In this blog entry, the professional Myrtle Beach emergency automotive locksmith service and Myrtle Beach car locksmith experts here at Myrtle Beach Locksmith will detail the most common types of car locks that we see today in the industry.
Standard key entry locks
These basic locks are opened by physically turning a key inside the cylinders locking mechanism. These are mechanical locks, not hybrid lock systems that utilize a key fob. These are mostly seen with antique and retro cars. standard entry locks are used on car doors, car ignitions, and car trunks. cars from the 1920s only had locks on the external doors. In fact, cars before the 1920s didn’t have any locks! Today, standard locks are used but only as a backup to Modern electronic lock systems that use key fobs. The Only Exception is when high security locks are deadbolt locks are used to help provide security for vans and trucks.
Electronic car locks
These locks include keypads, touch screen locks, biometric locks, and app / smartphone based locks. Cars were first matched with remote keyless entry systems in the 1980s, and by the late 1980s, keypad and electronic lock systems became highly popular. However, by the late 1990s, the expense of these keypad-based lock systems waned in popularity. However, now in the early 2020s, electronic car lock systems are becoming popular again, such as those used by car companies like Tesla.
Keyless entry for cars
This is the most popular kind of Automotive lock used today. it is essentially a hybrid of physical keys and locks and keyless locks. Keyless entry refers to a wide range of key fobs, like proximity key fobs, physical keys matched with electronic key fobs, transponder key fobs, and ignition key fobs. key fobs allow drivers to not have to use a physical key as the main entry method, and it usually only uses a physical key as a backup. key fobs are the keys that open up car doors, open the car’s trunk, turn on car alarms, and even start the ignition. Some key fobs for luxury Vehicles can help preheat the vehicle in the winter, and even heat the car seats. key fobs send a special encrypted message to the computer within the vehicle which helps unlock ignition or perform other functions. The majority of cars sold in the United States today utilize a keyless system with key fobs. It is essential to note that key fobs that start the ignition have to be equipped with special transponders that work with the immobilizer housed in the vehicle engine. Sometimes when programming between these two devices are mismatched, the key fob might need to be reprogrammed in order to operate your vehicle.
Child safety locks
Becoming more popular in the 1980s and 1990s after they were made absolutely mandatory by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these locks work like a lever in the backseats and are remotely controlled by the driver. This ensures that car doors cannot be accidentally opened by a small child while the car is in motion or while a child is waiting in the back seat.
Trunk locks
Commonly seen in modern vehicles, trunk locks can be opened with a smart key fob or a standard key. Often, key fobs have a special button that unlocks only the trunk door, which is widely used during grocery shopping. The trunk release button on most contemporary key fobs are very convenient and provide security while the vehicle is parked, allowing the driver to safely open the trunk and retrieve or deposit belongings without having to unlock the car door or turn on the ignition. If you have a vehicle that you use for work or even a vehicle like an RV that you live in, you might decide to install additional security locks like deadbolts or latches.