It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when cars didn’t even have keys. As vehicles evolved, so did the need to keep them secure - and the humble car key slowly transformed from a simple piece of metal into the high-tech device we use today.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how car keys have changed over the decades, from their earliest beginnings to the latest smart systems that barely look like keys at all.

The Birth of the Car Key: Early Mechanical Locks
In the earliest years of motoring - think the early 1900s - there wasn’t much thought given to vehicle security. Cars were rare and expensive, and many simply didn’t come with locks at all.

As cars became more common, simple mechanical locks started to appear. These weren’t like the ignition keys we know now. Instead, the first car keys were typically used only to lock the car’s doors or the external ignition switch. Starting the car itself often required a separate process - like turning a hand crank.

By the 1920s and 30s, manufacturers began to integrate ignition locks directly into the steering column. This meant you finally needed a key to start the car - a big step forward in basic security.

The Rise of the Ignition Key: 1940s–1960s
The real shift came in the mid-20th century. Car makers started fitting combined ignition and starter switches that could be turned with a single key. By the late 1940s, most new cars in Europe and the US came with an ignition key as standard.

These keys were simple metal blades, cut to match the unique shape of each car’s lock cylinder. Though basic by modern standards, they were a big improvement: you could finally lock your car doors and start the engine with the same key.

During this period, car theft wasn’t yet the huge problem it would later become. But as cities grew and cars became a part of everyday life, manufacturers began to think more seriously about security.

Double-Sided and Groove Keys: 1970s–1980s
In the 1970s, as theft became a growing concern, car keys became more sophisticated. One of the most obvious changes was the introduction of double-sided keys. Unlike earlier keys, which only had cuts on one side, double-sided keys could fit into the lock either way up - making them both more convenient and slightly harder to pick.

Manufacturers also began experimenting with different groove patterns and key profiles, to reduce the risk of someone copying your key with basic tools. These weren’t high-security systems by modern standards, but they were a step forward.

The Age of Electronic Security: The Transponder Revolution
By the mid-1990s, car crime had become a major problem in many countries, including the UK. The answer came in the form of electronic security - specifically, the transponder chip.

Introduced widely in Europe from around 1995, transponder keys contained a small chip inside the plastic head of the key. When you turned the key in the ignition, the car’s immobiliser system sent out a signal to check for the correct chip. Without the right transponder, the engine wouldn’t start - even if the key blade itself was an exact match.

This technology massively reduced so-called “hot wiring” and became standard on almost every new car sold from the late 1990s onwards.

Remote Key Fobs and Central Locking
At roughly the same time, remote key fobs started to appear. Instead of unlocking the car with the blade alone, drivers could now press a button to open the doors remotely. Some early systems were basic and sometimes unreliable, but they quickly became something most drivers wouldn’t want to live without.

Soon after, remote fobs began to integrate the transponder chip and the mechanical key blade into a single unit - often in a flip-out design that many cars still use today.

Keyless Entry and Push-Button Start
In the 2000s, manufacturers took things even further with full keyless entry and start systems. Instead of inserting a key, drivers only needed to have the fob somewhere on their person - often in a pocket or bag. The car recognised the authorised fob wirelessly, allowing you to unlock the doors by touching the handle and start the engine with a push-button.

While convenient, these systems also introduced new challenges, like “relay theft”, where criminals could trick the car into thinking the key was nearby. In response, newer fobs include motion sensors or proximity limits to reduce these risks.

If you are interested in learning more about car keys, how they work and which specialist you can contact to solve problems with car keys, we recommend visiting this site: phoenixcarkeys.co.uk