Has your Toyota Prius’s key fob been lost or damaged?
It’s possible to buy an affordable and compatible replacement online with careful research.
We scoured the dozens of key fobs that are available and found the three best options that work with the Toyota Prius to save you the time you’d spend researching them.
Whether you’d rather stick with an OEM key fob or want to consider more affordable aftermarket products, there’s an option here that will meet your needs.
Top 3 Prius Key Fobs
1. Toyota 89994-47061 – Best OEM Prius Key Fob
2. Toyota 89904-47230 – Runner-Up OEM Key Fob
3. KeylessOption MOZB21TG – Best Aftermarket Prius Key Fob
1. Toyota 89994-47061 With Key – Best OEM Prius Key Fob
If you’re more concerned about reliability than price, then we’d recommend getting the OEM key fob for your Prius. You’ll also receive Toyota’s 12-month warranty that covers all the company’s OEM parts.
- Guaranteed compatible with 2004-2009 Toyota Prius
- OEM replacement smart key transmitter
- Includes a blank physical key
- OEM replacement can be more expensive
2. Toyota 89904-47230 Proximity Remote – Runner-Up OEM Key Fob
If you want to replace your 2010 Prius’s smart key with the original Toyota part, this is the one to buy. It comes with a Toyota warranty, and you get the confidence of knowing it was designed to work with your vehicle by the manufacturer.
- Guaranteed compatible with 2010 Toyota Prius
- OEM replacement part with a 12-month warranty
- Doesn’t include a physical replacement key
3. KeylessOption MOZB21TG – Keyless Entry Remote Control Car Key Fob for 2004-2009 Toyota Prius (Pack of 2)
For shoppers looking for a bargain, this KeylessOption smart key will save you money compared to the OEM transmitter sold by Toyota. You’ll need to be careful that you confirm the MOZB21TG is compatible with the smart key you’d like to replace, and a locksmith will need to program it.
- Compatible with 2004-2009 Toyota Prius
- Includes blank physical key
- Less expensive than OEM smart key
- Comes with only a 90-day warranty
Toyota Prius Key Fob Buyer’s Guide
When you shop online for a replacement key fob for your Toyota Prius, it’s important to choose one that’s compatible with your year-model Prius. There are dozens of different key fobs on the market, but only those made specifically for your Prius year-model will work. Sometimes the key fobs for older Prius models will look identical to new Prius key fobs, but the electronics inside of them aren’t compatible with the newer models. The newer key fobs may not be backward compatible, either.
Key Fobs vs. Keyless Entry Remotes
What is a key fob, and how is it different from a keyless entry remote? If you’re new to push-button start cars and smart keys, it might seem like a key fob is just a keyless remote that also starts your car. Key fobs are sometimes called proximity smart keys or automotive smart keys, which is because they take the place of your car’s key.
Push-button start cars have smart keys that can communicate with their ignition system remotely. The key fob sends a special coded signal that lets your car know you’re the owner. It can start your car as well as unlock its doors. Another important point is that a key fob includes a physical key that you can pull out and use to open your car doors. It’s mainly a backup in case the key fob’s battery dies.
Older keyless remotes send a programmed code that tells your car to unlock its doors, sound its horn, or unlatch its trunk, but they are separate from your physical key. The remote doesn’t communicate with the car’s ignition, so you need to insert the physical key and turn the ignition to start the vehicle.
How to Buy the Right Key Fob for Your Prius
When it comes to shopping for a replacement key fob for a Prius, you’ll need to carefully note your Prius’s details like its year and VIN number. You’ll need this information when checking the compatibility of key fobs available online. If you have your original key fob, it’s also helpful to find its part number or FCC code for the same reason. If you get an incompatible key fob, it won’t work.
Follow these basic steps to find the right key fob:
- Find your car’s year and VIN number and write them down.
- If you have your original key fob, find its part number on the back or inside the remote. Save the physical key, too. It’ll help with cutting a new key if you need another one.
- Search only for Toyota Prius key fobs, and make a note of the one’s that support your Prius year-model.
- Double-check that the product you buy supports your Prius model. The best way to do this is to buy a Toyota OEM key fob designed for your year-model. If you want to save money with an aftermarket key fob, make sure it’s compatible with the OEM key fob that you’re replacing.
- Take your new key fob to a Toyota dealer or certified locksmith to program it to your car and have the physical key cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it possible to program a used key fob?
Toyota’s key fobs can only be programmed to work with a Prius once. The chip that stores the special code that pairs the key fob to a vehicle can’t overwrite it with a new one, so a used key fob won’t be programmable. It’s critical to make sure you buy a new key fob to replace one that’s been lost or damaged.
2. How much does it cost to program a new key fob?
Programming services vary from one provider to the next, but typically it costs at least $75. Locksmiths and Toyota dealers can take care of the programming if you’d rather be sure it’s done correctly.
3. Can I start my Prius when a key fob’s battery is dead?
When the battery dies in your smart key, it won’t have a strong enough signal to unlock your Prius’s doors, which is why the physical key is provided as a backup. You should be able to start your car, however, by holding the key fob against the ignition start button before pressing it.
Conclusion
Key fobs are designed to replace traditional keys with an electronic chip that identifies you to your car as the owner. Because the key fob must communicate with your Prius with a radio frequency and special code, only OEM key fobs and compatible aftermarket key fobs will work with your car. We selected the three best key fobs available for the most common Toyota Prius model-years.
Sources:
- How to Start a Prius – YourMechanic
- How to Replace Your Car’s Key Fob – Consumer Reports
