Not all key suppliers/supply networks are created equal...

I kind of got spoiled... When I started the key adventures I decided that Autel was one of the best vehicle locksmithing tool providers in the industry and my local Factory Motor Parts store is part of the official supply network for Autel tools.

Autel tools have their hang ups and their negatives like all tools in this industry but they do not require tokens, have the largest coverage base and the wealth of informational videos on how to program keys to specific vehicles from the common to the high end cars (Porsche/BMW/Mercedes/etc.) is just insane. Outside of dealer tools they make the best tool for the majority of vehicles even if their tools loose features over time due to legalities/the changing nature of the industry. 99 percent of everyone I have talked to in this field use the Autel tools as their first go to with other manufacturers tools taking supporting roles based on their strengths over Autel.

Autel keys are also truly universal with only differences of packaging versus Xhorse 4 different lines of keys you use depending on the application. I can also get Autel keys/tools/accessories in as little as 2 days after I order them through my local supplier. There are some keys like the 868/900mhz Autel key that is hard to find in the US due to their popularity and I have found the best prices come from foreign suppliers and that means extended delivery times.

While Autel advertises 3000+ key applications for their keys... Xhorse advertises 20,000+ key applications for their keys. There are entire manufacturers, like Toyota, the Autel keys are NOT compatible with where as Xhorse has 1 or even 2 different lines that support these same vehicles.

UHS hardware is probably the best source of keys I have found that has pretty much everyone's keys available. They are based in the us, have priority shipping options, and I have had ZERO issues with them to date. They have Autel, Xhorse, and KeyDIY. They will be the only one I order Xhorse keys from soon. I heard I got bonus points ordering directly from Xhorse and that is what I will be going over after this.

I purchased my Xhorse Superchips from them and they arrived in 3-5 days. They do not have free shipping but the shipping time I paid for I received which is nice. This is where I will get my Xhorse stuff unless time is not an issue going forward. They also give you points based off your purchases that you can use at some point to your advantage. I have not really looked into that at this time because I am still busy learning and developing more content.

tlkeys.com The only foreign supplier I knew I would be taking a chance on. They had great stock, albeit in the Arab Emirates, of the 5 button Autel 868/900 mhz key. I could buy 2-4 of them shipped for the same price as they sold them for individually in the united states (where I could find them). Oddly enough shipping was quick even with delays due to the whole Iran thing. No issues anywhere along the line I was very happy.

A month later... Fedex sends me a bill for 60 dollars for customs fees related to the delivering of these remotes. That certainly complicates things...

My Xhorse key ordering has been truly disappointing. I have not found any place, even official suppliers, that communicate well/ship fast, or even ship from where they say they will. The problem in relation to this article is that they are not part of the tool web distribution network that Autel is a part of. There is NO possibility of local suppliers of Xhorse according to their website because they are not a part of any 3rd party distribution network like the bigger tools are.

VVDIShop.com didn't give me a tracking number for a week so I contacted them. To which I was told half of what I ordered was not in stock (not what it said on their website) so they were waiting for them to come back into stock before shipping. Zero communication on their part about the issue and their website said they were in stock before I ordered. You would think they would at least ship what they have in stock, send a message explaining the situation and offering options for refund or ship when in stock on the remaining. After all, I would not be ordering keys unless I needed them for stock... Two weeks later I finally received half of my order....

Xhorsetool.com Had a decent price on the XM38 Toyota smart key (the special key you need from Xhorse as Autel does not have a compatible key for these applications). Took almost 2 weeks to show up. They are an official supplier for Xhorse with "items that ship from US/UK" aka in country shipping. By the time I got the tracking data to update on their ridiculous 17track.net app and saw it was coming out of China I was just like whatever...

XhorseVVDI.com Is next up for me to try...

KeyDIY keys are considered to be excellent quality. I do not have an KeyDIY tools at this time so I have no experience with who to order these keys from and how long they take to get. I will be finding out soon because they do have a truly special tool for Land Rovers that is a must have in my current opinion.