What proof of ownership will a locksmith ask for before cutting a car key?
A locksmith will ask for identification, such as a driver's licence, and a document showing you are entitled to the vehicle, such as the vehicle registration or insurance. Having both ready is the quickest way to get a new key started.
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The exact papers a locksmith accepts can vary a little from job to job, for example when the car is leased or belongs to a family member. Mention that when you call and you will know what to have in hand.
Why a locksmith asks for proof
A car key that is cut and programmed to a vehicle is a key that can open and start it. Before making one, the locksmith confirms that the person asking is entitled to the vehicle. The check is the same one made on any lockout: identification and proof of entitlement come before anything is opened or cut.
That is also why this page cannot be used as a how-to. The check protects you as much as anyone, because it means a key to your car is only made for someone entitled to have one.
The documents that usually settle it are a driver's licence showing your name, and the vehicle registration or insurance showing the car and who it belongs to. For a leased or company vehicle, a lease or similar paperwork may be what shows your entitlement. Where the paperwork is in someone else's name, say so when you book.
What you can check yourself
- Find your photo IDA driver's licence is the usual choice, especially if it shows your address. Put it somewhere easy to reach before the locksmith arrives.
- Find the registration or insuranceEither one ties you to the vehicle. Look in your wallet, at home, or in any copy you have saved.
- Note the year, make and modelThe locksmith needs these to identify the key type. Have them ready when you call, along with whether the car uses a push-button start.
- Say whether the key was lost or brokenThis matters because a lost key may need to be removed from the car's memory, while a broken one usually does not.
- Tell us if the car is not in your nameA leased, shared or family vehicle can still be keyed. Mention it when you call so you know which papers to bring.
When to call a locksmith
Call when you have no working key, or when the only key you have is broken or damaged. Call at (866) 690-5848 and One Call Locksmiths will arrange a visit with an independent locksmith. We arrange the call; the locksmith does the work at your vehicle.
The locksmith checks your identification and proof that you are entitled to the vehicle before cutting anything. The estimate is free. The locksmith looks at the job, gives you the price, and work starts only once you have agreed it.
What the locksmith will do
- Check identification and entitlementYour ID and your registration, insurance or equivalent paperwork are looked at before any key is made.
- Identify the vehicle and key typeThe year, make and model decide what kind of key the car uses and whether it can be keyed away from a dealer.
- Cut and program the keyThe key is cut and the transponder or fob is programmed at the vehicle. Push-to-start cars need the fob paired, not just a blade cut.
- Remove the lost key where possibleIf the key was lost, the locksmith removes it from the car's memory where the car supports that, so it no longer starts the vehicle.
- Test the spareThe new key is tested before the locksmith leaves.
Related questions
- Can a locksmith make a key if I cannot find my registration?
- It depends on what other paperwork you can show. Tell us when you call and the locksmith can say what they will accept for your situation.
- Does the car need to be there for the key to be made?
- Yes. The key is cut and the transponder or fob is programmed at the vehicle, so the locksmith needs the car in front of them.
- Will my lost key still start the car afterwards?
- Where the vehicle supports it, the locksmith removes the lost key from the car's memory so it stops working. Whether this is possible depends on the make and model.
- Can every car key be made without going to a dealer?
- No. Not every vehicle can be keyed away from a dealer, so the make and model decide what is possible.
- Does a car locksmith need to be licensed?
- It varies. Some states license or register locksmiths, others leave it to cities or counties, and some do not regulate the trade. Check with your own state or city.
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