Are Aftermarket Key Fobs Reliable? Locksmith Insights You Need to Know

April 27, 2025

In today’s world, key fobs are more than just convenient—they’re essential. From remotely locking and unlocking your vehicle to enabling push-to-start functionality, these small devices have become an inseparable part of modern car ownership. So when your original key fob gets lost, broken, or simply stops working, the sudden urge to find a quick, affordable replacement kicks in. That’s when many people turn to aftermarket key fobs.

But an important question arises: Are aftermarket key fobs really reliable?

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth taking the aftermarket route or sticking with a dealership replacement, you’re not alone. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the pros and cons of aftermarket key fobs, explain the risks involved, share expert locksmith insights, and offer preventive advice to help you make a smart, informed choice.

Let’s unlock the truth behind those tempting alternatives.

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Understanding Aftermarket Key Fobs: What Are They Exactly?

Before we can talk reliability, it’s important to know what we're dealing with.

An aftermarket key fob is a replacement device not made by your car’s original manufacturer. Instead, third-party companies produce these fobs to match or mimic OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) fobs. Some are near-perfect replicas, while others are designed simply to perform basic remote functions like locking, unlocking, or trunk access.

Aftermarket options often come at a fraction of the dealership price, and with the right programming, they can seem just as functional as the real thing. Sounds like a great deal, right?

Not so fast—there’s more under the hood than meets the eye.

Why Car Owners Turn to Aftermarket Fobs

The appeal of aftermarket fobs is easy to understand.

First, cost is a huge factor. OEM fobs can easily cost hundreds of dollars, especially when you add in dealership programming fees. Aftermarket versions typically offer significant savings, sometimes costing less than half the price.

Availability also plays a role. Dealerships sometimes require long wait times to order and program a new fob, while aftermarket options are often available online or through independent locksmiths almost immediately.

Convenience ties everything together. Many drivers prefer the speed and simplicity of aftermarket replacements, particularly when they’re in a pinch and need a functional fob quickly.

However, saving money and time upfront doesn't always guarantee long-term satisfaction.

The Risks and Drawbacks of Aftermarket Key Fobs

While aftermarket fobs can work just fine in some cases, there are definite risks you should be aware of—risks that many drivers only discover after making the switch.

Inconsistent Quality is one of the biggest problems. Not all aftermarket fobs are created equal. Some third-party manufacturers use lower-quality materials, resulting in devices that feel flimsy, respond slowly, or wear out much faster than OEM fobs.

Compatibility Issues are another frequent headache. Even if a fob claims to work for your car's make and model, small differences in chip technology or frequency can prevent it from syncing correctly. In some cases, you may be able to lock or unlock your car, but features like remote start or alarm activation might not function properly.

Then there's the issue of programming challenges. Aftermarket fobs often require professional programming, and not every locksmith has the right tools or willingness to program unknown third-party devices. Some aftermarket fobs come pre-programmed, but others require complicated steps that can lead to frustration and additional costs if things go wrong.

And perhaps most concerning, security vulnerabilities are real. Poorly made fobs may lack proper encryption, making your vehicle more susceptible to hacking or unauthorized access.

In short: a cheaper fob can sometimes cost you more down the road.

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What Professional Locksmiths Say About Aftermarket Key Fobs

Locksmiths are on the front lines of this debate, and their opinions are shaped by real-world experiences.

Most reputable locksmiths agree that some aftermarket fobs are perfectly reliable, especially when sourced from trusted brands. Locksmiths often stock their own preferred aftermarket models that they know work well with specific vehicles. In many cases, these locksmith-vetted fobs offer a fantastic balance between affordability and functionality.

However, locksmiths also caution that buying random fobs online—especially from unknown sellers—can be risky. Generic aftermarket fobs without proper testing may not meet your vehicle’s security standards or could fail after minimal use.

Experts also stress that proper programming is key. Even the best aftermarket fob won't function properly if it's not programmed correctly. That’s why having a skilled locksmith handle the process—not just purchasing the fob yourself—is crucial for ensuring success.

A good rule of thumb: Trust your locksmith more than your bargain-hunting instincts.

