Lock Compatibility · ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions
VingCard-Compatible Hotel Key Cards
For Signature, Essence or another VingCard installation, confirm the approved credential and its preparation requirements before choosing custom printed stock.
For independently sourced replacement cards. Confirm the exact credential and your property's authorization requirements before ordering; brand names identify the intended locking system.
At a glance · indicative, updated September 2026
Indicative prices for VingCard key cards
| Card format | Indicative range per card (USD) |
|---|---|
| MIFARE Ultralight EV1 compatible, PVC | $0.16 – $0.30 |
| MIFARE DESFire EV2/EV3, PVC | $1.02 – $1.25 |
| Magstripe (LoCo, PVC) | $0.03 – $0.10 |
MIFARE Ultralight AES and Plus EV2 credentials, and any VingCard card preparation, are quoted per specification.
Indicative USD ranges per card at 1,000–4,999 pieces per design, four-colour offset printing included, EXW Dongguan; freight, duties, taxes, special finishes, sleeves and credential preparation are quoted separately, and the exact price is set in a dated quote.
Quantity bands. Per design, against the 1,000–4,999 range: about −15% from 5,000 pieces, −25% from 10,000 and −35% from 25,000; 500–999 pieces run about +35%. Full price table
A price range is not a compatibility statement. Confirm the chip with test samples in your own locks before ordering.
Confirm your VingCard setup
VingCard specifies that its cards receive encryption during manufacture and are encoded at the property. This distinction matters when changing suppliers: a card with the same chip name is not automatically equivalent to the credential your hotel currently issues.
Start your printing enquiry with the existing credential SKU, lock generation and access platform, such as Visionline or Vostio. Ask your authorized VingCard provider to confirm which prepared credential stock your system accepts. Cardotel can then assess the physical card and printing request against those requirements.
VingCard credential reference
Use the manufacturer references below to prepare your inquiry. Supported credential families, card preparation and installed configurations must be checked together; these are not interchangeable purchase options.
| System / application | Card / chip | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Existing Signature / Essence / Allure installation | Confirm the currently approved credential SKU | The lock family does not establish a single chip or card preparation. Obtain the specification for the installed reader and access platform. |
| VingCard guest credential catalogue | MIFARE Ultralight AES or Ultralight EV1 | The manufacturer compares these as guest-card options. They use different protection methods; confirm the specific type and preparation approved for your property. |
| VingCard multi-application credential catalogue | MIFARE Plus EV2 or DESFire EV3 | These appear in the manufacturer’s credential comparison. Select the approved capacity and application configuration; reader support is not supplier certification. |
| Legacy magstripe / mobile-enabled property | Confirm the physical card separately | For magstripe, obtain the stripe and encoding specification. Mobile access alone does not identify or replace the physical card requirements. |
Manufacturer references · checked 10 September 2026
- VingCard: credential preparation and chip comparison (PDF)
- VingCard: official keycards and credential catalogue
- NXP: Ultralight AES, C and EV1 comparison (PDF)
These references describe the manufacturer's system. They are separate from evidence for the Cardotel card offered in your quote.
Card options for your VingCard inquiry
- Custom printing enquiries against an authorized provider’s credential specification
- Assessment of the required stock preparation before accepting a card order
- Artwork, material and finish proposals for an agreed physical proof
- Separate guest/staff artwork and matching sleeve requirements in the quote
Order planning
What determines your quote
Start with your quantity, destination and VingCard system details. The final card specification determines the minimum order, price and schedule.
- Card specification
- Confirm the chip manufacturer and exact part, credential preparation, material, dimensions, thickness and finish. A chip family name alone is not an order specification.
- Minimum order
- Request the MOQ for your selected chip, material and finish. State the quantity for each artwork and property; multiple designs may have separate minimums.
- Price & delivery terms
- Request unit prices by quantity, the currency, setup charges, sample costs and packing. Confirm whether freight, duties and taxes are included, and the delivery term.
