# 2006 Toyota Prius - Needs a backup key

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-prius-needs-a-backup-key/142726>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** toyota\
**Created:** [June 21, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-prius-needs-a-backup-key/142726 "2019-06-21T20:17:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PeteLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5e9695/32.png) [@PeteLee](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PeteLee)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-prius-needs-a-backup-key/142726/1 "2019-06-21T20:17:13Z")

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I have a 2006 Prius that I bought new, gave to my daughter at 80,000 miles, was given it back at 225,000 miles (quite bit the worse for wear) and have cleaned it up and now drive it as my pride and joy. Over the years, it is now down to one key. I went to the Toyota dealership and they offered to sell me another key and reprogram it for $400. They told me it would be about $600 to replace if I lost the key (which in some ways, seems like a better deal). Is there another alternative that gets me a second key without paying about a quarter of the value of the vehicle? Thanks.

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**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-prius-needs-a-backup-key/142726/2 "2019-06-21T20:27:28Z")

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> [@PeteLee](#):
>
> They told me it would be about $600 to replace if I lost the key

Plus the tow bill and the inconvenience of being without your car for 1/2 a day.

Try a locksmith, not the key cutting guy at Home Depot, but a regular lock smith, a lot of them can get the key and program it much cheaper then the dealer.

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-toyota-prius-needs-a-backup-key/142726/3 "2019-06-21T20:49:03Z")

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> [@PeteLee](#):
>
> reprogram it for $400. They told me it would be about $600 to replace if I lost the key (which in some ways, seems like a better deal

How is $600 a better deal than $400?