When buying a used car that was used locally, are you guys concerned about the prior owner having a copy of the keys?

If so, do you get the doors and ignition re-keyed (both physical and programming)? Or not concerned at all? Does it matter if you purchase from a private party vs a dealer?

If you re-key, how much does it cost (roughly)? I'm seeing numbers like $1500 (4 doors + ignition; 2 copies).

Not concerned at all. The chances of you ever running into a former owner and having them recognize it as theirs is minimal. The chances of them having kept a secret spare key for nefarious purposes is even more minimal. So we're talking really miniscule probability here.


Most cars produced in the last decade or more use electronic fobs for the doors and ignition instead of manual keys anyway.

They come with two fobs from the factory, and folks generally aren't going to spend hundreds of dollars to buy and program a spare third fob. So if you get both fobs when you buy the car then there's even less to worry about.

No, that's silly. Especially in Cali, they'll just break your window and steal it the old fashioned way.

I've never heard of anyone doing that ever. And on a modern car with a chipped ignition, it could be quite complicated.

Key fobs on it for unlock/lock? Or it is so old that it is physical keys only?

Thanks. It sounds like re-programming the chips is straightforward but a little expensive ($500 for 2?) - erases access for prior keys.

But physical key, including valet key, even though they can't start the car, can access the interior w/o alarms going off.

But it's true that thiefs can just break the window. It may be possible to encounter a prior owner but less likely if I change the plates (cheap) and probably won't recognize (how many people recognize their VIN).

And you're probably right - even if prior owner recognizes the car, it's unlikely they would try to access - likely not a thief.

I guess I'm too paranoid here. I'll just change the plates (cheap and easy to do) and leave it that. Unless I only get one fob, then I'll re-reprogam. But won't change the physical keying.

Thanks guys.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Key fobs on it for unlock/lock? Or it is so old that it is physical keys only?

Not sure yet - haven't found the used truck to buy yet. But it'll be a 2014-2020 model year. Likely will come w/ a fob at least for the doors and perhaps keyless ignition.

What is it, a Dodge Hellcat?

Huh? How did you guess that?

Probably a tacoma. Maybe a tundra (but it's little big for my garage).

Repaint it, and register it in Montana LOL

Wouldn't be concerned, you can always add a vehicle tracker to it and be able to give the police the information on the theft.

Lots of cars are stolen and driven to WalMart or some large parking lot outdoors and left to see if it's checked by law enforcement for a few days before transport.

Strangely, I'm less worried about theft of vehicle than (unawareness) of theft of items from the car. If someone breaks a window, I know. If someone is using a key to get into the car to steal things, that's a larger concern.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Lots of cars are stolen and driven to WalMart or some large parking lot outdoors and left to see if it's checked by law enforcement for a few days before transport.

So, if your car gets stolen, you can just check the local mall parking lot, and "steal" it back? Some young "entrepreneur" is probably considering a new business model! Who has a source for a commercially-available plate reader?

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:

Not sure yet - haven't found the used truck to buy yet. But it'll be a 2014-2020 model year. Likely will come w/ a fob at least for the doors and perhaps keyless ignition.

I would recommend, vs. reprogramming the fobs (This year range will have fobs, and there should be 2. If only one, don’t buy the vehicle), go aftermarket alarm. Compustar with Drone Mobile. Drone Mobile will send you push notifications to your phone/watch/tablet of any lock or unlock event. Any alarm. Even low voltage on your 12v. Been using it for 6 years now and will have it on every one of my vehicles.

I re-key all of mine.

Takes me about 30 minutes for each door and 15 for the column.

Reprogramming the chipset can take a few minutes to override or program when I have time.

I may have $60 in the whole conversion.

If you only get one fob, the cost of another one should be factored into the purchase price. Or just don't buy it.

One fob wouldn't be a deal breaker for me if the guy seemed on the level. If at all sketchy, I wouldn't buy it in any case.

Anything can happen but its not something I woukd worry about, think about or go through the expense and hassle of re-keying the ignition and doors. If I were buying a used car I'd be more concerned with how the car was maintained and driven than I would be about the PO having a spare set of keys with the intent of stealing the car back.

No. But I wipe the memory from my garage door opener and re-enroll my devices after I trade a vehicle.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Strangely, I'm less worried about theft of vehicle than (unawareness) of theft of items from the car. If someone breaks a window, I know. If someone is using a key to get into the car to steal things, that's a larger concern.

Leave nothing open in the Truck, and/or get a console vault, put the trucks papers and anything else in the vault.

If you drive anywhere in the Bay area and park it, might as well leave it unlocked, especially if they see you put anything into it such as a back pack, bag from shopping, etc. At least that way you aren't out the cost of a window replacement.

If your buying private party and the mope only gives you one or two fobs, I guess you could waterboard the shit out of him/her/it to make sure no other copies exist.

Or you could just re-key/re-program or not worry about it.

Not really a concern, but it’s possible on modern cars to go into the the computer through the OBD2 port to check the keys programmed to the car. That said, I bought a fairly unique vehicle recently and only received one key fob. It’s easy enough to locate a vehicle based on registration with a VIN, but the car while registered in my primary state of TN stayed garaged in TX at work and home. When the vehicle came back to TN for good, I got a second FOB and deleted the missing key mostly to have a backup but also to give myself peace of mind knowing someone wasn’t out there with a good key. Odds are slim that anyone would do anything but now I sleep better knowing I have possession of the only two working keys.

My dad bought a used car in the early 70s that was stolen less than a month after he purchased it. He swears it was stolen by the people that sold him the car. Obviously back then anyone could cut a key at a local hardware store. With today’s cars, most require the keys to be present to do anything programming or go through the manufacturer to get the ability to program without keys. Anything can be stolen if someone wants it bad enough but the level of thief rises with the complexity. So unless you are buying a hard to get/rare or desirable hyper expensive vehicle I wouldn’t worry so much about meth head Timmy coming back to get it.