Keys & Locksmith
Car key replacement near you
Car key replacement: a new or spare key cut and programmed to your vehicle, from a plain transponder key to a smart fob, even when every key is lost.
- Time at the shop
- 60 min
- about
- Mobile service
- Available
- at your address
- Shops in Canada
- 2
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
Shops near you send their bids
2 shops in Canada do this
Keys & Locksmith
What a car key replacement is
A replacement key has two parts. The blade is cut to fit the lock, by code from your VIN or from the lock itself, and the transponder chip in the head is programmed so the engine immobilizer accepts it. Remote and smart keys add a third step: pairing the lock, unlock and trunk buttons, or the proximity signal, with the vehicle. A locksmith usually does all of it at the vehicle, with a programmer plugged into the diagnostic port, and most jobs take about an hour.
Copying a spare while you still have a working key is quicker and cheaper than starting over once every key is lost, so do not wait. You will need photo ID and proof of ownership, such as your vehicle permit. For some newer and European makes the key has to be ordered from the manufacturer by VIN, and delivery can take a few days.
- For cars, EVs, motorcycles, vans and trucks
- Takes about 60 min
- Can be done at your address
What does a car key replacement cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
2 shops across Canada do car key replacement.
What to expect
Car key replacement, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Photo ID and proof of ownership checked against the VIN on the vehicle
- Key type identified from the VIN, the lock and the vehicle’s immobilizer system
- Key blade cut by code or from the lock, on site or at the shop
- Transponder chip and remote functions programmed through the diagnostic port
- Lock, unlock, trunk and panic buttons paired, or the smart key registered with the vehicle
- Lost keys erased from the vehicle’s memory on request, where the system allows it
- Door locks, ignition and every remote function tested before handover
- New keys handed over, with a note of how many are now programmed
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Have photo ID and your vehicle permit, a lease or a purchase agreement ready; a reputable locksmith will ask for them
- 02Note the make, model, year and VIN, and whether yours takes a metal key, a flip key, a remote key or a push-button smart key
- 03Get one total price covering cutting, programming, the visit and any all-keys-lost charge before the technician sets out
- 04Ask whether the key is original equipment or aftermarket, what warranty it carries and whether every remote button works
- 05If every key is lost, ask for the missing keys to be erased so a stray key cannot start the vehicle
- 06Ask how long a key ordered from the manufacturer will take, and whether the vehicle must be towed in meanwhile
Signs
When you need it
- You have lost your only key, or all of the keys you had
- Only one key is left and you want a spare before it is lost or breaks
- The key is worn, bent or cracked and no longer turns the lock or starts the engine
- You bought a used vehicle that came with a single key
- A key was stolen and you want it disabled and replaced
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get a car key replacement done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
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Questions
Questions about car key replacement
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
Should I get a spare key now, before I lose the last one?
Yes. Adding a key while one still works is quick and noticeably cheaper than the all-keys-lost process, which needs the lock cut from scratch and the immobilizer programmed with no working key present. A spare kept at home also saves a towing bill and a missed day of work if the main key vanishes.
What should I do if I lose my only car key?
Retrace your steps and check the places the key could be, then look for a spare or a valet key. If the key may have been stolen, especially with your address on it, treat that as a security problem and have the lost key erased from the vehicle. Then call a locksmith with the vehicle’s location, make, model and year, and your ID and ownership papers.
Does the vehicle need to be present for a key to be made?
In nearly every case, yes. The key has to be programmed to the vehicle’s own computer, so the locksmith comes to the vehicle or you tow it to the shop. A key ordered by VIN from a dealer or online still has to be programmed at the vehicle before it will start the engine.
Will my lost key still start the car after I get a new one?
Only if it is left in the vehicle’s memory. When the new key is programmed, the locksmith can erase the old ones on most vehicles, so a lost or stolen key can no longer start the engine. The metal blade may still open the doors, so if theft is a worry, ask about changing the lock cylinders too.
Can I buy a key online and have it programmed?
Sometimes. Many locksmiths will program a key you supply, but most charge the full programming fee and will not warranty the key, and cheap online keys often arrive with the wrong chip or frequency. Ask before you buy. A mismatched key wastes both the money and the visit.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
Ready when you areTell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
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