“The cost to replace the latest key fobs can run anywhere from $50 to as high as $400 depending on the brand,” says Consumer Reports automotive analyst Mel Yu. And that’s just for the fob.

But maybe you’ve experienced the downside: The cost to replace the latest key fobs can be as much as $400 depending on the brand. Then add another $20 to $130 to program it to work with your car.

New key fobs must be programmed with codes that the vehicle has to read before it unlocks the door or allows starting the engine.

How to Replace Your Car's Key Fob Consumer Reports looks at what you should know before heading out to find an expensive new key fob.

Just know that most customer-programmable key fobs will require two current working keys in order to program the new one. RELATED: How to replace your key fob | Your key fob may have hidden features ...

But maybe you’ve experienced the downside: The cost to replace the latest key fobs can be as much as $400 depending on the brand. Then add another $20 to $130 to program it to work with your car.

How exactly do you swap out the battery on your key fob? In this piece, we’ll walk you through how to change the key fob battery for a specific vehicle - the Toyota Prius. Read on to learn more.

If your key fob is wearing out, find a replacement Ford Escape key fob from these top-rated aftermarket products.

Like anything else relying on a battery, you car key fob can die—often at the worst time. Thankfully, these batteries are easy to replace.