Been Out of the Loop on Keyless Cars? 10 Things Every Driver Should Know

Keyless cars have made driving more convenient than ever.

You can unlock the doors without taking the key out of your pocket, start the engine with a button, and sometimes even open the trunk simply by approaching the vehicle.

But if you’ve only recently started using a keyless car, there are several things that may not be obvious.

And one of the most important involves something almost every driver will eventually face:

What happens when the key-fob battery dies?

Let’s look at 10 useful things every keyless-car owner should know.

1. Your Car Doesn’t Need the Key Fob Battery to Start in an Emergency

A dead key-fob battery doesn’t necessarily mean you’re stranded.

Many modern keyless vehicles have a backup system that can recognize a passive transponder inside the fob even when the fob’s main battery is depleted.

Depending on the vehicle, you may need to hold the fob directly against the START/STOP button, place it in a designated slot, or position it near a specific area of the steering column or center console. (AAA International Relations)

The exact procedure varies by make and model, so your owner’s manual is the best source for the correct emergency-start location.

2. Your Key Fob May Contain a Hidden Physical Key

Many smart keys contain a small mechanical key blade hidden inside the fob.

If the fob battery dies and the remote buttons no longer unlock the vehicle, that physical key can often be used to unlock the driver’s door manually. Ford, for example, documents this type of emergency key inside its intelligent-access fobs. (Ford UK)

It’s worth knowing where that hidden key is before you actually need it.