Step-by-Step Solutions for Replacing a Key Fob Safely

If you decide to go the aftermarket route, doing it right matters.

First, consult with a professional locksmith before purchasing a replacement fob. Many locksmiths offer free consultations or can recommend specific aftermarket models they know are reliable for your car.

Next, verify compatibility. Double-check the make, model, year, and sometimes even the trim level of your vehicle to ensure you’re getting a match. A professional locksmith can also scan your car’s system to identify the correct frequencies and codes needed.

Then, have the fob professionally programmed. Even if you find a cheaper programming option online or DIY tutorials, it’s worth investing in expert service. A licensed locksmith can program the fob properly and test all functions—from door locks to remote start—to ensure everything works as it should.

Finally, test thoroughly before considering the job done. Try all the fob’s buttons and features multiple times to make sure there are no surprises later.

A little extra diligence now saves a mountain of frustration later.

Preventive Measures to Avoid Key Fob Problems

No one likes losing a key fob or having it fail at the worst moment, but a few preventive habits can make a big difference.

First, always have a backup fob. If you don't already, invest in a secondary fob—even if it's an aftermarket one—to keep at home or in a secure place. Having a spare means you're never stranded if one fails.

Second, protect your fob from physical damage. Avoid dropping it, exposing it to water, or leaving it in extreme temperatures. A simple silicone case can absorb shocks and extend its lifespan significantly.

Third, replace the fob’s battery regularly. Don’t wait for it to die unexpectedly. A weak battery can cause intermittent failures that mimic bigger fob issues.

Lastly, stay alert to changes in performance. If your fob suddenly becomes sluggish, unresponsive, or inconsistent, it’s better to investigate early rather than waiting for total failure.

Treat your key fob with care, and it will return the favor when you need it most.

Conclusion: Making the Smart Choice for Your Key Fob Needs

Aftermarket key fobs can absolutely be reliable—if you choose carefully and work with trusted professionals.

While there are risks involved, many drivers find that a well-chosen aftermarket fob, properly programmed by a skilled locksmith, offers excellent performance at a fraction of the dealership price. However, cutting corners with random online purchases or DIY programming attempts can lead to headaches, wasted money, and even security risks.

The best move? Think long-term. Trust your locksmith. Protect your investment.

When it comes to something as vital as your vehicle’s security and functionality, saving a few dollars upfront isn’t worth sacrificing peace of mind.

Because at the end of the day, your car—and your convenience—deserve the real deal.

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How to Prevent Key Fob Relay Attacks on Modern Cars

