What are the differences between laser cut keys and regular keys?

Laser cut car keys were first used in the 1990s, especially by luxury car models, in order to increase car’s security against theft. These keys are thicker than regular keys and are cut from the middle by engraving a groove. The same exact laser groove is made on both sides of the key therefore it can be inserted into the lock facing either side and still function. Due to the fact that key blanks for laser cut are thicker they are also heavier than a regular key blanks. Finally it can be said that a lot of laser cut keys have a remote head instead of a simple plastic cap. A remote head is simply the combination of a car’s remote with the metal portion of the key. On the other hand a regular cut key has it’s unique cuts on both sides rather than the center of the key. The regular keys has the same exact cuts on both sides of the key therefore just like the laser cut keys, it can be inserted both ways in order to start the car. One last thing is that all laser cut keys contain a transponder chip inside it, however not all regular cut keys have a transponder chip inside their plastic caps.

Do laser cut keys provide higher security than regular keys?

Yes! Laser keys provide an extra blanket of security for the vehicle which makes it much harder to steal. A laser cut key requires a dealership or a professional locksmith to cut therefore a thief cannot easily obtain a replica of your car keys. On the other hand a regular key can easily be cut by using the simplest cutting machines in the industry that are used to cut simple house keys. Plus it requires a much greater precision to cut a laser key than a regular key because even a millimeter difference in depth or height can make the key invalid. This is why a computerized high precision laser key cutting machines are a must in order to make a functioning key.

Which Type of Key Costs Less?

One of the most frequently asked questions about laser keys are its cost to get one made since it is an advanced key. We can say that most of the time laser cut keys will be more expensive than regular keys because of the expensive equipment used to cut these keys. Also laser cut keys are typically for more luxury cars therefore they tend to be more expensive due to the complex key system. Typically the key blanks for laser cut keys are more expensive as well which adds on to the cost. The good news is that usually there is not a significant price difference to make these high security laser keys a bad option for the budget. You can Contact your local locksmith or dealership for a quick over the phone price quote to get new or spare keys for your car. We highly recommend our customers to get a price quote from at least two different places in order to make sure they are getting the best deal out there.