# Camry 2003 replacement key **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 20, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-2003-replacement-key/16978 "2008-07-20T19:59:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janejohnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@janejohnson](https://community.cartalk.com/u/janejohnson)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-2003-replacement-key/16978/1 "2008-07-20T19:59:00Z")
My son lost the second key to the car - i have one more left but not a fob. The dealer says it’s gonna be about $200.00 to replace & activate the key - is that legit?? ---
**Author:** ![lenjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lenjack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lenjack)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-2003-replacement-key/16978/2 "2008-07-21T01:08:25Z")
If it’s a key with an electronic secrity code in it, it will be quite expensive, although I think it shouldn’t be more than $150. that’s what my Toyota dealer charged. ---
**Author:** ![Ranck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Ranck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ranck)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-2003-replacement-key/16978/3 "2008-07-21T15:46:13Z")
That sounds about typical for a dealer key replacement in newer cars with chips in the key. Not that I think it’s a fair price, but it is about what they all charge. You can check with a locksmith. Good ones will be able to do this and may charge less. Call around. ---
**Author:** ![janejohnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@janejohnson](https://community.cartalk.com/u/janejohnson)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-2003-replacement-key/16978/4 "2008-07-23T14:46:11Z")
I found a locksmith that made a key & activated it for $50.00. The activation was just a matter of following a sequence of stepping on the brake, gas pedal & following a set of directions (similiar to the hocke-pokey). And yes … i had two keys made!! ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_G](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dave_g/32/768_2.png) [@Dave\_G](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dave_G)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-2003-replacement-key/16978/5 "2008-07-23T15:21:06Z")
I’m guessing it wasn’t a laser-cut key… ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-2003-replacement-key/16978/6 "2008-07-23T15:33:01Z")
You may want to look at [www.amazingkeys.com](http://www.amazingkeys.com). They are selling transponder chip keys for the 2003 Camry for $29.99 each. I bought two Ford Taurus transponder keys from them for $24/each. They include the programming instructions with the keys (which is also in your owner’s manual). I took the keys to a local hardware to get them cut, then programmed them and they work fine. You do need at least one good working transponder key with the Camry. (With the Taurus, I needed two working keys to be able to program a new key.) If you don’t want to buy the keys online, I agree that a local locksmith will get your a replacement key for far less than the dealer will charge you. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/camry-2003-replacement-key/16978/7 "2008-07-23T15:38:48Z")
The programming that owners can do usually requires two functioning keys.