Service category
Keys & Locksmith services near you
Automotive locksmith services: new keys and fobs cut and programmed, broken keys and remotes repaired, lockouts opened and van locks fitted.
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- Shops in Canada
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- doing this work
- Mobile service
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4 services
What Keys & Locksmith covers
A modern car key is a small computer. Most vehicles built since the late 1990s carry a transponder chip that the engine immobilizer must recognize before the engine will start, and many add remotes or proximity fobs on top of that. Cutting the metal is only half the job; the key also has to be programmed to your vehicle, which is why a hardware-store copy often fails to start it.
Automotive locksmiths do this work at the vehicle: cutting keys by code, programming through the diagnostic port, opening locked doors without damage and extracting broken keys. Repairs are separate: a worn fob shell, dead buttons or a tired ignition cylinder can often be fixed for far less than a replacement. Locksmiths also fit added security to work vans, where forced doors and tool theft are a real risk.
Expect to prove ownership. A reputable locksmith or dealer will ask for photo ID and the vehicle permit or another document that ties you to the vehicle, and will not make a key without it. The price depends mostly on the key type (plain, transponder, remote or smart) and on whether you still have a working key to copy.
Car key replacement
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.
Car key & fob repair
Key fob repair for a dead or damaged fob: new battery, worn buttons or a cracked shell fixed, or the fob re-paired when it stops responding.
Automotive locksmith
An automotive locksmith opens locked vehicles without damage, extracts broken keys and repairs or replaces worn ignition cylinders and door locks.
Van lock installation
Van lock installation: deadlocks and high-security locks fitted to cargo van doors and keyed alike, to protect tools and stock from forced entry.
How it works
Tell shops the job. They compete.
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire only once the job 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.
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Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
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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.
Questions
Questions about keys & locksmith
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
Can a locksmith make a car key without the original?
Usually, yes. The locksmith identifies your key from the VIN, cuts a new blade by code or from the lock, and programs the chip to the vehicle’s immobilizer, often at your vehicle. It costs more than copying a spare because the process is longer, and a few European and newer models need a factory-ordered key, which can add days.
Should I go to the dealer or an automotive locksmith for a new key?
A locksmith usually comes to you and often costs less, and can typically handle common makes and models on the spot. A dealer can supply keys for its own brands, including newer models that need factory authorization, but you may have to tow the vehicle in and wait for the part. Whichever you choose, get the total price before any work starts.
What proof of ownership will I need?
Expect to show photo ID and a document that connects you to the vehicle, such as the vehicle permit or a lease or purchase agreement. The name on both should match, and the VIN on the paperwork must match the VIN on the vehicle. A locksmith who does not ask for any of this is not one to trust with your keys.
Will a locksmith’s key work as well as the dealer’s key?
For most vehicles, yes. A properly programmed aftermarket key starts the engine, and its remote buttons work like the originals. Cheap online blanks can fail because of the wrong chip or poor cutting, so ask what key is used and whether the work is warranted. Some newer or premium models are safer left to the dealer, and a good locksmith will say so.
Can a locksmith open my locked car without damaging it?
In most cases, yes. The locksmith opens a small gap at the top of the door with an air wedge and works a long-reach tool through it, so the paint and seals are not marked. If a child or a pet is locked inside a hot vehicle, call 911 at once instead of waiting for a booking.
For automotive locksmiths
Sign up as a business
Automotive locksmiths across Canada: drivers post their Keys & Locksmith requests here. Publish your weekly flyer, open the appointment windows you can take and bid on the jobs near you. Free while we launch, no commission.