And what you can actually do about it. Drop your phone, and your day’s ruined. Lose your car key, and your month might be. In 2025, replacing a modern key fob can cost more than buying a new iPhone.

Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. The days of replacing a car key by having an ...

In a world in which new cars now cost upward of $50,000 on average, annual maintenance bills are creeping up to four figures, and such outlays don't seem to be getting cheaper any time soon, a ...

If you think you can go to any hardware store to have a new car key cut for a few bucks, you’re still living in the 20th century. Nowadays, when you lose a key or need an extra, you’ll probably have ...

Modern car key fobs are expensive to replace, often costing hundreds to over $1,000. Key fobs are complex computers requiring proprietary programming, usually by dealerships. Local locksmiths can ...