When we bought our 2019 Honda Odyssey Elite, it came with two key fobs, one for Driver 1 and the second for Driver 2. On a recent vacation, I did too good of a job hiding one of the keys and was never able to find it again. As I started calling around local Honda dealerships for a replacement key fob, I discovered that it could end up costing me a few hundred dollars for a replacement.
Remember that if you lose your key fob, you not only need to replace the remote, but the key insert as well. The key, although possibly not used very much, is necessary if you want to lock/unlock the glove box and for entering the vehicle if your remote ever stops working.
In addition to getting the keyless entry remote and key insert, you’ll also need the remote to be programmed and the key insert to be cut for your vehicle. If your Honda Odyssey has Driver 1 and Driver 2 keys, you will need them programmed so that the proximity sensors are set up as well.
Whether you are getting your remote programmed or key cut, the Honda Dealership may ask you to provide proof of registration under your name, your ID, and/or VIN number. I can’t say for sure what they actually require because each Honda Dealership I’ve talked to has asked me for a different forms of identification in order to prove that I was the registered owner of the car.
Genuine & Aftermarket Keyless Entry Remotes for the Honda Odyssey
To find out what remote you need for your Honda Odyssey, you can either open up your remote to find the part number, or you can go to a Honda Dealership and they can look up the part number with your VIN number.
If you decide to purchase the parts on your own, make sure you have the right parts. If you remove the key insert in your remote (that is if you still have the other remote), you will be able to see the small text for the part number as shown below.
For the 2018-2024 Honda Odyssey, there are several part numbers for the keyless entry remote. From my research, it seems that they all have the same buttons and function, except for the first part number below which is not programmed to be Driver 1 or Driver 2. The second and third part numbers will apply to the trim levels that have proximity functionality (e.g. unlocking of the doors when you’re near the door and touch the door handle.)
| Honda Part # | Remote Notes |
|---|---|
| 72147-THR-A11 | Blank |
| 72147-THR-A21 | Driver 1 |
| 72147-THR-A31 | Driver 2 |
Purchasing the remote at a Honda OEM parts website or second-hand on Ebay might save you some money. There are even aftermarket keyless entry remotes that are sold for our 5th generation Honda Odyssey (2018-2024), but you’re taking a risk when you’re buying aftermarket key fob remotes. It may or may not be able to be programmed to your car.
Programming the key fob yourself is not possible unless you have a dedicated key programmer, which is usually quite expensive (at least a few hundred dollars). If you see instructions online for how you can program your Honda Odyssey yourself using a sequence of physical actions, don’t bother. This only applies to older Honda Odysseys and will not work for this generation.
Some locksmiths who cut keys, may also offer key programming as well. This might be an option if you have one who you can trust. Otherwise, I think it’s a good idea (and less risky) to get your programming and key cutting done at a Honda Dealership. If you’re trying to save money, consider buying a used remote which can be much cheaper than buying a new one.
Personally, I bought a used one off Ebay for the Driver 1 Remote (Part #72147-THR-A21), which is the one that I lost. A Honda Dealership won’t program a remote if it is an aftermarket one. But if it’s an OEM remote, they will program it even if it is a used one from another vehicle, assuming it is the correct one for your vehicle.
Key Cutting: The Key Matters
The key insert can be bought at the Parts Department in a Honda Dealership, but you can also find them online as well. The key’s part number is: 35118-T2A-A50. A lot of times you can find parts online cheaper than what you can find them for in person, but the key insert is pretty cheap so I don’t think it’s worth it to get online.
The other and more important reason why it’s not worth buying a key online is that the genuine and aftermarket ones look practically identical; the only difference is that the genuine key may have a slight yellowish tinge (indicating it is made of brass) versus the aftermarket one, which is mostly silver in color (which may indicate it is made of a harder metal like steel). Key cutters are usually made to cut keys that are softer metal; if you try cutting a key (usually aftermarket) made of a harder metal, it can damage the machine.
I bought an aftermarket key on Ebay, which was advertised as a genuine key. The dealership believing that it was a genuine key, tried to cut it but then came out to inform me that for some reason their machines won’t cut it because of the material and therefore believed it to be an aftermarket key. I then purchased a genuine key from them for $20, and they were able to cut it successfully. I’d also like to add that the dealership I went to prior to this tried to cut my key and their machine was down (possibly because they tried to cut an aftermarket key causing damage to their machine.)
Cost of Buying the Remote & Key at a Honda Dealership
I called some of the local Honda dealerships in Southern California where I live and got a few quotes, which ranged widely in price. Therefore, my recommendation if you are buying a replacement remote and key at the dealership, is to contact several dealerships in your area to find one that offers the best price.
When I got quotes at the beginning of 2024, the first dealership quoted me $181 for the remote and key, $91 to program the remote, and $10 to cut the key. This totaled $282 for everything. Another dealership I called quoted me $130 for the remote and key, and $260 to program the remote and cut the key. The second dealership’s quote totaled to $390.
As you can see, the quotes can vary significantly from one dealership to the next, so you should definitely shop around. They generally estimate 1.5-2 hours to program the remote and cut the key.
My Recommendation for Replacing a Lost Key Fob
If you’re looking for a replacement key fob including the key, I would recommend buying a genuine Honda keyless entry remote online and buying the key insert at the local dealership when you go in to get the remote programmed and key cut. Shop around the local Honda dealerships in your area and try to get the best price for programming the remote, and buying and cutting the key insert.
If you go this route, you may only spend a little more than buying an aftermarket remote and key from a locksmitch who programs and cuts it for you. I’ve heard of locksmiths charging somewhere around $100 for the parts and to program and cut. When all was said and done, I ended up with a Genuine Honda key fob and key, programmed and cut at a Honda Dealership for about $120. All the programming to my Driver 1 key was done and everything works perfectly.
