One of the most frequent and annoying situations in life is misplacing your car key. Imagine having your hands full of groceries when you exit the store and realizing you can’t find your car keys, or after placing the groceries into the trunk, you realize you’ve locked the key inside the trunk as well and are now locked out of the car.
There are so many possible ways to lose the key to your car. The size of the key makes it a good candidate for many such unfortunate circumstances. It is important to always have a spare at locations that can be conveniently accessed. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
There are many instances where the spare is out of reach and there is no way to access your vehicle. What do you do then? Do you call your car dealership or the locksmith?
By the time you finish reading this post, you’ll be able to tell how each option can benefit you and which one you should use when a situation like this arises.
Should You Choose A Locksmith Over A Dealership?
A car dealership and automotive locksmith are both equipped with the tools to help you replace your keys. However, there are certain factors to consider when making your choice.
Some individuals prefer car dealership services over locksmiths because they may feel more comfortable with their car dealership and have more trust in their service.
On the other hand, people looking for a quicker, cheaper, and more efficient means to replace their key would most likely choose a locksmith.
At the end of the day, careful consideration of all the factors involved would help inform your decision.
Car dealership locksmith vs automotive locksmith
Outlined below are the pros and cons to guide you in choosing either a car dealership or a locksmith to replace your car keys.
Car dealership locksmith pros and cons
The 优点 of choosing a car dealership include:
- Car dealerships are equipped with the right tools to replace your lost car keys
The Cons, however, are:
- Car dealerships services are known to be notoriously costly
- It may take a long while to receive a spare key from a car dealership
automotive locksmith pros and cons
优点
- Replacing your car keys by automotive locksmiths is generally less costly than car dealerships
- Also, locksmiths are usually available to replace your keys right away without unnecessary wait times
缺点
- Not all automotive locksmiths will have the tools or the knowledge necessary to replace the key of all car models.
Why Should You Choose A Locksmith Over A Dealership?
Now that we have considered the pros and cons of selecting a locksmith vs a dealership, we can determine why a locksmith is potentially a better option in the long run.
Locksmiths Usually Have Better Prices
Car dealerships have exorbitant prices for services rendered. It will cost a great amount of money to replace your key at car dealerships. On the other hand, locksmiths can deliver the same services for a much cheaper price. Hence, reducing your expenses.
Locksmiths Are Highly Skilled
Car dealerships are involved in providing a long list of car services. Meanwhile, locksmiths are focused on the best ways to get you into your car and replace your keys. This gives locksmiths a leg up in the skills department. Because of their specialty, they have learned the best ways to handle these types of situations over time and eventually efficiently provide services.
A Locksmith Will Be Onsite ASAP
A locksmith will be favored over a dealership because they will come to you and help you when you need it.
As opposed to a dealership, where you would likely need to make your way there whenever they are open and schedule an appointment before receiving service. Consequently, receiving their service requires a great deal of hassle.
The Technology
The technology used to develop car keys is constantly evolving and becoming more complicated. From the now ancient piece of long metal that fits into a lock, keys are now mini fobs programmed with the technology used to unlock doors at the press of a button.
As key technology has evolved, locksmiths have also learned to program keys of different car models to further assist car owners who have misplaced their keys. When you call an advanced locksmith for your key replacement, you can rest assured that you will be met with a capable locksmith with the right technology to efficiently replace your car key.
Other Key Considerations
It is always beneficial to have the option of a car dealership or locksmith to choose from. Moreover, in the case of an emergency, a locksmith is most likely your best bet.
For instance, if you’re stuck at a location that is a fair distance away from home at an inconvenient time the likelihood that you would be able to access a car dealership is very slim if not at all. However, some locksmiths are available 24/7 that can be of help to you.
Additionally, hiring a dealership to fix the issue if you unluckily lock yourself out of your car will cost you money that you could be saving by calling a locksmith, who can assist you in such instances much more swiftly
Make The Right Choice
Getting stuck in tough situations involving lost keys or destroyed keys and requiring a key replacement is never a fun experience. In situations like this, it is always best to work with a professional who has the means to handle the issue in a convenient, speedy, and affordable manner.
Locksmiths are professionals equipped with the tools and knowledge to quickly and efficiently come to your aid. Car dealerships can help you out of these issues, but it will take longer and cost you more.
Careful consideration of all the factors involved will guide you in making the right choice.
Chinese 
English 
Spanish