how much for new key?

as title says. Just bought a 2012 1500, has the key that looks like a grenade. something about "tip start" whatever that means. I pick it up tomorrow, but only comes with 1. I need at least 1 more (preferably 2) one for my wife and 1 for a spare. and why do keys on newer vehicles (not just Dodge) have to be so balky?
Will I have to get this new key (or keys) from the stealership?
also on topic of keys.... I notice the tailgate has a key slot as well. Im not looking at the truck at the moment but as I remember that key slot looked like it would take a more "regular" looking key?
Does this lock, lock with the power lock button on the door?

You can buy a key on Amazon or eBay and have a locksmith program it. My 2014 tailgate locks with the remote and power lock button.

The "regulat" looking key is a part ot keyfob.key for. Also, I don’t think the power locking tailgate comes standard. Maybe on higher trims.

I was in the same situation with only 1 key fob when I got my truck. I grabbed a "simple key" (cause they're inexpensive compared to dealers and locksmiths). And in like 10 minutes (or less), I had a fully functioning key fob. Maybe a viable option for you? But an option never the less...

Simple key is an option

ACE Hardware sells the FOBs & they have the ability to program them

Many Locksmiths are now carry the FOBs & they also have a machine to do programming, most of them have websites

Carandtruckremotes sell new & used FOBs, they do not do programming. Their prices are great

Buy the FOB from the same place that programs it. Buying non-OEM fobs off Amazon only has about a 20% success rate and having someone program them only works in a small percentage of cases but the programmer wants to charge you whether the FOB programs properly or not. If the truck only comes with one key, knock 500 off the ask price and get a couple of OEM at the dealer or a couple programmed and supplied by an auto locksmith. If you are buying the truck from a dealer make him supply at least one more OEM fob. I refuse to buy vehicles with only one fob.

I have 2 years on the cheapo ebay keys no issues however I will say I don't think the signal is as good have to be standing closer to the truck but im cheap so works for me. If you can afford it for sure go for oem keys.

Battery Plus programs fobs for 69 dollars, all you need is one currently working fob, and to buy a fob or bring it in. They also sell fobs, I priced one for that vehicle it was 60 dollars or so, and if you buy from them it is guaranteed to work. You might be able to get 25 dollars fobs on ebay, I did so and got a couple programmed back in the day, but if you want zero risk buy the fob from them.

Ok thanks. I went to the local locksmith on my way home with the truck wasn't expecting much out of them since they sent me to the stealership for the key for my 01durango since "they" couldn't program them. That was a couple of years ago.
With this truck he told me he can get most of them, took my fob and wrote down what all the buttons do, and the year make and model of my new truck said he would have to call his distributor on Monday. I told e I need 1 for certain and depending on how crazy expensive it is (or isn't) I'd really like to have 2 more. One for the wife and 1 as a spare.
He told me it could be as much as$80/ea but most were less.
Something I think was funny as **** there's a campout I have been doing the same weekend every August for going on 10 years now, one of our regular attendees bought a Nissan van a couple of years ago. The rest of us are still giving him **** about that choice.
Well this past summer he was there again and somehow he lost his keys. He called and had to have it towed to the stealership 30 miles away (that was $250 by itself) and have them cut him a new one by the time all was said and done it was a$400 Saturday morning for him.
Makes me like the simplicity of the older trucks that much more.

Locksmith in central NC charges $40 to program fob & $20 to cut a security type key
Best to buy your own fob/remote/key from another source because they make their money off those.

I got mine off Amazon. Local ACE charges $42 to program.

$42 is a great price
My locksmith gets $49 for programming, i did not ask what they charge for the FOBs or cutting the Valet key

OK then. Update,,,,Hopefully some good info here for "somebody" out there in the same situation.

I know the name of the guy who traded it in; was a regular customer, at a past job I had, 15-20 years ago. (Sears Auto Center, I worked there many years) I had to sign the old title at the stealership when I bought this truck, and noticed the name. The PO's last name is also written on the stealer's key tag. The salesman that finished the deal the next morning, went to HS with my son. (I did what I could to avoid dealing with this guy, story for later) He mentioned that the PO hangs out with the local dirt track crowd. Hey!! I have a neighbor that races down there (Friday nights at our county fairgrounds) so, I went across the road and asked said neighbor, if he knew this PO. Yeah, he does/ sounds like pretty well, too. but doesn't have the guy's number. He got ahold of someone else that races, and also knows the PO/ and the plan is to see if I can get ahold of him, somehow maybe he has a 2nd key somewhere. PO lives not very far away.

Meanwhile, I went by the Dodge garage in town where I have a couple buddies in parts that I have also known for years. Friends or not, I think they were trying to get me a stroke. Even with 20% off "their" list, they want $145 for ONE FOB!!! and $32 for 1 "emergency key". PLUS, ANOTHER $80 to program the damn thing!!!! Which if I had to tow it in and didn't have any key that would double to $160!!! Sorry no freaking way. Ain't gonna happen.


