Car keys or keyless remote

Car keys present certain advantages and disadvantages that a driver should consider when making the choice between the traditional car key and the increasingly popular keyless remote. There are both safety and economic issues to consider.

Go with Car Keys

• Keep what you know. We are creatures of habit, and virtually everyone carries keys of some sort. There are keys to the house, keys to the shed, keys to a lockbox and keys to work, etc. You carry keys with you every day. One more key is more likely to keep the other keys company than to present an unmanageable situation.



• Easier to hide a copy. A single car key is much smaller and easier to hide than the fob that operates a keyless car remote. Some people simply keep a copy of car keys in a wallet or purse, while others find a secret location - usually outside the house - to get to an extra car in the event they are locked out of a house or the car.



• Cheaper, easier to copy. Remember to ask for all copies of car keys coming to you when you buy a vehicle. However, if you've lost a car key or simply thought of someone else who should have a copy, car keys are generally less expensive to duplicate than keyless car systems. This is true even though most car keys include a chip that's matched specifically to your VIN number.

Ditch the Car Keys for the Keyless Remote

• Stop losing car keys. There are some people who seem to have a difficult time keeping a set of car keys. While you might also be able to lose the fob to activate the keyless entry, the control is larger and probably a little more difficult to lose than a smaller set of car keys.



• Convenience. There's no doubt that keyless entry into a car is very convenient. Instead of fumbling for a key that very well may be lost, you just have to get the fob. There also is no issue seeing the lock at night to use a key. The press of a button gets you inside.



• More services available on keyless removes. Most car companies include buttons that unlock the trunk and sound the horn to help you find the vehicle in the event you can't remember exactly where you parked. Recently, a number of car companies have added other services, including the ability to start the engine of the vehicle remotely so that the vehicle is warmed up by the time you get in.