Not long ago, misplacing your car keys was no big deal — you had a spare in the glove box. But as cars have gotten more sophisticated, so has their key technology. So if you lose your keys or they disappear into an alternate dimension (or the cat flushes them down the toilet), getting new ones can take more time and money than ever before.

Modern cheap car key replacement near me need to be programmed to work with your car’s unique Vehicle Identification Number, but wear-and-tear or engine error codes can cause the programming to become corrupt. If that happens, you will need to go to the dealership or a locksmith for a replacement key.

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Old-fashioned metal keys — the kind you’d buy at a hardware store — are the easiest to duplicate. They operate 100% mechanically and don’t have any specialized electronics to interact with. These can usually be made by a local locksmith, which could end up saving you money over going through the dealership.

Transponder keys, which have a chip built into them that transmits a signal to the car’s immobilizer when it’s placed in the ignition cylinder, are the most difficult and expensive to replace. These can be made by the dealer or a locksmith, but if you lose yours, you will need to get a new replacement key from the manufacturer.

If you’re considering ordering your replacement key online, make sure the site offers a guaranteed delivery date and that it is backed by a trusted automotive locksmith. Otherwise, you’ll likely have to wait for a week or more before you can pick up your new key from the local Ace store.