Apple's iPhones and Apple Watches have supported NFC for some time now, and now those NFC capabilities can be used to allow Apple users to lock, unlock, and start compatible NFC-enabled vehicles using the iPhone or Apple Watch in lieu of a physical key.

bmw car key 2
Apple calls this feature "Car Keys" and this guide covers everything we know about how Car Keys works.

What is Car Keys?

Car Keys is a digital protocol that lets an ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch with NFC capabilities unlock, lock, start, and otherwise control an NFC-capable vehicle.

Cars do not have NFC functionality by default, so this is a feature that needs to be implemented by automobile manufacturers much like CarPlay.

What can be done with Car Keys may vary by car manufacturer, but at a minimum, Car Keys can be used to unlock your car, lock your car, and start your car, which are the features available with a physical key. There are also features for sharing digital keys and restricting access for some digital keys, so you can limit the maximum speeds for a teenager, for example.

Car Keys works through an NFC-based Digital Key 2.0 specification that's developed by the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), which Apple is a member of. The Digital Key 2.0 specification establishes a secure connection between mobile devices and vehicles over NFC.

How does Car Keys work?

Many newer cars these days have key fobs that unlock and start a car just via proximity, and Car Keys is a lot like that. Car Keys is a digital version of a car key that's stored inside the Wallet app.

Unlocking (or locking) a vehicle with Car Keys will involve holding an Apple Watch or ‌iPhone‌ near an NFC reader located inside the car. When the NFC reader detects the digital key stored in the ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch, the locking mechanism in the car will activate.

Apple says that you can unlock a car simply by tapping a door handle with an ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch.

The ‌iPhone‌ will authenticate the unlocking action with Face ID or Touch ID to verify, though there is an Express Mode that eliminates the need to authenticate, allowing for a faster vehicle unlocking process.

Starting a compatible car requires placing the ‌iPhone‌ on a reader or wireless charger located within the car.

How is Car Keys set up?

Car Keys setup entails placing an ‌iPhone‌ on top of an NFC reader located inside the vehicle, and the initial pairing process could take several minutes to complete.

A pairing code provided by the car manufacturer will need to be entered, though some setup processes could involve downloading an app from the carmaker. Instructions found in iOS:

Place this iPhone on top of the NFC reader in your car. Pairing process may take several minutes, do not remove it from the reader until pairing is done.

Enter the Car Keys code provided by your car dealer or connect using the [Vehicle Brand's] app.

What do Car Keys look like in the Wallet app?

Car Keys look like a standard card in the Wallet app. When you tap on the card, it provides vehicle info like model number and issuing automaker.

carkey screenshots

A screenshot pulled from iOS 13 depicting the Car Keys interface

There's also a toggle to activate Express Mode (unlocking without biometric authentication), or sharing a key with other people with a few options for access.

Can I share my Car Keys with others?

Yes. There is an option to send a digital Car Key to unlock your car to others using the Messages app. This is useful for valet parking, sharing vehicle access with a spouse or a friend, getting a repair, and other similar situations.

Different levels of access can be provided, so you can do things like provide full unlocking/driving access or more restricted access, such as allowing someone to unlock a car but not start it. Access can be permanent or temporary.

For younger drivers, there are limits for acceleration, top speed, traction control, and stereo volume.

In the Messages app, you can send a digital Car Key much like you can send Apple Cash, with Car Keys able to be shared in single person chats but not group conversations.

A person who has a digital Car Key to your car is able to use their ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch to unlock and/or start the car just like the car owner can do.

Do Car Keys work automatically?

No. Car Keys only work in vehicles that have NFC capabilities, and car manufacturers need to implement NFC and Car Keys support into their vehicles.

Apple is partnering with automakers and Car Keys may be a factory-installed option that's limited to newer car models. As with ‌CarPlay‌, though, it's possible there could be some aftermarket options for installing an NFC reader connected to the car locks and engine.

Which cars support Car Keys?

Car manufacturers like BMW, Rivian, Kia, and Hyundai have implemented support for Car Keys.

