Certain smart keys come with tiny color touchscreens. For instance, BMW developed the Display Key with a display that allows the driver to perform a range of functions via the key fob including locking, unlocking and even starting. The key also informs the user when the battery is low and will offer a replacement seat Car key from your dealer.

Keyless Entry

If you don't wish to go quite as far as a smart key or transponder key A keyless entry system will allow you to lock or unlock your car with the press of a key. These systems utilize radio signals, known as RF to connect to a receiver inside the vehicle. Based on the system being employed, the signal could also be used to turn on the engine of the vehicle and disarm the alarm for security.

Using keyless entry can eliminate the need to hide spare keys, which are a major theft target. There is no need to worry about misplacing or losing keys to your car, which can occur at any moment. It is important to change the code frequently to ensure your security.

The way keyless entry works is to press the button on your mobile or physical key fob to send an audio signal of 315 Megaherz. The signal gets encrypted and scrambled before being sent out, so that even if hackers intercept it then they won't have the ability to gain access to your car.

Certain keyless entry kits come with an engine that is not starting, which means the car will continue to run and start the engine even if the key isn't within range. This feature is designed to prevent your car from running short on gas and to prevent poisonous fumes from entering the interior.

Remote Start

No matter if your car is parked in your driveway or parked on the street remote start systems provide security and peace of mind. By pressing a button on your key fob or a "start" button through an app the system will send the signal to the RES control module to start heating up your engine.

This system also functions to control other functions inside your vehicle, like opening and closing windows or changing the temperature of your heated/cooled seats. Some systems are more versatile and have auxiliary channels that can be used to control things such as power-assisted steering wheel, automatic climate controls, as well as rear defrost.

The good news is that a majority of Seats made since 1995 include transponders embedded in the key. Most modern cars are compatible with remote start systems. However, some older seat spare key models will require a key that has an older transponder chip and will not work with any remote-start systems.

Many parents have had the experience when they get back into the car seat arona key of their child but are unable to press the release button in the red color. A company called NAMRA designed a solution for this issue making it easier to unbuckle the seat leon key programming even if you have a hard time pressing down on the buckle with your thumb.