It costs £40 to £100 to repair a damaged car key fob, and the repair covers the circuit board, the buttons or the casing. Pairing a working fob with the car again costs £60 to £120. A replacement fob as a spare costs £80 to £220, so a repair is the cheaper job.
Key Fob Repair Cost Finder
Pick the fault.
Worn buttons or a failed switch are repaired for £40 to £100.
Water damage is corrosion on the circuit board. The repair costs £40 to £100.
A cracked case or a loose blade is repaired for £40 to £100.
The battery and the contacts are checked, then the fob is paired with the car again for £60 to £120.
A fob that works at very close range has a very weak battery. A fresh battery is fitted in 5 to 10 minutes.
A replacement fob as a spare costs £80 to £220, supplied and programmed.
Not sure of the fault? Call 07830249408 and describe what the fob does.
Fob stopped working? Call 07830249408 in Devon, Dorset or Somerset. I diagnose the fob at the car and repair it before I recommend a new one.
The sections below give the car key fob repair cost by fault, the cost of a repair against a replacement, the 4 causes, the repair time and the 3 checks to make first.
A damaged car key fob costs £40 to £100 to repair, £60 to £120 to pair again and £80 to £220 to replace as a spare. Most fobs are fixed on site without a new fob.
What Does a Car Key Fob Repair Cost by Fault?
A car key fob repair costs £40 to £100 by fault for worn buttons, a cracked casing or a damaged circuit board, and £60 to £120 when the fob is paired with the car again. The table below lists the 6 faults.
| Fault | Likely Cause | Fix and Price |
|---|---|---|
| One button works and the others do not | A worn button or a failed switch on the circuit board | Repair, £40 to £100 |
| The fob was dropped in water | Corrosion on the circuit board | Repair, £40 to £100 |
| The case is cracked or the blade is loose | Impact damage | Repair, £40 to £100 |
| A new battery is in and the fob is still dead | Wrong battery type, a poor contact or lost synchronisation | Pairing, £60 to £120 |
| The fob works at very close range only | A very weak battery | A fresh battery, fitted in 5 to 10 minutes |
| The fob is beyond repair | A failed circuit board | Replacement fob as a spare, £80 to £220 |
DB Car Keys charges a call out fee of £0, and the fault is diagnosed before any work is recommended.
Is It Cheaper to Repair or Replace a Car Key Fob?
It is cheaper to repair a car key fob than to replace it, at £40 to £100 for a repair against £80 to £220 for a replacement fob as a spare. A main dealer charges £150 to £350 for a spare key. Most fob faults are a weak battery, lost synchronisation or a damaged circuit board, and most are fixed without a new fob.
What Are the 4 Causes of a Damaged or Dead Key Fob?
The 4 causes of a damaged or dead key fob are a dead battery, lost synchronisation, water or impact damage and signal interference.
Dead or weak battery
By far the most common cause. A fresh battery of the right type often resolves the fault at once.
Lost synchronisation
A fob loses its pairing after a new battery, after another key was programmed or through electronic drift.
Water or impact damage
A drop or a soaking damages the circuit board, the buttons or the casing.
Signal interference
Another transmitter nearby blocks the signal for a short time.
Can a Damaged Car Key Fob Be Repaired?
A damaged car key fob can be repaired in most cases, because most fob failures are battery faults, synchronisation loss or damage to the circuit board and not a failed fob. The battery, the contacts, the circuit board and the pairing are checked before a repair or a replacement is recommended.
A car key fob repaired on site is diagnosed first, so a new fob is supplied only when the old fob is beyond repair.
How Long Does a Car Key Fob Repair Take?
A car key fob repair takes about 30 minutes on site for most fobs. A battery replacement takes 5 to 10 minutes, pairing a fob with the car again takes 20 to 30 minutes and a replacement fob takes 30 to 45 minutes once the fob is in stock.
Which 3 Checks Come Before a Key Fob Repair?
The 3 checks before a key fob repair are the battery, the spare key and the range.
- The battery. Fit a fresh car key battery of the right type with the polarity the right way round.
- The spare key. A spare that works shows the fault is in the fob and not in the car.
- The range. A fob that works right next to the car and not from a distance has a very weak battery.
Does a Repaired Key Fob Lose Its Programming?
A repaired key fob does not lose its programming in most cases, because the coding stays in the fob during a button or casing repair. A fob that lost its pairing is synchronised with the car again through the diagnostic port, with no new fob. The cost to reprogram a fob applies only when the pairing is lost.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Key Fob Repair Cost
It costs £40 to £100 to repair a key fob with DB Car Keys, with no call out fee. The repair covers the circuit board, the buttons or the casing.
Yes, a car key fob is repaired in most cases. Most fob faults are a weak battery, lost synchronisation or a damaged circuit board, and most are fixed without a new fob.
Key fob programming costs £60 to £120 when a working fob is paired with the car again, in 20 to 30 minutes. The cost to reprogram a car key follows the key type and the make.
A replacement key fob costs £80 to £220 as a spare, supplied and programmed in 30 to 45 minutes once the fob is in stock. A main dealer charges £150 to £350.
Yes, a water damaged key fob is repaired when the corrosion on the circuit board is caught early. The repair costs £40 to £100, and the fob is assessed on site.
A key fob does not work after a battery change for 1 of 3 reasons, which are the wrong battery type or polarity, lost synchronisation, or a circuit board damaged before the change. The guide to the car key battery replacement cost covers the battery types.
A Renault key card that is cracked or bent is replaced, not repaired, because the internal circuit is split. A replacement card from stock is programmed at the car in under 30 minutes.
Yes, a key shop on the high street repairs fob cases and changes fob batteries. The car goes to the shop for any programming, and a mobile auto locksmith does the same work at the car.
A whole new car key costs £150 to £400 or more with every key lost. A replacement car key is priced by job in the guide to the replacement car key cost in the UK.
Dean answers in plain words
Do I have to bring the car to you?
No. I come to your home, your workplace or the roadside. No towing and no booking in.
How do I get a price?
Call with the make, model and year. The quote is free and you get it before I travel.
Based in Honiton. Working since 2009. Dealer level programming equipment on the van.
Free upfront quote. Available 24 hours a day.