The Biggest Downsides To Using A Digital Car Key

Digital car keys are so convenient. You can lock and unlock your vehicle from your phone instead of fumbling with a physical key or even a key fob. But like every technology advancement that touts convenience, they also come with risks. In many cases, these risks can be mitigated once you have a better understanding of how digital keys work and take the proper precautions.

Digital car keys are available for Android and iOS phones; Samsung even has its own digital key technology that works with select vehicles. With compatible Android and iPhone devices and vehicles, you can use Google Wallet or Apple Wallet, respectively, to not only lock and unlock the vehicle but, with some cars, start it as well. The technology is built around criteria set by the Car Connectivity Consortium, which devised the standard for digital keys way back in 2018.

There’s no denying how easy digital car keys are to use and even share with others. But there are concerns. For example, what if your phone dies, malfunctions or is lost? Can you still get into and start your vehicle? It’s important to understand these concerns around digital car keys.

Digital car keys are not at risk for relay attacks like key fobs, whereby a thief amplifies the fob’s signal to unlock the car without even having the fob in their possession. Instead, digital keys use ultra-wideband (UWB) or near-field communication (NFC) to communicate with your vehicle, so the car won’t unlock unless your phone is actually nearby. But they aren’t completely immune to attacks. If your phone is stolen and someone gets hold of it, this means they might be able to gain access to your vehicle. That said, most car makers include additional levels of authorization to help prevent thieves or even your underage kids from being able to access the car.

The best defense against this is to keep your phone as secure as possible with two-factor authentication, secure passwords and remote wiping capability in the event of loss or theft. There may also be an option to use a second device to suspend the digital key until you locate your phone. With iPhone, for example, all you need to do is mark your device as lost, and Apple CarKey will automatically lock down the app.

Another common concern is that scary scenario when your phone dies. It’s bad enough not to be able to hail an Uber or call home, but what if this means you can’t even get into your car? Thankfully, that isn’t the case. Just as most key fobs have a hidden physical key or a secondary option to start your car if the battery dies, digital keys have failsafe options. With both Apple and Android, many keys and cards can work up to five hours after your device battery dies, using reserve power via NFC. There are concerns as well that Bluetooth or NFC technology might not be working, but it’s unlikely. It’s slightly more probable that the app could crash, freeze or require an update at the worst possible time. The company’s cloud server could also go offline, though most big companies have backup servers just in case. None of these scenarios are common, but it’s good to know what’s possible.

Just as so many other technologies are going digital, from wallets to door locks, digital car keys are the future. That said, it’s always a good idea to have a backup. Keep the key fob with you anyway, or safely at home so someone can get it to you in the event of an emergency.

But provided you keep your phone sufficiently charged and the app updated, using digital keys should be easy as pie. Sure, things can always go wrong with digital technology. But with the right precautions and a backup plan in place, you’ll be able to use your digital car keys daily without issue.