I bought a used 2021 Lexus UX250h that only came with one key fob. I bought a used fob online and called the local Lexus dealer in Fort Wayne to have it matched with the car. The advisor in the service department told me that I would have to buy two keys from them for $550 a piece and then pay $200 to program them both. She said that they have to program fobs that have never been matched to a car and that the existing fob will no longer work with the car after they are finished.

$550 * 2 + $200 = $1300

Could Lexus possibly have made a car that costs the customers' $1300 to replace a lost key fob?

 

NO — and I’m sorry this is happening to you!! Do you have another dealership available?

Most dealerships won’t program used/refurbished key fobs and cut their keys.

Call your local dealership and tell them you bought a car that came with only one key fob.
Ask the dealership’s parts dept how much a new key fob + key would cost, then ask the service dept how much it would cost to program key fob and cut key.
It should be between $300-500 — depending on dealership. And you’d still have original key that came with car.

For future ref — I bought my key fob and key on sale online (Bell Lexus) and brought it in to dealership to have fob programmed and key cut.
Depending on the dealership — sometimes they won’t accept outside key fobs and keys to program and cut (even if from another Lexus dealership) — you have to buy them from their parts dept.

We have 3 Lexus dealerships in the area (2 under same ownership) and another further away.
We choose to go to the furthest one because they have better customer service IMO and offer military discount, which the other 2 stopped doing about a year ago.

If you have another dealership available to you call them and ask the same thing — then compare prices and do what’s best for you.

 

a lock smith should be able to do that much cheaper. they have scan/programming tools that program the new key in seconds.

 

Agreed — this is another option and if you go this route make sure it’s a trusted, reputable one.