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Why will it cost me $1,000 to get a new key for my Toyota Corolla? 

Emily (@emilysmacks) was utterly taken aback when the Toyota dealer informed her that a replacement key fob for her newer Corolla would cost a staggering $1,000. 

Picture Emily, a young girl who knows very little about cars, walking into the Toyota dealer. She walks up to the parts counter and inquires about getting a new key fob for her Corolla. 

The parts person tells her it will be $1,000 to get a new key fob. You ask, why is it so much? The parts person says it's because a new key needs to be cut, and the electronics must be programmed into your vehicle. 

You can't afford to pay that much, so you walk away. You aren't sure if they have been honest with you. 

Here is Emily's story. 

Emily says, "I remember when I went to the Toyota dealer because I lost my car key. I went to the parts counter, and they told me that replacing my key fob for my Corolla would cost $1,000. I was shocked." 

"I couldn't believe that it would cost that much. Hey, I don't have that kind of money to buy a key for my car. That's ridiculous, I said. He said That's how much it will cost you." 

"I just walked away and started crying outside the dealership. So I call my dad, and I'm crying. I asked him to call because I felt I was being lied to." 

"My dad said, 'Sure, Em, I will call them right now.' So, my dad called the Toyota dealer and asked the same question. How much will replacing a key fob on a Toyota Corolla cost?" 

"However, my dad didn't tell them I had just been at the parts department asking for the same thing." 

"Well, go figure. Suddenly, the price is now $250. It's so strange how that happened," she says with sarcasm. 

How much should the Corolla key fob cost? $250 is more in line with what it should cost to replace a Toyota key fob.

Emily says, "My dad was upset, as you can imagine. They are lying to me like that. He did go in and ask why they lied to his daughter. I went with him when he went in to talk to the parts manager. I got to confront the head lingo guy at the Toyota dealer in Pullman, Washington." 

What does Toyota say about replacing a key fob?

Toyota says, "If you've damaged or lost your key fob, then you'll need to have it replaced by your local Toyota dealership. So, how much does a Toyota key replacement cost?" 

"The cost of replacing a Toyota key fob can be anywhere from $200 – $350. This is because a total key fob replacement means a new key needs to be cut, and the electronics must be programmed into your vehicle."

Why are key fobs so expensive to replace?

Edmunds says, "All key fobs need to be programmed. Some dealerships will do it for free, while others will charge for a half-hour to an hour of labor."

"These keyless entry remotes limit your options for a new key. The replacement remote must be purchased at the dealer or a factory parts reseller. And while it's handy to carry smart keys in your purse or pocket, these are the very places you will feel the pain when you lose them." 

"The cost to replace a smart key for a Honda Accord, according to one of our local Honda dealers, is around $300. That's $150 for the smart key module and cutting the "emergency" key blade that slides inside the housing and about another $120-$140 for programming, estimated to take about one hour," Edmunds says.

That brings up another question. Do car dealerships often overcharge women customers?

Another report from Edmunds says that researchers at Northwestern University found that women are often, but not always, charged more than men for auto repairs.

The study states, "Women are quoted higher prices than men when callers signal that they are uninformed about market prices." On the other hand, the researchers also found that "gender differences disappear when callers mention an expected price for the repair."

Do your homework.

The report underscores the power of knowledge. Savvy consumers who are well-informed about the fair price for a specific service or part for their car are more likely to receive a reasonable quote, regardless of gender. 

"But the playing field becomes uneven when either men or women appear unaware of the expected cost. In those cases, it may be that dealership employees — about 85 percent of whom are men — assume that women are less informed about the going rate and quote higher prices."

How the Toyota dealership employee justified the extra $750 is unclear, but it was undoubtedly a shady deal. Emily was being taken for a ride, and thankfully, she sought her dad's help to uncover the truth. 

It's not only Toyota dealers.

Check out this story of a dishonest Nissan parts manager. 

Did You Buy a Nissan Frontier Lift Kit On Facebook? Nissan Dealer Says Its Parts Director Sold 200 Factory Kits on Facebook and Pocketed $575,000. Check out my report about this Nissan dealer's brazen scam.

It's Your Turn.

Have you been lied to by a Toyota dealer? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Emily