Apple's Car Key is an incredibly convenient feature, but it only works with compatible vehicles and the list is still quite small. When it works, it's super convenient, allowing an iPhone owner to simply walk up to their car, be recognized, and have the doors automatically unlock. They lock again when walking away, seamlessly protecting the car with no effort. It also works with an Apple Watch making it nearly impossible to get locked out of a vehicle, as long as the car supports Apple's digital key feature.
By adding the capability to hold digital car keys, an Apple Watch or iPhone might soon become the only thing needed when traveling, leaving for school, or commuting to the office. Apple's Car Key works with the iPhone XS/XR or later, iPhone SE 2, iPhone SE 3, and Apple Watch Series 5 or later (including Apple Watch SE models). While Apple Car Key was once a BMW exclusive, the feature has recently expanded to include certain Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia vehicles as well. A total of 21 cars now support Apple's digital locking, unlocking, and starting feature.
Apple Car Key Compatible Models
The majority of Car Key-compatible cars are made by BMW, while Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia only support digital keys for select 2023 models. The new 2023 Genesis GV60 and G90 sedans work with Apple's Car Key and the 2023 Kia Niro is the first low-cost vehicle with this feature. The mid-size 2023 Kia Telluride SUV also supports Car Key, as does the 2023 Hyundai Palisade. This means iPhone and Apple Watch users with these cars have the extra convenience of opening and starting without physical keys, and the option to temporarily share a digital key with friends, family, and coworkers.
For BMW, the list of compatible vehicles includes the BMW 1 Series through 6 Series and 8 Series made in 2021 and 2022. For some reason, the BMW 7 Series does not support this feature. The 2021 and 2022 BMW X5, X6, X7 crossovers, as well as the 2021-2022 X5 M and X6 M work with Apple's Car Key. Additionally, the 2021-2022 BMW Z4 sports cars, 2022 BMW i4 and iX, and the 2023 BMW i7 are also included in the list. In total, BMW represents 16 of the spots in Apple's list of compatible vehicles.
Unfortunately, the most popular cars don't yet support Apple's Car Key and those that do are primarily luxury cars. While some third-party solutions are available, they require installing hardware in the vehicle as well as opening an app on the phone to access unlocking. A combination of complicated installation that involves a trip to a car service shop, high cost, and ongoing subscription fees make third-party options less attractive. Apple's Car Key is clearly the preferable solution and hopefully, more automakers will add support in the near future.
How To Add Car Key To Apple Wallet
To add a digital car key to Apple Wallet, the first thing users will need to do is check that they have a compatible car from the list above. Once that's done, they'll need to ensure that their car is associated with the account provided by the manufacturer. Next, open the app, email, or text message sent by the automaker, or alternatively, use the car's display and follow the onscreen instructions to set up a digital key.
The steps will differ by automaker, but once complete, they will direct users to open the Wallet app on their iPhone. Tap 'Continue' and if asked, place the iPhone on the car's key reader while it completes the pairing process. Once done, users might automatically have the digital key added to their Apple Watch or be sent a notification to enable the pairing. If not, users can open the Apple Watch app on their iPhone, tap 'Wallet & Apple Pay' and then tap the 'Add' button next to the car key. Once Apple Car Key is added to the Wallet app, users can unlock their car with their iPhone and Apple Watch even without using an authentication method like Face ID or a passcode.