I lost my only car key, what does a locksmith need from me?

Because this was your only key, the job is usually more than cutting a blade. Most modern vehicles also need a transponder chip or fob paired to the car, and on push-to-start vehicles there is no blade to cut at all — the fob itself has to be programmed.

What's involved in replacing a last key

What to have ready before you call

• Your identificationA driver's licence or other photo identification. The locksmith checks identification and proof of entitlement before working on any vehicle.
• Proof the car is yoursThe registration, title or an insurance document naming you and the vehicle. If the car is in someone else's name, have them available to confirm it.
• Year, make and modelWrite these down exactly, including the trim if you know it. Trim can change the key type on the same model year.
• The VINUsually visible through the windscreen on the driver's side, on the door jamb sticker, or printed on your registration and insurance card.
• Which key type you hadNote whether you turned a key in the ignition, used a fob with buttons, or pressed a start button. That tells the locksmith what has to be made.
• Where the car isProgramming happens at the vehicle, so note whether it is at home, at work or in a parking structure, and whether access is restricted.

What the locksmith will do

• Confirm the vehicle and the key typeThe year, make and model are checked against the key the car actually uses, so the right blank and the right fob are on hand.
• Cut the keyWhere the vehicle uses a cut blade, the key is cut to the vehicle at the roadside or driveway.
• Program the transponder or fobThe chip or proximity fob is paired to the vehicle so it starts and the remote functions work.
• Clear the lost key from memoryWhere the vehicle supports it, the lost key is removed from the car's memory so it no longer works.
• Test before leavingThe new key is tested in the locks and the ignition or start system, and any spare made at the same time is tested too.

Related questions

Should I have a second key made at the same time?

It is worth asking. Programming a spare during the same visit is usually simpler than starting from nothing again later, and it means you are never back in this position.

Will the lost key still work if someone finds it?

On many vehicles the lost key can be cleared from the car's memory so it stops working. Whether this is possible depends on the make and model, so ask when you call.

Can every car key be made without going to a dealer?

No. Some makes and models restrict key programming, so the vehicle details decide what is possible, and that is checked before a visit is arranged.

What does a replacement car key cost?

It depends on the vehicle, the key type, whether a blade is cut, and whether a transponder or fob has to be programmed. Every job gets a free estimate, and the price is agreed before work begins.

What if the car is registered to my partner or a company?

The locksmith still needs proof of entitlement. Have the registered owner present, or paperwork such as a company letter or insurance document naming you as a driver.

Keep reading

• What's it doing?Lost car key or fob
• AnswerWhat does it mean when my new key turns but the engine won't start?
• AnswerHow do I know if my car key has a transponder chip inside it?
• AnswerWhy does the year make and model matter for replacing a lost car key?
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