Key Card Costs: How Much Do Motels Spend On Plastic?

Plastic key cards have replaced traditional keys in hotels and motels around the world, providing guests with keyless room access. They are highly secure, convenient, and allow for codes to be changed with ease for new guests. Despite their high-tech features, these key cards are usually very cheap, costing $1 or less. However, some hotels and motels may charge a fee for lost or unreturned key cards, which can be as high as $50. This fee is often automatically added as a hold in case of incidentals, such as room service or minibar usage, and may be removed upon checkout if the card is returned.

Plastic key cards are usually very cheap, costing $1 or less

Hotels and motels will often put a hold on your card for $50, but this is not usually a charge for a missing key card. This is more likely to be a fee for incidentals, such as room service, or a cleaning fee. It is usually taken off your card after you leave.

If you are concerned about a charge for a missing key card, it is best to call the hotel or motel and ask what the charge is for. If they are going to charge you for a missing key card, it would be cheaper to mail it to them.

Motels may charge you for taking a key card

If you forget to return your key card, the motel may charge you a fee. This fee is typically not for the cost of the card itself but rather as a deterrent to encourage guests to return their cards. The fee may vary depending on the motel's policies and the specific circumstances.

It's always a good idea to call the motel and ask about any pending charges or fees associated with key cards. If you're concerned about being charged for a key card, you can also leave it in the room when you check out to avoid any potential fees.

Some motels may also use key cards as a marketing opportunity. They may offer promotional cards that provide discounts or special offers for on-site amenities like spas, restaurants, or gift shops. In these cases, the motel is not charging you for taking the key card but rather using it as a way to enhance your guest experience and encourage you to utilise their facilities.

Motels may automatically put a $50 charge on your card, which is removed after you leave

Plastic key cards for motels are very cheap, usually costing $1 or less. Motels may automatically put a $50 charge on your card, which is removed after you leave. This is a hold in case you use room service or other incidentals. If you forget to return your key card, it's a good idea to call the motel and ask about the charge. It's likely to be cheaper to mail the card back than to pay the $50 fee. If you are charged for the key card, you can leave a review to warn other guests.

Key cards can be customised with a magnetic strip

Plastic key cards are usually very cheap, costing $1 or less. However, some hotels and motels may charge a fee of around $50 if a key card is not returned. This is likely to be an incidental charge, such as a cleaning fee or mini bar fee, rather than the cost of the key card itself. It is worth noting that some establishments may automatically place this charge on a guest's account, and it will be removed after they leave.

Key cards can be used for marketing purposes, such as offering discounts

Plastic key cards are a cheap alternative to traditional keys for guests to access their rooms in hotels and motels. They are highly secure, provide privacy and allow for codes to be changed with ease for new guests.

The key cards can be customised with a secure long-life magnetic strip application, enabling codes to be changed and reused as often as required. This means that a motel could offer a discount to a guest that is only valid for a certain period of time, or for a certain number of uses.

Additionally, key cards can be used to track guest behaviour and preferences. For example, a motel could use the data from the key cards to see which guests have accessed the gym or pool facilities, and then offer them discounts or promotions related to those amenities.

While the cost of plastic key cards is typically very low (around $1 or less), the marketing and data insights they provide can be invaluable to motels and hotels.

Frequently asked questions