Do Car Keys work if my iPhone's battery dies?

Yes. Car Keys is based on NFC, and the feature continues to operate even when an ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch battery is low or recently died as there is a low-power mode included. It may not always be possible to unlock a car with a dead ‌iPhone‌, however, depending on how long it's been since the ‌iPhone‌ died and whether all of the power reserves have been exhausted.

Apple says power reserve lasts for about five hours beyond the point your ‌iPhone‌ needs to be recharged, although using the NFC functionality while on power reserve decreases that time.

Does Apple know when I lock and unlock my car with Car Keys?

No. During setup, the one-time redemption token that must be entered to pair a vehicle with the Wallet app is sent along with information about a user's Apple account, device, and location at the time of setup for fraud prevention purposes.

A unique device identifier is sent to the vehicle manufacturer to set up Car Keys. The identifier is unique for each manufacturer for privacy protection purposes. Apple says that car makers can connect the device identifier with other information it has about you, based on the manufacturer's privacy policy.

Likewise, while Apple does not retain information on vehicle usage (such as when a Car Keys is used to lock or unlock a car), a vehicle manufacturer may collect this kind of usage information according to user agreements established with the manufacturer.

Ultra Wideband - Digital Key Plus

The Digital Key 2.0 Specification was released in May 2020, and the Car Connectivity Consortium followed it up with the a Digital Key 3.0 specification based on Bluetooth LE and Ultra Wideband in July 2021.

The 3.0 specification allows for passive, location-aware keyless access. With Ultra Wideband support, an ‌iPhone‌ can be left in a pocket and can still be used to unlock or start a vehicle without direct NFC contact and authentication. The ‌iPhone‌ 11 and later feature Ultra Wideband support and are compatible with this functionality, and multiple car manufacturers have implemented Car Keys with Ultra Wideband.

Guide Feedback

Have a question about Car Keys, know of something we left out, or want to offer feedback? Send us an email here.

Related Articles

rivian r1s v2

Rivian's Latest Vehicles Support Apple Car Keys for Unlocking With Wallet App

Thursday June 6, 2024 10:47 am PDT by
Rivian today announced second-generation versions of the R1S SUV and R1T pickup, and the reengineered models include support for the Car Keys feature that's available on iPhones and Apple Watches. Car Keys allows an iPhone or Apple Watch with NFC capabilities to unlock a vehicle through the Wallet app. A digital version of a car key is stored in Wallet, and unlocking can be done simply by...
mercedes 2023 e class dash

Mercedes-Benz Preparing to Launch Digital Car Key Support for iPhone and Apple Watch in Latest E-Class Sedan

Tuesday May 23, 2023 12:45 pm PDT by
Apple's digital car key feature for iPhone and Apple Watch is expanding to Mercedes-Benz, with changes to Apple's back-end configuration files for the feature having been updated today with references to the automaker, as noticed by Nicolás Álvarez (via @aaronp613). Only a handful of brands including BMW, BYD, Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia have so far introduced support for the feature on select ...
car keys tests

Apple Releases 'Car Keys Tests' App for Licensed MFi Developers

Tuesday February 21, 2023 12:47 am PST by
Apple has released a testing app for vehicle manufacturers who are working on integrating its digital Car Keys software (via 9to5Mac). Apple's digital car key feature allows users to unlock and start a compatible vehicle by bringing an iPhone or Apple Watch near the driver-side door. The car keys are stored in the Wallet app, just like a credit card. The feature is currently limited to select...
bmw digital key plus wallet app car key

BMW Announces Latest Vehicles That Can Be Unlocked With Your iPhone in Your Pocket

Thursday June 2, 2022 10:04 am PDT by
BMW this week announced two new vehicles with support for its Digital Key Plus feature, including the 2023 X1 and an all-new electric SUV called the iX1. Digital Key Plus allows for compatible BMW vehicles to be locked, unlocked, or started with an iPhone or Apple Watch, eliminating the need for a physical key. The standard NFC version of the feature requires the iPhone or Apple Watch to be...
hyundai sonata digital key android

