Honda ADV150 and ADV160 Key Replacement

Quick answerThe ADV150 and ADV160 do not have a key slot. They use Honda Smart Key: a fob in your pocket wakes up the main knob, and a rocker switch beside it releases the seat and fuel lid. If the fob is lost, a new one has to be registered to the scooter, and the ID tag and emergency key that came with it are what make that manageable.

Honda ADV150 and ADV160 key quick facts

Honda's US material for the 2022 ADV150 and 2024 ADV160 lists the Smart Key system, with the engine started without inserting a key.
The main knob is activated automatically as the owner approaches with the fob.
The seat and fuel lid are released by a rocker switch next to the main knob, not by separate key locks.
The fob has an on/off switch so nobody else can use the scooter while you are nearby, and an answer-back switch that flashes the turn signals.
Honda describes an anti-theft mechanism that keeps the handlebar locked if someone tries to start the scooter by force.

Honda ADV150 and ADV160 key types by year

Years	Models	Key type	Chip	Notes
2022	ADV150	Honda Smart Key fob	yes	Keyless main knob with seat and fuel lid rocker switch.
2024-present	ADV160	Honda Smart Key fob	yes	Same Smart Key layout as the ADV150 it replaced.

How the keyless setup works

Where a key switch would be, the ADV has a main knob. Honda describes it as being activated automatically as the owner approaches with the Smart Key, after which the knob can be turned to switch on and start. Next to it is a rocker switch that unlocks the seat and the fuel lid. Without a registered fob in range, the knob will not operate.

Two buttons on the fob are worth knowing. The on/off switch deactivates the system, which Honda says prevents a third party from using the scooter even when the owner is in the vicinity. If your scooter suddenly ignores the fob, check that it has not been switched off in a pocket. The answer-back switch flashes the turn signals so you can find the scooter in a row of parked bikes.

Need a key for your ADV160?

Call or text with the year and where the bike is parked.

Call (619) 775-1858 Text your year, make and model

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The ID tag and emergency key

Honda Smart Key scooters come with backup items as well as the fob. Honda's manuals for its Smart Key scooters describe an ID tag printed with the Smart Key's ID number and a mechanical emergency key, and say the emergency key can unlock the seat and the ignition switch in an emergency. The same manuals say the ignition switch can also be unlocked by entering the ID number.

Honda's instructions are to carry the emergency key and ID tag separately from the Smart Key so you cannot lose all of them at once, to keep a copy of the ID number somewhere other than the scooter, and not to store the emergency key in the scooter's storage compartment. Details can differ by model and market, so check your ADV's own manual for the exact wording and procedure.

What about the PCX?

The PCX is the ADV's mechanical cousin, and in many countries it has the same Smart Key system. Equipment varies by market and year, so the simple test applies: a knob with no key slot means Smart Key, a key slot means a cut key. Tell us which you have when you call.

If the fob is lost or dead

Start with the easy causes. A weak fob battery, the system switched off at the fob, or the fob sharing a pocket with a phone can all make the scooter act as if the key is missing. Replace the fob battery before assuming the worst.

If the fob really is gone, Honda's manuals say a new Smart Key has to be registered and to see the dealer with the emergency key and ID tag. Call us with the year and tell us what you still have: a second fob, the emergency key, the ID tag. We will tell you honestly whether it is a job we can do where the scooter is parked or one for the dealer. Mechanical problems, such as a seat that will not release or a damaged emergency lock, are lock work we do on site.

Have photo ID and the registration or title ready. We do not make keys or open vehicles without proof of ownership.

Where to find the key code

There is no ignition key number in the usual sense. The number that matters is the Smart Key ID number printed on the ID tag supplied with the scooter; keep the tag at home and a copy of the number somewhere other than the scooter.

What to have ready

Have this ready when you call or text

Year, make and model of the bike
Where the bike is parked
Whether you have any working key, a broken key or a key code
Photo ID and registration or title (we verify ownership before making a key)

Honda ADV150 and ADV160 key FAQ

Does the Honda ADV160 have a regular key?

No. It uses Honda Smart Key: the fob activates a main knob, and the engine is started without inserting a key. A mechanical emergency key is supplied for backup.

How do I open the ADV160 seat and fuel lid?

With the Smart Key in range, use the rocker switch next to the main knob. Honda says the fuel lid and seat are both unlocked from that switch.

My ADV150 does not respond to the fob. Is the fob dead?

Possibly, but first check that the fob has not been switched off with its on/off button and that it is not right next to a phone. Then try a fresh fob battery.

I bought a used ADV with one fob and no ID tag. Is that a problem?

It works fine until that fob is lost or fails, and then you have no backup. Ask the seller for the ID tag and emergency key, and talk to a Honda dealer about a second fob while the first one still works.

The immobilizer system on this bike

Honda Smart Key: Fobs, ID Tags and What to Do If You Lose OneHonda Smart Key is a keyless system: the bike checks for a registered fob nearby and then lets you unlock the steering, switch on and start, with no key in a slot.

More Honda models

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Page last updated November 14, 2026.