- Production & arrival
- Give your required arrival date and destination country. Confirm production time after specification, sample and artwork approval; shipping and customs need a separate allowance.
Before a production order
Approve a sample in your own system
Agree both the technical test and the sample costs first. An unprinted test card checks the credential; a printed proof checks the artwork and finish.
Agree what will be tested
Confirm the proposed credential, card body and encoder requirements. Ask for sample quantity, sample charges, courier cost and dispatch timing before arranging shipment.
Issue a test credential on site
Have your authorized property team enroll and encode the sample in your current system. A successful reader scan or matching UID format does not prove that a guest credential will work.
Check the complete guest journey
Test the intended room locks and any configured elevator or shared-area readers. Include check-in, expiry and reissue in the test, and record the software, encoder and lock versions used.
Approve the production specification
Record the accepted credential and artwork reference, material, size and finish. Reconfirm these details if your system or card specification changes before a reorder.
For the initial review, share the lock model, encoder/software details and a non-sensitive card reference. Keep guest data, live access credentials and system security keys with your authorized team.
Request test cardsProcurement evidence
What to review before you order
Ask which documents are available for your proposed card and review their scope before approval. A lock manufacturer's specification does not certify a third-party card.
Exact card & chip specification
Manufacturer and part number, credential preparation requirements, card dimensions and tolerances, material, print finish and the approved artwork revision.
Sample acceptance record
The sample reference, encoding setup, doors and readers tested, results and approval date. A factory read check and a property compatibility test answer different questions.
Material & test evidence
Ask which reports apply to the proposed material and finished card. Check the issuer, date, tested item and scope; request sourcing documentation if certified material is part of your specification.
Written quotation & quality terms
Quantity by design, agreed inspection criteria, production schedule, packing, shipping terms and the process for reporting and resolving a manufacturing defect.
A blank specification and acceptance checklist for your team to complete; it is not a certificate or a completed test report.
Review the quality and sample checks guide for the information to agree before production.
VingCard key card questions
Will any card with the same MIFARE chip work with VingCard?
Chip matching alone does not establish compatibility. VingCard describes manufacturing-stage encryption followed by encoding at the hotel. Confirm the permitted credential stock and preparation with your authorized provider before considering a replacement supplier or approving custom printing.
Which chip should we buy for Signature or Essence locks?
Use the current credential SKU and your provider’s specification for the installed system. VingCard’s catalogue includes several chip families, but it does not establish a universal Signature-to-chip or Essence-to-chip mapping. Confirm the access platform, reader generation and required preparation together.
Does Mobile Access mean we should order DESFire cards?
The presence of mobile keys does not identify the physical card to purchase. Request the approved physical credential specification for your installation. If your property issues backup or additional cards, test them using the same authorized hotel workflow.
What can we send without exposing hotel access data?
Send the lock model, software platform, encoder model, current supplier part number and a non-sensitive card specification. Artwork and model-label photos can help with the quote. Your authorized provider should handle protected credential preparation and access configuration.
Do VingCard locks use Ultralight C (ULC) cards?
ULC is the credential commonly specified for security-updated Saflok, dormakaba, Onity and SALTO estates. VingCard’s guest credential catalogue lists Ultralight EV1 and Ultralight AES instead, with Plus EV2 and DESFire EV3 for multi-application use. Do not order ULC for a VingCard installation on the strength of another brand’s update; confirm the approved credential SKU with your authorized provider. Ultralight C (ULC) key card guide
How should a VingCard printing order be approved?
First confirm an acceptable credential supply and preparation route. Then agree artwork and sample terms, and have the hotel issue and test samples for room access, shared areas, reissue and expiry. A print proof approves appearance; it does not by itself validate access compatibility.
Plan your VingCard card order
Share your lock system, approximate quantity and destination. Unsure of the chip? Start with the system details you have.