When I bought my 2020 Prius Prime, we received 2 door keys. We were told a third key would cost about $500 CDN. I'm just wondering, do you have to purchase the door keys from Toyota or can you get them from a third part for cheaper?
You can buy from online somewhat cheaper than from a dealer. I can't remember exact price of a new fob, but I think it was ~$250 from a dealer. You can get a new fob slightly cheaper online or you can find a used fob that have been "virginized" for much less. The problem is that you will have to take the fob to somewhere who can do the programing. Programing will cost you anywhere from $100-$250 at a dealer or at lock smith authorized to perform such procedure. Some dealer or locksmith will not accept the customer provided fob, so you need to check in advance. I have read here the DIY method using pirated copy of Techstream, if you want to go that route.
Are we assuming here that what is wanted is an additional fob, and not just the mechanical key, the only function of which is to open the driver's door? It's the fob part that costs $$$ to buy and get programmed.
You do not have to purchase door keys for your 2020 Prius Prime exclusively from Toyota. While Toyota dealerships are one option for obtaining replacement keys, you can also find keys from other sources such as locksmiths or online retailers. These third-party options may offer keys at a lower cost than Toyota dealerships. However, it is important to ensure that the keys you purchase from third-party sources are compatible with your specific make and model of car and that they are programmed correctly to work with your vehicle's immobilizer system. In some cases, third party keys may not work and could damage your car. It is recommended to check with a professional locksmith or dealership to ensure that you're getting the right key for your car.
Today I went to a Toyota Dealership as I had a spare fob key from my previous prius prime of same year and trim. I asked them to reprogram the key for my current prius prime. But Dealership told me that once a key is setup with one car, it cannot be reprogrammed. He told me to get the spare key I have to buy a new fob, which is never programmed. As per Dealership new fob will cost $350. Can someone confirm if the above is true i.e , a fob key cannot be erased and reprogrammed.
I'll probably be sorry for commenting but.............. I think that the "programming" happens in the CAR, telling it to recognize the "code" that is sent out by the key. That just seems logical to me. But if it was a REALLY high security arrangement, both the car and the key would be programmed to recognize each other. I somehow doubt that it is that sophisticated; would cost too much.
My MB dealer said my SL and Coupe could accommodate eight fob programmings before a component in the car would need to be replaced.
Wow, so the Toyota dealership was somewhat correct. If I need to reprogram my old car fob, I will have to erase all keys and register the SEED ID.
