Losing a car key, or having one break or stop working, feels like an emergency, but replacing it is a straightforward process once you know the steps. This guide walks through what to gather, who can make the key, what to ask before you agree to anything, and how to check the new key before the technician leaves. It applies whether you have lost every key or still have one that works.
Step 1: Work Out What You Have Lost
The fix depends on the situation. If you still have one working key, you are making a copy, which is usually the simpler and cheaper job. If you have lost every key, the technician has to create a new key from your vehicle’s information and program it to the car, which takes more work. If the key is broken, bring the pieces if you can, because a broken key can sometimes be repaired or its chip reused. If only the remote has stopped working, the key may not need replacing at all; see why a car remote stops working.
Step 2: Gather the Information You Will Need
Whoever makes the key will ask for the same few things, so having them ready speeds everything up.
- Year, make, and model. Include the trim or engine if you know it, since some models use different key types.
- The VIN. This is a 17-character code. You can find it on the corner of the dashboard where it meets the windshield on the driver’s side, on a sticker inside the driver’s door jamb, and on your registration and insurance card.
- Proof that the vehicle is yours. A reputable provider will ask for your ID and the registration or title before making a key. This protects you.
- Where the car is. A mobile locksmith comes to the car, so give the exact location.
Step 3: Know Which Type of Key You Need
Car keys come in several types: a basic metal key, a transponder key with a chip, a remote head key, a flip key, and a push-to-start smart key. The type affects the price and the time. If you are not sure which one you have, our guide to the 7 different car key types shows the differences.
Step 4: Choose Who Makes the Key
You have two main choices: the dealership or a mobile automotive locksmith. A dealer works from its own location and often orders the key for your VIN. A mobile locksmith comes to the car and can often cut and program the key on the spot. We compare the two in detail in dealer or locksmith for a replacement car key. Avoid roadside services or call centers that cannot tell you the name of the company that will actually come to you.
Step 5: Get the Total Price Before Anyone Starts
Ask for the full price, not just the cost of the key. The total should cover the key or remote, cutting it, programming it to the car, and any trip charge. Ask whether the price is a firm total or an estimate that can change on arrival. A written or texted confirmation protects you with any provider. To understand the programming part of the price, see what car key programming costs in Phoenix.
Step 6: Cutting and Programming
Once the key is cut to match your vehicle, it has to be programmed so the car recognizes it. Most modern cars will not start with a key whose chip has not been programmed, even if it turns in the ignition. We explain what happens in how car keys get programmed. On most vehicles the whole job takes under an hour on site once we are at the car.
Step 7: Test Everything Before the Technician Leaves
Do not sign off until you have checked the new key. Test each function:
- The key turns in the door lock and the ignition without sticking.
- The car starts and keeps running.
- The lock, unlock, and trunk buttons on the remote all work, if your key has them.
- Any spare keys also work.
We back the keys and remotes we supply with a 3-month warranty, and you should ask any provider what their warranty covers.
Step 8: Make a Spare While You Are at It
If you replaced your only key, ask for a spare to be made at the same visit. Making a spare when a technician is already programming the car is usually simpler and cheaper than starting over later when no key works. Keep the spare somewhere other than your main key ring and your car.
Need a replacement car key? Call (602) 301-5243 and tell us the year, make, and model. We serve Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Glendale, and we will tell you what the job involves before we head out. You can also read about our car key replacement service.