Losing a car key fob is a modern headache, especially when faced with dealership replacement costs. For Toyota Prius owners, the expense can easily climb over $300. After misplacing a key fob for my Gen 3 Prius, I explored alternatives to avoid the dealer’s hefty price tag and discovered Tom’s Key Fobs as a potential solution. This review details my experience with Tom’s Key Company, an online retailer specializing in key fob clones and programming tools, offering a cost-effective approach to key replacement.
Having previously navigated the complex “chicken dance” method to replace key fobs for older Gen 2 Priuses, I learned that Toyota had secured Gen 3 models against such DIY programming. Dealerships now typically require their Techstream diagnostic tools for pairing keys on 2009 and newer vehicles. While online marketplaces offer bootleg programmers claiming to bypass this, concerns linger about their reliability, especially for “smart” key fobs and the risk of damaging the car’s key system.
This led me to Tom’s Key Fobs. Based in Salt Lake City, they provide cloned Gen 3 Prius key fobs and the necessary tools for pairing. It’s important to note that this is an independent review, and I have no affiliation with Tom’s Key Company.
Appearance and Key Quality
The key fob from Tom’s Key Fobs is visually identical to my original 2010 factory Prius fob. In July 2024, a blank, unused fob cost $128, including an uncut metal key. For an additional $60, Tom’s Key Fobs offered a precision-cut metal key, crafted from images of my original key that I emailed to them.
Initially skeptical about key cutting from a photo, I was impressed that the machined key worked flawlessly in the door lock without any need for jiggling. While some might consider local hardware stores for key cutting, Gen 3 Prius keys feature a slot cut, not an edge, and finding local services for this type of key can be challenging.
The Key Fob Programming Tool
To program the Tom’s Key Fobs replacement, I rented their OBDII programming tool. The kit includes an OBDII dongle and a basic Android smartphone (BLU Advance L5), functioning as the programmer’s interface. This phone, dedicated solely to key programming, connects to the OBDII module via Bluetooth and cannot be used for other purposes as its Android functionality is restricted by Tom’s Key Fobs.
The rental for the programming hardware was $70 in July 2024, along with a refundable $90 security deposit. A prepaid USPS shipping label is included for returning the kit to Salt Lake City. It’s worth noting that Tom’s Key Fobs does not offer a downloadable programming app for personal Android phones, nor can the OBDII dongle be purchased separately. This rental-only system ensures users utilize their proprietary software and hardware combination.
Programming Process and App Experience
The custom Android app from Tom’s Key Fobs guides you through the programming. It starts by interrogating the vehicle through the OBDII dongle to identify the electronic key system. The app presents a screen with an option to erase all existing keys from the vehicle’s memory before reprogramming them, alongside the new Tom’s Key Fobs fob. This erase feature could be useful for security, for example, if a previous owner or someone with a key fob should no longer have access. I chose to skip this step to retain my original keys.
The app interface is primarily text-based, which could be improved with more visual aids. During the process, the app identified my vehicle as “prox5,” although a screen suggested this compatibility was only for 2016 and newer Priuses. Despite this inconsistency, the programming proceeded successfully. There was a minor app crash when it prompted me to have the antenna behind the start button “taste” the original Toyota key. However, a quick app reboot resolved this issue.
While the pre-sale AI chat on the Tom’s Key Fobs website felt somewhat impersonal, my overall experience and the functionality of their key fob and programming tool have been positive. I plan to use the rented programmer to pair another blank key purchased from Tom’s Key Fobs before returning the kit.
Conclusion: Is Tom’s Key Fobs a Good Option?
Tom’s Key Fobs offers a viable and more affordable alternative to dealership key fob replacement for Gen 3 Prius owners. The cloned key fob is a precise replica, and the programming tool, while basic, gets the job done. Despite minor interface quirks and a less-than-perfect website interaction, the service delivers on its promise of providing a DIY key replacement solution at a significantly lower cost than traditional dealerships. For those seeking to avoid expensive dealer services, Tom’s Key Fobs is definitely worth considering.