By Youmna Rehman • October 6, 2025

Modern vehicles are wonderfully convenient — push-button starts, keyless entry, and digital fobs make daily life easier. But convenience creates new attack surfaces. A key fob relay attack is a type of theft where criminals amplify or relay the signal from your car’s key fob so that the vehicle “thinks” the fob is nearby and unlocks or starts. In recent years, these attacks have grown in frequency because they can be carried out quickly with relatively inexpensive equipment. The result: owners return to find their car gone and insurance claims that are messy and stressful. Understanding how relay attacks work and what you can do to prevent them is essential for every modern car owner. How Mobile Apps Are Revolutionizing Automotive Lock Services What Is a Key Fob Relay Attack? A relay attack uses two devices and two attackers (or one attacker with two devices). One device is placed near the car to capture signals; the other is placed or carried near the house where the legitimate key fob is stored. The devices communicate, relaying the key fob’s signal to the car so it behaves as if the owner is standing next to it. Once the vehicle is unlocked, thieves can often start it and drive away. Importantly, the criminals don’t need to hack encryption or physically touch the key — they simply extend the fob’s wireless presence. Why Keyless-Entry Systems Are Vulnerable Keyless systems were designed for convenience, not to withstand the creative methods thieves now employ. Many fobs broadcast low-power radio signals that are sufficient for short-range use but can be picked up and boosted. Manufacturers added rolling codes and encryption to combat simple replay attacks, but relay attacks bypass these protections by forwarding the live signal rather than replaying a recorded one. Additionally, vehicles that rely purely on proximity checks without additional authentication are intrinsically more exposed. Signs Your Car May Have Been Attacked Detecting a relay attack can be tricky because it often leaves little forensic. However, there are clues to watch for. If you find your car unlocked with no sign of forced entry, or if the vehicle is missing and there’s no broken window or tow evidence, a relay attack is a prime suspect. Unexplained battery drains in your key fob, or the car responding when the fob is nowhere nearby, can also be early warning signs that someone has tampered with the wireless environment around your home or vehicle. Practical Steps You Can Take Right Now Prevention starts with small habit changes that greatly reduce your risk. The most immediate step is to stop leaving the fob next to an exterior door or in a coat pocket by the entrance. Criminals commonly position relay devices just outside front doors and windows to capture signals from fobs left on hallway tables. Keep your fob in a signal-blocking pouch (Faraday pouch) or a metal container when at home. These inexpensive items prevent radio waves from being transmitted and are widely available. If you don’t have a pouch, placing the key fob inside a microwave or a metal tin temporarily will also block the signal. Store spare fobs away from doors and windows — ideally in a central area of the house or inside a Faraday-lined container. Disable passive entry if your car allows it. Many vehicles offer a setting to turn off walk-up unlocking so the doors only unlock when you press the fob. This removes the always-on proximity behavior that relay attacks exploit. Similarly, when possible, configure your car to require the fob to be present and a button press on the fob for engine start rather than only relying on proximity detection. For overnight or extended parking, lock your car in a locked garage if available. A physical barrier — a door that must be opened to access the vehicle — adds a layer attackers must overcome and makes relay operations much more difficult in practice. Technology and Hardware Countermeasures Manufacturers and aftermarket vendors have introduced technical mitigations. Some carmakers are implementing motion- or sleep-sensing in fobs so the fob only transmits when it’s moving, drastically reducing the window of opportunity for relay attacks. Others use time-of-flight or angle-of-arrival radio techniques to estimate the physical distance between fob and vehicle more accurately, making it harder to spoof proximity. Aftermarket signal-blocking products, hardened steering-wheel locks, and wheel clamps still serve as effective physical deterrents. You can combine a Faraday pouch for daily storage with a visible mechanical deterrent such as a steering wheel lock when parking in public or in high-risk neighborhoods. Evidence shows opportunistic thieves are less likely to attempt thefts where the effort and time required are clearly higher. If you want a robust, manufacturer-level solution, check whether your carmaker offers a software update or an optional accessory that strengthens authentication. Some newer vehicles support phone-based digital keys that use secure elements and require biometric unlock on the phone — this stacks additional layers of security beyond raw radio proximity. Can a Locksmith Recover a Lost Digital Lock Passcode? Best Practices for Key Fob Handling and Car Storage Always carry the key fob on your person rather than leaving it at home during travel. Don’t stash spares in obvious places such as glove compartments, under the car, or in external boxes — thieves know where people hide keys. For families, distribute access carefully: issue digital keys with time-limited permissions if your vehicle supports it, rather than sharing physical fobs with everyone. When parking overnight on the street, choose well-lit and busy locations with camera coverage if possible. Public CCTV and visible neighbors act as deterrents. For short errands, keep windows up and doors locked; even if the vehicle remains unlocked, a thief is less likely to approach a car that sits in a visible, active environment. Vehicle Settings and Software