So I started Googleing the PN that I got from the Dodge stealership. and came across several "hits" Many for OEM in the packaging, and many more claiming "genuine"/"oem" for less// most of which turn out to be "used" or "refurbished" and "unlocked" Sorry, the real cheapies that stared at like $17, scare me.
I talked to someone at "Keyless Joe's", and the woman there was super nice, explained their "process". I guess that these were originally keys to rental vehicles. They put a new case on them, somehow give the fobs they get "amnesia" and "unlock" them (like a phone, I guess/ I'm not an electronics guru in the least) and include a new aftermarket uncut "emergency key"/ and they have a "no questions asked" return/refund policy, for 90 days. All get new batteries. and stressed about my "finding a locksmith" for programming. I wonder if I could do it with my Snap on Solus scanner? (Just got a brand new one of those for work, like a month ago)
I'll still have to have them cut that "emergency key" anyhow.
So I have 2 coming, $120 for both..... and I have heard $40 as a common price for them to program them to "my" truck. Cheaper than the stealer anyway. Now that I bought these, my luck says that now, only after I spent the money, will the PO come thru with that extra key... just like finding that missing tool in the garage only after going out and buying a replacement to get a job done.

Im not gonna be that guy at the campground, that has to have my truck towed to a stealership 2 states away from home, to have a key made/ so I can get home.
WHY CAN'T GETTING A KEY MADE, BE AS EASY AS IT IS FOR MY '85 D150 or my 78 Plymouth Fury Sport? This runaround bull$#it is beond stupid, beyond ridiculous just for a damn KEY!

I ordered a $30 fob off Amazon for my 2018 but it wouldn’t program forr the locksmith. Bit the bullet and ordered the RAM fob and valet key from the dealership. The programming and cutting the valet key was $230…

DJ18hemi1500 said:

I ordered a $30 fob off Amazon for my 2018 but it wouldn’t program forr the locksmith. Bit the bullet and ordered the RAM fob and valet key from the dealership. The programming and cutting the valet key was $230…

Click to expand...

absolutely freakin ridiculous. For a damn KEY, for God's sakes.
yet, because most are ALOT more I just couldn't bring myself to trust the $17 ones on Feebay. The ones I got were claimed to be brand new, OEM fobs. I saw alot listed that showed as used and/or refurbished.

One thing that has me bothered about this key BS is that though it wasn't on a Dodge product, I can really see this happening to me.
I go on a regular camping trip to the same campground in North central Ohio every year. Going on at least 8 or 9 years now. same weekend in Aug. every year.
We have another "regular attendee" that had an extremely expensive weekend last year. About 3 years ago the dumb *** bought a full size NISSAN van brand new. Granted, he has like 5 kids and needs room/ but a Nissan>? Cmon man.... I know that at the time he bought this thing he could have at least gone to GM/ and bought a 3/4 ton Express van.... and kept it American....

Well brand aside, this guy and his wife have 1 key between them for the van. Story about how the 2nd fob died, whatever. Somehow on Friday nite, the guy discovered he couldn't find his key for the van. he had everyone (including me) looking for it around the campground.
Saturday morning he discovered the nearest Nissan dealer was 30 miles away/ as was any locksmith that had any hope of helping him. Said dealer was only open til noon. so he had to have the damned van TOWED to said stealership, which was $250-some by itself. Then once there ONE key was ~$180. Then $80-some to program. which took them <10 minutes. $8/min for their time. Over $500 wasted, just due to a lost key. No matter the brand of vehicle, that is insanely ridiculous! That's at least a car payment, maybe 2.
Not to mention the tow operator kinked his brake line when he put the chain hooks onto the rearend housing. but JUST TO GET A DAMN KEY
Again what exactly was wrong with the key setup that Cars and trucks used and got along with just fine by the way, for what... 70-80 YEARS!? NOTHING!!!! Someone discovered yet another way to gouge the American worker, so all car makers had to get in on the action.

Pic up the alfaOBD , program it yourself . Many other things you can use it for besides programing keys. Its handy to have on hand. Hardware store made a copy of the key inside the Fob so if I lock my fob in the truck I can get back in with my regular key

You could have got brand new FOBs from
IKEYLESS
or CARANDTRUCKREMOTES

for around $50 each

Heck ACE Hardware is about the same price for the FOB & about that much again for them to program the FOB & getting a cut VALET Key, does not cost much at all

car dealerships sell a vehicle with one FOB, because they figure that you are going to miss a payment & they keep a FOB so that the REPO Man can get into the vehicle to drive it away

DJ18hemi1500 said:

I ordered a $30 fob off Amazon for my 2018 but it wouldn’t program forr the locksmith. Bit the bullet and ordered the RAM fob and valet key from the dealership. The programming and cutting the valet key was $230…

Click to expand...

$230 is high but so is everything else anymore. Somethings a person can get cheaper elsewhere but a key fob is something I would get at the dealership just to make sure it worked.

& your dealership licks their chops when they see you pulling into their driveway

Any locksmith that has the programmer, can program the FOB just as well as anyone at the dealership