Apple Preparing to Add Support for Digital Car Keys on Hyundai and BYD Vehicles

Tuesday May 31, 2022 11:40 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to begin supporting digital car keys in the Wallet app for two new car brands: Hyundai and BYD. The feature allows users to lock, unlock, and start their vehicles using a pass stored in the Wallet on the iPhone or Apple Watch, and Ultra Wideband with Express Mode in iOS 15 can even automatically lock and unlock a compatible car as you approach without needing to wake your...
genesisgv60

Genesis Now Selling GV60 With Ultra Wideband Car Key Integration

Tuesday May 17, 2022 9:28 am PDT by
Genesis today announced the launch of the fully electric Genesis GV60, with the new vehicle equipped with Apple's Car Key feature for unlocking the vehicle with an iPhone or an Apple Watch. The GV60 supports the Ultra Wideband implementation of Car Key, allowing drivers to unlock and start their vehicles without needing to take their iPhone out of their pocket or bag. Car Key was first...
bmw car key photo

iPhone's Car Key Feature Now Supports Select 2022 Genesis and Kia Vehicles [Updated]

Wednesday March 23, 2022 9:03 am PDT by
In 2020, Apple introduced a digital car key feature that allows users to unlock and start a compatible vehicle by bringing an iPhone or Apple Watch near the driver-side door. The feature has been limited to select BMW models since launching. According to Apple, the feature has now expanded to select 2022 vehicle models from Genesis and Kia, which are both divisions of Korean automaker...
genesis gv70 nfc key

Apple Preparing to Support Digital Car Keys for Genesis Vehicles

Tuesday September 21, 2021 2:45 pm PDT by
Last year, Apple debuted support for digital car keys, which let users lock, unlock, and start their vehicles using a pass stored in the Wallet app on the iPhone. And with iOS 15, there's now Ultra Wideband support on the iPhone 11 and later that will let the feature work without having to remove your iPhone from your pocket. Car manufacturers need to add the NFC technology to their vehicles ...
bmw car key photo

Apple's Digital Car Key Feature Will Soon Work With Your iPhone in Your Pocket

Tuesday July 13, 2021 8:13 am PDT by
The Car Connectivity Consortium today announced that its Digital Key 3.0 specification with support for Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth LE connectivity is finalized and now available to members, including Apple. In 2020, Apple introduced a digital car key feature that allows users to unlock and start a compatible vehicle by holding an iPhone or Apple Watch near the driver-side door. The feature ...
bmw car key photo

Apple's Digital Car Key Feature Set to Gain U1 Ultra Wideband Support With Mid-2021 Spec Update

Tuesday April 20, 2021 7:06 am PDT by
The Car Connectivity Consortium today announced that its Digital Key 3.0 specification with support for Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth LE connectivity will be made available to members like Apple by the middle of 2021. At WWDC 2020, Apple introduced a new NFC-based digital Car Key feature that allows users to unlock and start their vehicle by holding a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch near...
tesla app android

Tesla's Next Car Could Support Ultra Wideband Unlocking With iPhone

Tuesday February 2, 2021 2:34 pm PST by
A leaked Tesla FCC document shared by The Verge suggests that Tesla's next cars will support Ultra Wideband, a technology that's built into the latest iPhones and in vehicles, allows for greater accuracy when unlocking a car with a smartphone. Tesla in September submitted documentation on new key fobs, a controller, and endpoints that would be installed inside the frame and cabin of a...
bmw car key photo

BMW Announces Plans to Launch Ultra Wideband Version of Apple's Car Key Feature by Early Next Year

Wednesday January 13, 2021 7:54 pm PST by
BMW today announced future plans to roll out Digital Key Plus, an enhanced version of Apple's Car Keys feature that incorporates Ultra Wideband technology, enabling drivers to unlock and start their vehicle without needing to take their iPhone out of their pocket or bag. BMW says the feature will first launch in its new iX electric vehicle, slated to launch in Europe in late 2021 and in North...
bmw car key 2

