2018 Chevrolet Traverse Key Replacement

The 2018–2020 Traverse uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Chevrolet Traverse key guide.

2018 Chevrolet Traverse: key facts

Key type: Smart / proximity key
Push-to-start: Yes
Transponder chip: 46E (Hitag2 Extended)
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

HYQ4EA proximity fob; push-button start standard.

What kind of key does the 2018 Traverse use?

The 2018 Traverse is a smart-key vehicle. The fob is a proximity type, model HYQ4EA, and the car starts with a push button rather than a turned key. The car senses the fob inside the cabin, so the fob never has to leave your pocket or bag. Inside the fob is a 46E (Hitag2 Extended) transponder chip, and that chip family is verified in our data.

For an owner, that means a replacement is not something you can have ground out at a hardware store counter. The fob has to be programmed to the vehicle's computer before it will start the engine. A fob that only looks right will unlock nothing and start nothing.

There is also a mechanical backup. The fob carries a hidden emergency blade that opens the driver's door. That matters for the most common complaint on this year: a dead fob battery. When the battery fades, the dash reports that no remote was detected, but the blade still gets you into the vehicle. Worn-out batteries are a much lighter problem than a lost fob, so if your fob has gone quiet, bring it to us before assuming you need a whole new one.

Spare fob or all keys lost: what is the difference?

For this Traverse, making an additional fob from an existing one requires that original key. If you still have a working fob, adding a spare is the simpler job, and it is the best time to do it. You skip the stress of being stranded and usually end up with the more economical route.

If you have no key at all, an all-keys-lost situation is still possible to solve on this vehicle. It takes more steps because nothing is there to copy from, so the fob has to be introduced to the vehicle from scratch through the OBD port. Our data shows no NASTF SDRM secure-access registration is required for this year, which keeps the process in our hands rather than sending you to a dealer.

One working fob: we add a new fob using the original as the starting point.
No working fob: we handle all-keys-lost programming at the vehicle through the OBD port.
Fob crushed, waterlogged or cracked: bring the pieces. Sometimes the blade or case information helps, and the fob may still count as an original key.

How we handle a 2018 Traverse key job

Whether you come to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd or we roll a mobile van to your vehicle, the process is the same.

You call (213) 577-1366. We answer around the clock and ask for your vehicle details and how many keys you have left.
We confirm the vehicle by VIN and check that it matches a push-button-start HYQ4EA setup.
We verify ownership before any key is made.
If you have a working fob, we use it as the original. If not, we move to the all-keys-lost procedure.
We supply the fob and program it through the OBD port.
We test starting, locking and unlocking, and the emergency blade, so you leave knowing every function works.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

What affects the price of a replacement fob?

Owners of this year are right to expect that a lost fob costs more than an older bladed key. A proximity fob with a programmable chip is a more complex part than a metal key with a plastic head. We do not quote numbers on a web page because the final figure depends on your situation, not a flat list.

The main factors:

Whether you have a working original or are all keys lost, since the second takes more time and steps.
How many fobs you need programmed.
Whether we come to you in a mobile van or you visit the storefront. Coming to us is usually the lighter-cost option.
Time of day, since we answer 24/7 but after-hours calls involve different logistics.
The condition of your existing fob. A dead battery alone is a very different job from water damage or a crushed case.
Whether the vehicle needs anything beyond a standard fob, which the VIN check will reveal.

What we confirm by VIN, and why call us

Our data on this year is verified: the chip family, the OBD programming method and the need for an original key all check out. Even so, we confirm by VIN before cutting or programming anything, because a fob family can differ between builds and a mismatched part wastes your money. If anything on your vehicle does not match what we expect, we tell you plainly before work begins.

Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987, with a storefront and mobile service vans. You deal with one company, not a dispatch middleman who passes your call along. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith, including us, for it before they start.

For more on keys by make and model, see our Chevrolet key service overview, the Traverse key page, or the full car keys section. If you would rather send details first, use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can you replace a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse key if I lost every fob?

Yes. All-keys-lost is possible for this year. We program a new HYQ4EA fob through the OBD port after confirming the vehicle by VIN and your ownership.

My Traverse says no remote detected. Do I need a new fob?

Probably not yet. A dead fob battery is a common cause of that message. The hidden emergency blade in the fob still opens the door, and a battery swap is a far lighter fix than a replacement.

Does the 2018 Traverse have a regular key slot?

It uses push-button start with a proximity fob. The only metal key is the emergency blade hidden inside the fob, which works the door.

Do I need the original key to make a copy?

For this vehicle, duplicating a fob needs an original key. If you have none, we use the all-keys-lost process instead.

Does a replacement fob have to be programmed?

Yes. The fob contains a 46E (Hitag2 Extended) transponder chip and must be programmed to the vehicle through the OBD port before it will start the engine.

Can you come to me, or do I have to bring the Traverse in?

We have mobile service vans, and we also have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood. Call (213) 577-1366 at any hour and we will work out which suits your situation.

Will a water-damaged or crushed fob still work?

Sometimes, but not reliably. Damage to the electronics often means the fob must be replaced. Bring it in and we will tell you whether it is worth saving.

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Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.