Pretty much all new cars nowadays include smart key technology, which has made putting an integral into your car's door to unlock it or in to the ignition switch to start your car's engine obsolete. Now you have a transmitter fob, which depends on radio frequencies to unlock a car's doors and begin its engine. In the beginning, when intelligent car keys were first introduced, these were mostly found in luxury cars, since it was an expensive technology, and it didn't make sense to implement it in less costly cars. Many of the most popular and advanced smart key systems include Mercedes-Benz's Keyless Go integrated into SmartKeys, Toyota's Smart Key System, Lincoln's Intelligent Access System, and BMW's Comfort Access.
Vehicles that come with such technology are equipped with computerized systems, and may identify the driver because they are approaching the car. The system uses several microchips and sensors that transmit information to the smart key, which opens the car's doors because of a radio transponder chip that's installed in the key. This can be a so called Passive Keyless Entry System, which doesn't even need you to take your key out of your pocket or your bag and pushing a button to unlock the doors. Once you've entered your car, you can start the engine by pressing the engine start button.
These are perhaps the most significant advantages of intelligent over traditional car keys. In addition to being very convenient, they make your car difficult to steal. Simply because thieves can't unlock and start a car which has smart key features utilizing the traditional method, that involves cutting some wires, then stripping and connecting them. The computer system in the automobile requires that the right code from the smart key is transmitted, and when it doesn't receive it, it won't obtain the car going, whichever and how many wires are cut and connected.
So far as the downsides are concerned, it's worth noting that there are some added costs that come with owning a car with a smart key technology. If you happen to lose your smart key, it may cost you over $100 to replace it, whereas replacing a normal key only costs $10 - $15. Plus, get more info can't purchase a new intelligent key wherever you need, since it's a technology that is trademarked by your car's manufacturer, and you will only get one at an authorized dealership, which means you will most probably waste lots of time and go through a significant hassle while looking for a replacement key.
Furthermore, if you forget to turn off the engine before you leave the car, and leave the automobile in your garage, carbon monoxide will be released and it'll get inside your house, which can bring about fatal consequences.
To sum up, smart keys will surely make your car rides more comfortable, but you have to monitor them and do not lose them, since you will have to pay big money to replace them.