Should a Dealer supply a spare key?

[Honro]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a vehicle from a dealer in the ACT. The dealer was only able to supply 1 key for the car. When i asked about the spare key, i was told that they bought the vehicle off another dealership and they did not have a spare so then they were not able to supply one to me.

My question is: Does the dealer by law have to provide the spare key?

Simply because there would be nothing stopping the old owner from walking past the car and just driving off (unlikely i know)...

Anyone able to help?

[bobthebilda]

But how many keys would you know the previous owner has got. The dealer may have given you two, and the previous owner may have also got three others made before he sold the car. I have purchased cars before, I not even given it a second thought that I only got one key. Just always thought I could get another made (just like the previous owner may have).

I'm not sure if it is normal police practice, but I had a freind once who sold a car, and not long after, the police visited him to ask him a few questions, as it had been stolen from the new owner.

[olfella]

I can understand why they may be a bit reluctant to provide them seeing some keys with transponders cost a few hundred as opposed to a few bucks a couple otf years ago.

[Kryton]

No, the dealer does not have to provide you with a spare key - by law.

[Magna]

if its a new car check the handbook to see how many keys it should come with. but like davway says they arn't legally obligated if its second hand.

mitsubishi's used to come with 3 keys, one was a valet key and wouldn't open the boot or glove box.

[Franco Cozzo]

Interesting, my dealership gave me a spare wwhen I bought my car.

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by davway

No, the dealer does not have to provide you with a spare key - by law.

Usually a car comes with 2 - and if the dealer offers one - perhaps take this into account as you negotiate the price. In this case, the car is being sold with less than the standard amount of proper keys. So the dealership can either arrange a new one, or drop the price. Considering the sale has already taken place, I doubt they will play ball. Perhaps suggest a new key for $100 - in effect the dealership could subsidise it.

[Kryton]

If it is a brand new car, then yes, it is to be sold with 2 sets of keys as a minimum.
This isnt law either, but i havent heard of any manufacturer handing over just one set of keys.
If the car is secondhand and the dealer has the second set of keys, it is part of the car and also should be supplied when the car is sold.
If the car is secondhand and the dealer wasnt supplied with a second set of keys, they are under no obligation to provide you with a set.
As part of negotiating the sale, you could ask that a second set be supplied or you could ask for a discount on a second set.

[jaydee]

The last couple of times I brought a 2nd hand car from a yard they only supplied 1 key. They then offered to get me a nother one but about $60 to buy plus another $50 to cut and another $50 to code.
I'm sure they just chuck the spare away and try and make extra by selling you a spare, which is probably the one supplied with the car when it was traded anyway. I smell a scam here because this isn't the 1st time I've heard of this and I've spoken to others who have had a similar problem.
I just buy a spare blank off ebay, get it cut at a specialist store here in Perth and then get it coded all at about half the price.

[Zed7fiddy]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Interesting, my dealership gave me a spare wwhen I bought my car.

Yes, but the dealer probably did actually have two keys for your car, my XT i only received one key, i asked about it, was told they didnt get a spare of the old owner, and then i was told the stupid ford price for a spare key, no thanks thats cool i say!

[svo supporter]

Alot of people when they sell cars, forget about the 2nd key they have for the car. (I've done it myself)

Personally I have never heard of a dealership supplying a 2nd key if it didn't get given to them. So in this instance, i'd suggest getting another blank from egay and getting it cut yourself. Costs you less that way

[Magna]

its a good idea to get another key cut and re-code all your keys to the car so any other keys floating around wont start the car.

[Mark351]

Just ask. When I bought my old Falcon second-hand in 2001, which was an ex-Ford employee vehicle, I was only given 1 key. I ended up getting my second key, but in my situation I was pretty lucky.

I mentioned the scenario on this very forum, got word that it was put on the truck with 2 keys, and eventually Geoff Polites (RIP) who was a user of the forum in his time as Ford Aus president, said I would get my second key - I guess he made the right noises happen.

[seduced_xr]

when i test drove my BA it had one key, one remote and a glovebox key on the chain, when i picked it up i was given only an igniton key. i manged to get the glovebox key and remote out of them but no 2nd set of keys.

if its a bseries, cost $30 for a blank key off ebay, $20 to cut it and up to $100 to have it programmed at fraud.

[JC]

Bought my Terry off a Nissan dealer (second hand) and got both keys, and both remotes. What's a Nissan dealer gunna do with left over Ford keys? I know what Ford dealers do - sell them to second hand car buyers for $160 a pop (according to a previous post)!

[Smoke Pursuit]

Thats why when you buy a used car always insist that the dealer puts new number plates on it.. That way if there are any spare keys lurking around, unless its a stand out car the old / owner / key holder wont easily pick it!! Plus if the old owner was a **************** then its likely one day it will get keyed or damaged, therefore risk!

Oh and when negotiating the deal / doing the paperwork always write down the bottom that the car comes with 2 keys / 2 remotes... They will soon find a remote and program a key! Remember it costs them alot less then it costs you. My local Ford dealer had a big box full of blank keys, which i doubt they dont account for!

[seduced_xr]

it really comes down to how many keys were handed over. i dropped 2 sets of keys to auction with dads BF and the auction and photos listed 1 set.

also y i think of it. my mate traded his ba xr for a bf turbo and kept 1 of his remotes to program to the new car.

we met up with the new owners last week and parked side by side the remote works on both cars. strange

[LTDterri]

This makes me so angry, I bought a BA Falcon a few years ago from a dealer, pick it up only one set of keys, I asked for the second set, sorry mate only came in with one set. If only I knew when I bought the damn thing, because I knew to get another key and remote was going to cost the best part of $200 I would have factored it in the deal. Anyway got a second key and coded for $80 and luckily I have a mate at the Ford factory who luckily had a remote fall into his top pocket and he didnt realise until he got to my house it was there

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by jaydee

I'm sure they just chuck the spare away and try and make extra by selling you a spare, which is probably the one supplied with the car when it was traded anyway.

there's certainly a lot of fob remotes for sale on ebay

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by LTDterri

This makes me so angry, I bought a BA Falcon a few years ago from a dealer, pick it up only one set of keys, I asked for the second set, sorry mate only came in with one set. If only I knew when I bought the damn thing, because I knew to get another key and remote was going to cost the best part of $200 I would have factored it in the deal. Anyway got a second key and coded for $80 and luckily I have a mate at the Ford factory who luckily had a remote fall into his top pocket and he didnt realise until he got to my house it was there

Yeh id really post that on a public forum... Theft much??

Must be like the guy who use to sell XR badges on ebay then send them out in official Ford Australia envelopes.. Musta been in the badge placement section..

[Neeek]

When we sold out Saab, we forgot to give them the 2nd key. I threw it out the other month, and I have seen the car twice on the roads since we got rid of it - no yearnings to nick it, though... good riddance! Conversely, when we bought our Forester they gave us three keys. Two worked, one didn't, so I took it back to the dealer and told them, they said they didn't have any Subarus on the forecourt anymore so I should keep it or bin it. Binned it. I have better things to do with my time than look for a needle in a haystack... prowling car parks with my fob, plipping it whenever I see a Forester... lol

[LTDterri]

Originally Posted by bfiipursuit

Yeh id really post that on a public forum... Theft much??

Must be like the guy who use to sell XR badges on ebay then send them out in official Ford Australia envelopes.. Musta been in the badge placement section..

YA THINK