What is a Keyless Car?

Without ever having to dig around in your pocket for a key, a keyless entry system enables you to enter and start your car. The key in your pocket or bag transmits a signal that is picked up by a receiver in your car with these systems, which operate using short-range radio waves.

 

Are Keyless Cars More Likely to Be Stolen?

In the past, if you wanted to steal a car, you either had to get a key or have access to the vehicle so you could hotwire it. The skill of car theft has advanced and gotten simpler in modern times. Keyless entry systems can now be hacked by car thieves. In fact, 92% of the vehicles that the UK’s Tracker car security service recovered in 2019 had been stolen without the owner’s keys being used.

This new method of stealing a car is called a “relay attack.”

What Is a “Relay Attack”?

A relay attack is the use of technology to manipulate the vehicle’s key fob into unlocking and starting the vehicle. Here’s how it works:

 

1. One thief will use a hacking device and stand close to the vehicle, while a second thief will stand up to 50 feet away, within key fob range.
2. After receiving a signal from the car, the thief standing next to it will transmit it to the second thief’s hacking tool.
3. The key fob is then duped into believing that the car is nearby by the hacking device sending a signal to it. The key fob then transmits a signal to enable car entry.
4. After getting inside the car, the thieves turn on the ignition and escape.

Take measures to prevent becoming a victim of a relay attack because this procedure can be completed in only a few minutes by skilled thieves.

 

How To Prevent Thefts?

2019 statistics from vehicle tracking solutions company Tracker showed that 92% of stolen cars recovered were keyless entry models. So here are the best ways to prevent your Keyless car being stolen:

 

• Put Your Keys in A Blocking Pouch
• Turn Off Keyless Entry on Your Fob
• Steering Wheel Lock or Alarm
• Store Keys Away from Entry Points
• Park Your Car in A Secure Location
• Consider Etching Your Windows
• Have Your Keys Reprogrammed

 

Which Keyless Cars Are Most Stolen?

The extent to which criminals target high-end luxury vehicles with keyless entry systems is shown by the fact that models like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes E-class, and Land Rover Discovery were among the most stolen cars in 2021.

Why You Should Wrap Your Key Fob in Aluminium Foil?

Why would you foil-wrap your car key fob? Your car waits for the fob to provide a signal, and criminals may intercept fob signals. The range and signal strength of the fob are reduced when it’s wrapped in tinfoil. This indicates that to start your vehicle, you must be closer to it. However, it also means that crooks won’t be able to receive the signal from a hidden location.

 

What Are Car Manufacturers Doing About Keyless Theft?

A motion sensor that deactivates the signal when the key is at rest is now a standard feature on fobs offered by manufacturers like BMW, Audi, Ford, and Mercedes; this lessens the possibility of the key being cloned.

In contrast, Jaguar and Land Rover use ultra-wide-band radio technology, which prevents criminals from isolating the signal to your car.

Today, many dealers provide a blocking pouch as a complimentary extra when a customer buys a car from them. As it prevents criminals from being able to isolate the signal to your car, this pouch provides owners piece of mind when leaving their car keys behind.

Can A Locksmith Open a Keyless Car?

If your car has a keyless entry system, which most do these days, an auto locksmith can frequently unlock your car using a transponder programming tool, eliminating the need to physically pop the lock. For individuals who have a keyless ignition, the same principle applies.

If you require an auto locksmith, please do not hesitate to contact Keytek® Locksmiths; one of our engineers will be able to assist you in regaining access to your vehicle and alleviating any concerns you may have.

 

Keyless Cars FAQ’s

 

Do Keyless Cars Shut Off?

You must first put the car in park and press the stop button since the keyless ignition does not switch off when you exit the vehicle using the fob or smart key.

 

Can Keyless Cars Drive Without the Key?

There is no restriction on how far a car with keyless entry may go without the key fob being present. Without the key, the car would frequently merely beep. The theft of a vehicle is frequently followed by the thief driving the vehicle until it runs out of fuel or is shut off and cannot be started again without the key. Many of the stolen cars are kept out of sight or transported to ports where they are later sold abroad.

 

What Happens If Your Keyless Remote Dies While Driving?

Nothing will happen if your key fob dies while you’re driving. Simply because the key fob is a locking and starting device only, the car will continue to run. The key fob has no influence on the ignition or engine once the automobile is moving.

 

Does A Keyless Car Lock When You Walk Away?

Once you have turned off the engine, exited the vehicle, closed the doors, and started to walk away, your car will also lock its doors. The vehicle will lock or unlock the doors on your behalf if the key is in your possession.

 

How Long Does a Keyless Battery Last?

The battery life of these kinds of keys is typically 3–4 years. The location in which you keep your car key might also have an impact on its battery life.

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