2023 Toyota Prius Key Replacement

2023 Toyota Prius: key facts

Key type: Smart / proximity key
Push-to-start: Yes
Transponder chip: 8A-BA (128-bit DST-AES smart)
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

New XW60 generation launches on the 8A-BA smart system (aftermarket 2023-2024 Prius keys such as the HYQ14FBX are listed with 8A-family chips, corroborating this); transpondery.com documents a running change to NXP Hitag-AES 4A-BA fobs from 10/2023 production, so late-build cars may differ. Toyota's immobilizer-reset bulletin (T-SB-0013-24, hosted by NHTSA) covers 2022-2024 Prius all-keys-lost via a TIS pass-code.

What kind of key does the 2023 Prius use?

The 2023 Prius is a push-to-start car with a smart proximity key. There is no key to turn. The car reads the fob when it is near, and you start it with the brake pedal and the button. Inside the fob is an 8A-BA chip, a 128-bit DST-AES smart family chip. That encryption is why a hardware-store copy will not work. A blank fob has to be programmed to your car's immobilizer, and that is a diagnostic job, not a cutting job.

This is also the first year of the new XW60 generation, which launched on the 8A-BA smart system. Aftermarket 2023-2024 Prius fobs, such as the HYQ14FBX, are listed with 8A-family chips, which lines up with that. Every fob also carries a mechanical backup key. It slides out of the fob and is the way in if the fob battery dies and the car does not detect you.

The problems we hear about on this key are consistent:

A weak fob battery and a 'key not detected' message
Replacing a lost fob costing more than the older bladed keys did
Water-damaged fobs after a pocket trip through the wash or a spilled drink

Duplicate key or all keys lost: what changes?

For this setup, a duplicate is the easier situation. If you still have a working fob, the car can be told to accept another one, and the original makes that straightforward. Having a spare made before you lose the last one is the lighter-cost route and the one we would push you toward.

All keys lost is still possible on the 2023 Prius. It is just more involved. Programming is done through the OBD port, and the work requires secure vehicle data access through NASTF's SDRM system. Toyota also has an immobilizer-reset bulletin, T-SB-0013-24, hosted by NHTSA, which covers 2022-2024 Prius all-keys-lost and uses a TIS pass-code. In plain terms, with no working fob the car's security has to be reset through an authorized process before a new fob will be accepted. When you call, we will tell you straight whether your car can be handled by us on site or needs a different route.

If the car is stuck in a parking structure or on the street, the mechanical backup key in a dead fob is worth trying first. If it is all-keys-lost, do not keep pressing the start button. It does nothing to help and can make it harder to tell what is going on.

Call (213) 577-1366 and give us the year, the Prius trim, and the VIN from the dash plate or your registration.
Tell us whether you have any working fob, a dead fob, or none.
We confirm the key type and the programming route for your car.
A van comes to you, or you bring the car to the Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd.
We program the new fob to the car, then test starting and locking before we leave.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

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

Call (213) 577-1366

What affects the cost of a 2023 Prius key?

We will not quote a number before we know your car, and nobody honest can. What moves the cost on this key:

Duplicate versus all keys lost. The all-keys-lost path involves the secure reset process and more steps.
The fob itself. A smart fob with an 8A-family chip costs more than a bladed key ever did, and quality varies between sources.
Where the car is. A van coming to you is different from you coming to the storefront.
Time of day. Late-night and holiday calls are a different workload than a daytime appointment.
Condition of the old fob. A fob with a failed battery may simply need a battery, which is far lighter than replacing it. A water-damaged one usually needs replacing.

What we confirm by VIN on your car

One thing in the data is not settled, and we would rather say so. A parts source, transpondery.com, documents a running change to NXP Hitag-AES 4A-BA fobs starting with October 2023 production. A car built late in the model year may therefore want a different fob than one built early. We do not guess. We check the VIN and, when we can, the fob in your hand before ordering or programming anything.

If you are buying a replacement fob online first, hold off until we have talked. A wrong chip family is the most common way a Prius owner ends up paying twice.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for this

We have been in business since 1987, with a storefront in Westwood and mobile service vans serving 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. It is one company. There is no dispatch middleman, so the person who answers the phone at any hour is working with the people who do the job. 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 for it before they touch your car. For more on Toyota keys, see our Toyota key overview and the Prius key page. If you would rather write than call, use the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make a spare 2023 Prius key if I only have one fob?

Yes. With a working fob in hand, adding another is the more straightforward job. We program the new fob to the car through the OBD port. It is the better time to do it, before the last fob is lost.

Can I get a key if I have lost every fob?

All keys lost is possible on this car. It needs secure vehicle data access and Toyota's immobilizer reset process, covered in bulletin T-SB-0013-24 for 2022-2024 Prius. Call us with your VIN and we will tell you how your car would be handled.

My Prius says 'key not detected'. Do I need a new fob?

Often not. A weak fob battery is the usual cause. Use the mechanical backup key to get into the car, and call us if the message continues after a new battery.

Can I buy a fob online and have you program it?

Talk to us first. Late 2023 builds may use a different fob family than early ones, and a wrong chip cannot be fixed by programming. We confirm by VIN before you buy.

Does the 2023 Prius have a hidden metal key?

Yes. The fob has a mechanical backup key that slides out. It opens the door if the fob battery is dead, though starting still depends on the car detecting a working fob.

Do you come to me, or do I come to you?

Either. Our mobile vans come to your location, or you can bring the car to our storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood. The number is (213) 577-1366 and it is answered 24 hours a day.

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

Last updated 2026-10-11.