The Story of the Renault Card Key

The hands-free card is one of the most important inventions that have ever changed the way people travel in cars. Pascaline, the Head of Cross-Cutting Products at Renault Group Products walks us through the history of this simple device.

The origins of the card

Hands free cards from Renault are a global success. It’s now an integral element of the everyday life of car owners. It was initially designed twenty years ago and is now one of the most important innovations of the company. Pascaline the Head of Cross-Cutting Products at the Products division takes us on a journey to learn the story of this handy accessory.

It was in 2001 that the Laguna II, a saloon that aimed at capturing the essence of ‘lifestyle’ driving, entered production. It was a time of a lot of innovation with a variety of new equipment options that allowed customers to take advantage of their vehicle to the fullest.

The occupants were still required to use keys to open and close their doors. Renault engineers determined that this was a significant issue for many people.

In the end, they decided to include a contactless keycard in their vehicles and develop a system that would enable drivers to open and start their vehicles by merely waving the hand. The result is the key card, which is now present on two in three Renault vehicles. The car will unlock automatically when the card is near the ignition barrel, or the center console. This is an original Renault remote control card (without blade). It comes individually packed and ready to be programmed with Abrites diagnostics for Renault/ Dacia software with the ProTAG programmer.

The design

The possession of a Renault key card or even an auto remote key can be a huge comfort in our day-to-day lives. However, these devices are susceptible to failure due to wear and wear or simply being dropped. If this happens, it can be quite stressful. There are a variety of ways to replace your Renault key card. Contacting the dealership is one alternative. However, this may take a long time, and it could also be expensive. Another option is to see an expert locksmith.

SR Key Solutions is fully equipped to manufacture and program Renault keys and cards. We can offer you the replacement for your current key at a significantly lower cost than a dealer would charge. We can also make it quicker than an agent.


This product is compatible with the Renault Laguna II, Espace 4 and Vel Satis keycards (keyless entry system). It shields your keycard while providing a stylish design. It comes in two colours and can be personalized with your logo or VIN. It can be used with a regular keychain or inside the key case. This is a genuine Renault item that will only fit the car you have ordered. Please include your VIN when you place an order to ensure the correct key is provided.

The technology

Renault key cards contain transponder chips inside. They also have the ability to communicate at low frequency that enables the card to communicate with your vehicle. The chips are susceptible to cracking from general use and it can be expensive to get them repaired or replaced by a dealer. We can repair or replacement your Renault key cards at only a fraction of the cost of the dealer.

replacement renault megane key card -free card was initially introduced in 2001 on the Laguna II saloon, which was designed to represent the ‘lifestyle’ car of the 21st century. Renault could not test all possible uses, despite having a detailed design guideline based upon over 6,000 interviews with customers.

Fortunately, the product manager on Laguna II, Bernard Dumondel, was staying in a hotel at the time and used his room key to unlock his car. He believed that a car key could be created using the same magnetic strip used for the key.

In the following years the card was described as an innovation that was revolutionary and is now used on two out of three Renault vehicles. Although smartphones are close to replacing it, Renault has chosen to make use of these new features without letting the hands-free card fall by the wayside.

The keyless entry system

The hands free card of Renault was a groundbreaking piece of technology when it was launched 20 years ago. The exterior design is the same but the technology has been upgraded to make it more user-friendly and harder to hack.

It can’t be used from outside to open doors or start the car until the driver has activated it. This is because radio antennae « around the car » are designed to determine whether the key is inside or outside. The key will continue to turn the ignition from a distance, but will not open the doors. This is to ensure your safety.

The second is that the wireless remote control transmissions of the system utilize a rolling-code. This decreases the risk of security being compromised by someone intercepting and retransmitting the control message to gain access but does not eliminate the risk altogether. [1]

If the key fob on your Megane suddenly stops working, particularly after you’ve dropped it on the floor It could be an indication that the receiver module has failed. If this is the case, you’ll need to replace it with a genuine Renault replacement. For more information, click the ‘Key Programming Information tab above. Customers working in the locksmith or motor trade can sign up for a special trade account, and enjoy special pricing.
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