Lost keys, with no spare — the situation we solve most
Every key gone is the scenario drivers dread, and it is a routine call for us. Working from your vehicle identification number and proof of ownership, we can originate a new key: decode or cut the mechanical blade, then program the transponder chip or smart fob so the car's immobilizer accepts it. The old keys' electronic credentials can be erased from the car's memory in the process, so a found or stolen key will no longer start the vehicle — worth doing when a key was lost anywhere it could be connected to your car. Before you book a tow, read our comparison of your options when you have lost your only car key.
Transponder keys, smart fobs and everything between
Since the late 1990s, nearly every car key contains a transponder chip that the car interrogates when you turn the key or press start. Cut a perfect copy without the chip and it will open the door and turn in the ignition — and the car will refuse to start, by design. We stock and program: basic transponder keys, remote-head keys with lock buttons built in, flip keys, and proximity smart fobs for push-button-start vehicles, across the common makes — Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Jeep, Dodge, Hyundai, Kia, GMC, Subaru, BMW and more. Some high-security and late-model European systems have genuine restrictions; if your vehicle is one we cannot program, we will tell you on the phone before dispatching, not at your car.
Spares: the cheapest insurance in this whole business
A second key made while you still have a working one is a fraction of the cost of originating a key with none — programming from an existing key is simpler, faster, and needs no decoding work. If your household runs on a single fob, treat a spare as scheduled maintenance, like the special you would book for any other wear item. We can also replace failing fobs before they die outright: buttons that need three presses, a fob that works only at arm's length, or a cracked case exposing the board to weather are all early warnings.
Ignition problems
Keys that stick, ignitions that will not turn, and wafers worn smooth by a decade of heavy key rings all land in our shop. Often the fix is a worn key — a fresh key cut to factory code, rather than copied from your worn one, restores smooth operation. When the ignition cylinder itself is worn or damaged, we can repair or replace it and key it to match your existing key, so you are not stuck carrying two keys for one car. Ignition work depends heavily on make and model; call with yours and we will tell you straight whether it is a job for us or genuinely a dealer-only repair.
Car lockouts, done without damage
Keys locked in the car — in the ignition, on the seat, in the trunk — are an emergency call we take around the clock. Entry uses professional reach tools and protective wedges sized to modern door frames; done correctly, nothing bends, tears or leaks afterward. If a child or pet is locked inside, or the engine is running, tell the dispatcher immediately: those calls are treated as urgent above all others. What we will not do is force a window or pry a frame — the repair bill for that approach always exceeds our fee.
Locksmith or dealership?
Dealerships do excellent work at dealership prices, on dealership schedules — typically with the car towed to them and a wait measured in days for ordered fobs. A mobile auto locksmith comes to the car, usually the same day, and for most makes the total lands noticeably lower. The honest exceptions: some very new models, certain European brands, and warranty or recall situations belong at the dealer, and a good locksmith says so up front. Call with your year, make and model and we will tell you which route serves you better — even when the answer is not us.
Work vehicles and small fleets
Everything true of a family car is truer of a work truck: a lost key does not just strand a driver, it strands a schedule, a crew and a customer list. We make and program keys for the vans and pickups small fleets actually run, can standardize spares across vehicles, and can set up a simple key log so a departure does not become a rekey-the-fleet event. Fleet managers: ask about originating keys from VIN in advance and holding them as sealed spares — the cheapest downtime insurance available, bought before the 6 a.m. phone call instead of during it.