Millions of people who have an iPhone or Android phone are being told they can say goodbye to needing their car key.
The future has officially arrived, with the ability to unlock your motor with your phone about to be reality for millions of drivers. It goes one step further than that, too, with your phone also being able to start your car and drive off. It's good for security, developers stress,
"Digital car key uses advanced technology that’s less vulnerable to unauthorised access than key fobs," Google explains.
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"You can also suspend or delete your digital car key if your phone is lost or stolen."
The feature needed to access this is called Digital Car Key, which is manufactured by Android owner Google.
How does Digital Car Key work?
The Digital Car Key uses Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology in same way you use NFC for a virtual bank card on your phone.
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But instead of holding the virtual card up to a contactless pay point, you hold the Digital Car Key on your phone up to your car door handle. And voila, you should be in.
At that stage, you place your phone on or near the car key reader and press the 'start' button.
Is Digital Car Key compatible with my car?
Obviously, older cars aren't compatible with this, particularly those with a key ignition start.
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As it stands, six car manufacturers have Digital Car Key compatibility: BMW, BYD, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, and MINI Cooper.
However, not every model has compatibility, so you should check if your motor makes the list.
Does Digital Car Key work on Android and iPhone?
Despite it being made by their fierce industry rivals, the Digital Car Key can be shared with friends and family who have an iPhone if they need to drive your car for whatever reason.
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Android says: "You can easily share your digital car key with both Android and iPhone users by simply sending a text.
"Key owners can also stop sharing and set permissions."
As the person who has set up the digital car key you can amend permissions at any point in time.
Is Digital Car Key compatible with my phone?
Like with your car, your phone has to pretty new to take advantage of this feature. Your Android phone will need to be one of the following phones or newer:
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- Samsung Galaxy S21 and later
- Pixel 6 and later, including Pixel Fold and Pixel 8 Pro
- Select Android devices that run Android 12 and up
If you're all good to go, follow the steps in your email, vehicle or manufacturer app to install your key. You can then manage the key in your digital wallet app alongside your bank cards.
And good news if your battery dies, with Android saying: "You may still be able to unlock and start your car for a few hours after your phone’s battery has run out."
On top of this, you can also sync it to your smart watch as a way to make sure you never lose access.
Topics: Google, Phones, Technology, iPhone
Tom Earnshaw