Hygiene Just as you update your phone, keep your vehicle’s firmware and key fob software current. Many automakers release patches that adjust how fobs communicate or add new anti-tampering logic. Check your owner’s portal or dealer communications for recalls and security bulletins. If your car supports disabling passive entry, consider turning it off or using it selectively. Finally, avoid installing untrusted aftermarket modules that interact with the vehicle network, as poorly coded devices can introduce new vulnerabilities. How Dealers and Locksmiths Can Help A trusted dealer or certified automotive locksmith can assist in multiple ways. Professionals can check whether your vehicle has a passive-entry disable option and help configure it. They can evaluate key fob battery health and sensor alignment to reduce accidental transmissions. If you suspect your fob is compromised or malfunctioning, locksmiths can reprogram or replace the fob, and where possible, pair it with motion-sensing variants that minimize broadcast windows. At Brothers Locksmith , we specialize in automotive security services and can provide fast on-site diagnostics, key fob programming, and advice on the best physical and technical deterrents for your model. If a relay attack has occurred, our technicians can assist with immediate steps to secure replacement keys and recommend anti-theft upgrades. Advanced Detection and Forensics Detecting a relay attack after the fact can be challenging but not impossible. Some advanced systems and security services can scan for suspicious RF activity near your home or car. RF detectors can identify nearby devices operating on typical key fob frequencies. If you have reason to believe you’ve been targeted, a professional sweep can reveal anomalies that ordinary users won’t notice. For high-risk situations — fleets, high-value vehicles, or corporate car parks — consider installing monitoring solutions that log remote unlock requests and correlate them to time, location, and user credentials. Logging creates an audit trail which can be invaluable for investigations and insurance claims. Insurance, Liability, and Reporting Theft If your car is stolen via a relay attack, contact local law enforcement immediately and file an insurance claim with as much detail as possible. Document anomalies such as lack of forced entry, missing or damaged key fobs, and any RF detection logs if available. Some insurers are updating policy terms around keyless thefts, so consult your provider on coverage specifics and required safeguards. Keeping records of any security improvements — like Faraday pouches or steering locks — can demonstrate you took reasonable precautions. Community and Neighborhood Measures Prevention is easier together. Neighborhood watch groups and communities can spread awareness about relay attacks and encourage household practices like storing fobs centrally and using Faraday pouches. Businesses with parking lots can invest in CCTV and physical barriers or attendants who check vehicle access. Public awareness campaigns by local authorities or police can reduce the number of successful attacks simply by making thieves’ methods less effective through education. The Future: Where Vehicle Security Is Heading Vehicle security is evolving. Manufacturers are exploring multi-factor authentication for keyless systems, combining proximity with user biometrics or phone-based secure elements. Quantum-resistant cryptography and secure enclaves in smartphones could harden digital keys dramatically. Meanwhile, carmakers may more widely adopt distance-measurement techniques to validate a key’s true location. For owners, this means upgrades and retrofits will become available over time to retrofit older models with stronger authentication methods. When to Call a Professional If you notice unexplained unlocks, excessive key fob battery drain, or your car is missing without signs of forced entry, call a professional immediately. A qualified automotive locksmith can reprogram keys, assess whether your fob is leaking, install hardware anti-theft devices, and recommend best-in-class countermeasures for your car model. For immediate emergency response, Brothers Locksmith provides 24/7 automotive locksmith services, including on-site key replacement and security assessments. Practical Checklist: Quick Actions You Can Take Today Store your key fob in a Faraday pouch or metal container at home. Disable passive entry if your vehicle allows it; otherwise turn off auto-unlock features. Park in secured, well-lit, or attended areas whenever possible. Use a visible mechanical deterrent (steering wheel lock or wheel clamp) for added delay and deterrence. Keep vehicle and fob firmware updated and check with your dealer for security patches. Consider motion-sensing or low-broadcast fobs when replacing worn units. If targeted, document everything, notify police, and contact your insurer promptly. Why Brothers Locksmith Can Help You Stay Secure Keyless theft is a modern problem, and modern solutions are required. Brothers Locksmith blends automotive locksmith expertise with up-to-date knowledge of wireless vulnerabilities. Our technicians can program and replace key fobs, advise on passive-entry settings, install physical anti-theft devices, perform RF sweeps when required, and offer practical everyday advice to reduce your risk. If you’re in Houston or Albam and want fast, professional help, our 24/7 emergency automotive locksmith line is available to you. Conclusion: Practical Vigilance Beats Panic Relay attacks exploit predictable behaviors and convenience features. The good news is that with a few practical changes and modest investments — Faraday pouches, motion-sensing fobs, disabling passive entry, and visible mechanical deterrents — you can greatly reduce your risk. Staying informed, maintaining your vehicle and fobs, and partnering with trusted professionals like Brothers Locksmith will keep your car safer in a world where wireless theft techniques continue to evolve.