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How to Find Your Car Key's FCC ID
The FCC ID is a short code on the back of your remote or smart key. It is the most reliable way to match a replacement. Your VIN cannot give you the FCC ID directly, but it helps you narrow the options and check the answer.
What the FCC ID is
In the United States, devices that transmit radio signals are registered with the Federal Communications Commission. The registration produces an FCC ID that the manufacturer prints on the device. For key fobs it identifies the transmitter inside. Sellers use it to say exactly which fob family a listing matches.
Where to look
- Turn the fob over and look at the back for tiny printed or moulded text.
- If you see nothing, open the case or battery door. The ID is often inside.
- Check for a second number: this may be the part number (an OEM number or the aftermarket supplier's reference).
- Take a clear photo with your phone camera and zoom in. The print is often tiny.
Reading it correctly
Letters and digits are easily confused: O versus 0, I versus 1, S versus 5. When searching, try both. Many IDs include a hyphen (for example GQ4-53T); sellers may write it with or without. Search tools on this site ignore punctuation.
How your VIN helps
- Enter the VIN in the VIN Key Finder to confirm year, make and model.
- Look at the FCC IDs and part numbers on the matching listings.
- If your fob's ID is in that list, you can order with confidence. If it is not, compare buttons and key type before buying.
You can also search the other way round: if you already know the FCC ID, enter it in the second box on the home page to see keys that list it.
One ID, several vehicles
The same fob can fit more than one model, and one model can have more than one fob across its production run. That is why the ID alone is not the whole story. For a model-by-model look, see our guides for popular brands, starting with Toyota, Honda and Ford, or browse all makes.
If you have no fob at all
Without a physical fob, use the VIN to decode your vehicle and the make pages to see typical FCC IDs for your year. Then ask a locksmith or dealer to confirm which version your car uses. Our guide to lost-all-keys situations explains the process.
Keys and tools matching this topic at UrbanX
Popular in-stock picks. Enter your VIN above to see keys matched to your car.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the FCC ID on a key fob?
On the back of the plastic housing, on a label or moulded into the plastic, or inside under the battery cover. It often starts with letters such as HYQ, KR5, M3N, GQ4, OHT, CWTWB or NBG.
Can I get the FCC ID from my VIN?
Not from the VIN alone. The VIN identifies your vehicle. From that you can see which FCC IDs were used on it, but you still confirm against your own fob.
What if the FCC ID is worn off?
Open the fob and check inside, look for a part number, or compare the fob's shape, buttons and battery type to listings for your vehicle. A locksmith can also read the transmitter.
Do two fobs with the same FCC ID always match?
They use the same radio hardware family, but chip type, button layout and software can still differ. Match the part number and buttons as well.
Is the FCC ID the same as a serial number?
No. The FCC ID identifies the radio design of the fob and is shared by many keys. A serial number is unique to one unit. Replacement fobs are matched by FCC ID and part number, not serial number.
How can I search the FCC database by name?
The public FCC equipment authorization search accepts an FCC ID or the company name that filed it. For car keys it is quicker to start from the ID printed on your fob and use our FCC ID lookup to see the vehicles and replacement keys that match.
How do I look up an FCC ID number?
Read it from the back of your fob or inside under the battery cover, then search it in our FCC ID lookup to see which vehicles use it and which replacement keys match.