is there a way to program an extra key and remote at home without getting bent over by the dealer?

 

You can do the new key/keys yourself, give this thread a read....

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-tutorial-library-21/new-key-how-program-7560/

A new key fob will require a trip to the dealer, not a DIY operation.

 

If you have a working key FOB the program cost is cheap. at least at my dealer. They charged 8$ to program my NEW FOB

 

Can you program a new key on the 2011 the same way? Thanks

 

That works for all years HHR and well as other GM vehicles with the PASS-Key® II+ or PASS-Key® III+ system.

 

I bought an FOB remote off eBay for $30 and my dealer programed it for $16.00. Cheap enough in my book. Some dealers will rip you off though.

 

The dealers near me are all CROOKS the last one I had a dealer program cost me $92.00, so I will never go to Chevy dealer for anything, 2 weeks warranty of a new fob I bought in march cost by my local locksmith $43.00 it stopped working so the internet place that I had bought it from warranty replacement this my locksmith charged me $30.00 I would burn my HHR before going to any XChevy dealer.

 

The Chevrolet dealer I go to is a client of my sister/bro-in-law's business so I don't get charged for things like programming.

 

my dealer charges 1/2 hour labor rate even though its a 5 min job...and its filler work so you can sit there for hours waiting for it to be done...my local dealer sucks, they know it but the next closest dealer is 45 mins away. but thanks for all the info, I can program my 06 uplander remote so I thought the HHR would be the same.

 

As Jay discovered out in his neck of the woods, some locksmiths are set up to do the required programming with a new fob. Like the commercials used to say, "let your fingers do the walking" and contact some local locksmiths, it never hurts to make a phone call.