KIA Digital car key

Try explaining that to a clued up insurance assessor if the car got stolen ? I think I’d rather have notified them given it’s something that doesn’t seem to be supplied by KIA with the car in Ireland.

Yes, first question they’ll ask is where are all the keys and how many keys you had. Insurance companies like taking in annual premiums, they’re generally not so keen on paying out in the event of a claim.

Don’t think so. Cars get stolen both with keys and without. The vast majority of cars still don’t have the option to use a phone as a key. Tesla are an exception. With the likes of KIA it’s a relatively new feature. As the OP pointed out, they don’t seem to even offer the key card here in Ireland for whatever reason.

There could be 1000 reasons for not offering it in Ireland, from holding back features so as to market new models in future, not having a license to use a specific frequency (unlikely), the device not being CE marked (maybe?), parts sourcing meaning not every car here is equipped, different security regs between Ireland and US, parts shortages, etc.

My main question would be though - is it easier to copy a keycard, than it is to copy a battery operated key? New keys prevent relay attacks using encrypted time of flight measurement, so you can't just relay the signal with a booster antenna as in the past.

Modern bank cards are very difficult if not impossible to duplicate, but I got copies of my work swipe card made by a third party in seconds. Which technology does this card use? Does it present any security risk?