BMW Updates Connected App With Car Keys Support

Thursday July 2, 2020 11:09 am PDT by
Apple at WWDC announced Car Keys, a new feature designed to allow digital car keys to be added to the Wallet app on the iPhone, allowing iPhones and Apple Watch models to be used in lieu of a physical car key. Apple at the time said the feature would come to both iOS 13 and iOS 14, and the first Car Keys partner, BMW, today added support for the feature to its BMW Connected app. With Car...
bmw car key 1

Apple's Digital Car Key Coming to Broad Array of BMW Models Manufactured After July 1, Requires iOS 13.6

Monday June 22, 2020 1:39 pm PDT by
During its WWDC keynote today, Apple officially announced its digital car key technology, which will let users lock, unlock, and start cars using just their iPhone or Apple Watch. BMW was announced as Apple's lead partner on the initiative, and the German automaker shared additional information on the partnership in a press release today. BMW says that its Digital Key for iPhone will have...
carkey ios 14

iPhone and Apple Watch Becoming Digital Car Keys, Feature Rolling Out to BMW Customers Next Month

Monday June 22, 2020 10:33 am PDT by
Following several leaks and rumors, Apple today confirmed that iOS 14 and watchOS 7 feature support for NFC-based digital car keys, allowing users to unlock and start their vehicle with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch. Similar to credit cards and boarding passes, digital car keys are stored in the Wallet app. To unlock your vehicle, you will simply need to bring your iPhone near the...
bmw digital key

CarKey Privacy Policy Detailed in iOS 13.5.1, Suggesting Launch Could Come Soon

Monday June 15, 2020 1:11 pm PDT by
Buried in the iOS 13.5.1 update, there's a privacy policy for the "CarKey" feature that Apple has in the works, suggesting that a launch could perhaps be coming soon. CarKey is designed to allow an iPhone or Apple Watch to be used in lieu of a physical key in certain vehicles with NFC connectivity. First noticed by German site iPhone-ticker.de, the CarKey privacy info can be found in the...
bmw digital key

NFC-Based Digital Key Specification Released Ahead of Apple's Rumored CarKey Feature on iPhone

Monday May 4, 2020 7:57 am PDT by
Amid rumors that Apple is working on a "CarKey" feature for iPhone, the Car Connectivity Consortium today announced that its NFC-based Digital Key Release 2.0 specification has been finalized and made available to its members, which includes Apple. The specification enables mobile devices to store, authenticate, and share digital keys for vehicles with end-to-end security and privacy. The...
carkey screenshots

CarKey Screenshots Reveal Digital Keys in Wallet App, BMW Likely to Support Feature at Launch

Thursday March 26, 2020 6:03 pm PDT by
MacRumors recently discovered that Apple is developing a new "CarKey" feature that will allow an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock, lock, and start an NFC-compatible vehicle. Just like credit cards and boarding passes, users will be able to add a digital car key to the Wallet app, eliminating the need to use a physical car key or key fob. CarKey will allow users to approach their vehicle, hold...
bmw digital key

Apple's Upcoming 'CarKey' Feature Will Let You Send Digital Keys Using Messages App

Wednesday February 19, 2020 11:14 am PST by
As discovered in the first beta of iOS 13.4, Apple is working on a new "CarKey" feature that will allow an iPhone or an Apple Watch to unlock, lock, and start NFC-compatible vehicles. CarKey "keys" live in the Wallet app and as we found in the first beta, can be shared with other people so you can allow others temporary access to your car. In the second beta of iOS 13.4, there's updated...
bmw digital key

iOS 13.4 Beta Reveals 'CarKey' Feature That Would Turn Your iPhone or Apple Watch Into a Car Key

Thursday February 6, 2020 6:39 am PST by
Apple yesterday seeded the first beta of iOS 13.4 with several new features, such as iCloud folder sharing, new Memoji stickers, and a redesigned Mail toolbar. While not mentioned in the release notes, the update also includes early signs of an interesting feature that would turn an iPhone or Apple Watch into a car key. As first reported by 9to5Mac, and confirmed by MacRumors contributor Steve ...