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Old 01-20-2005, 11:13 AM
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Jim Kellogg Jim Kellogg is offline
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Location: Pine City, NY
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Ken,

Most manufacturers have very rigid conditions that a dealer must follow (and document) before a duplicate key will be cut from code. Over the last several years, the auto manufacturers have made it very clear to the dealer body that the dealership is held responsible to make sure the vehicle and ownership has been verified before a duplicate key is cut. The liability falls on the dealership if a code cut key is given to a non-owner.

It is very difficult to establish ownership - there may be a very recent husband/wife split, for example and the other party is looking for keys... and on and on.

I think you would find it pretty difficult to get a set of code cut keys from a dealership for your own vehicle these days....

In addition, most newer vehicles use a "chip" in the key that must be programed to the vehicle computer in order to actually "start" the vehicle. The code cut key will open a door, turn the vehicle over, but will not start.

As the snopes reference says, most thieves will not bother going that route any more.
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/vin.asp

take care,
Jim Kellogg
Elmira, NY
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