Car key replacement by vehicle manufacturer
Your key depends on what you drive and what year it was built. Each manufacturer page explains which key systems that brand uses, and says plainly where a dealer may be required instead.
Or send a service request online if you cannot call right now.
Not sure what you need? Start here.
Answer in plain words. This points you to the right service in about ten seconds.
What are you locked out of, or what key is missing?
What happened with the vehicle?
- My keys are locked inside You can see them, you just cannot reach them
- Every key is lost No spare anywhere, nothing to copy from
- I have a key but the car will not start It turns, or the car sees it, but the engine will not start
- My fob buttons stopped working Locks and unlocks no longer respond
- I want a spare before something goes wrong I still have a working key
- My key broke Snapped, worn down, or stuck
What happened at the property?
You need a business lockout
Commercial doors use different hardware from a house, and authorization has to be checked before the door is opened. Have proof that you are entitled to access the premises ready.
- Say whether the door is glass framed or solid.
- Have proof of your authority to enter, such as a lease or business documents.
You need a vehicle lockout
This is entry only. No key is cut and nothing is programmed, so it is the simplest and quickest of the vehicle jobs.
- Have your registration or title plus a photo ID ready.
- Send the garage level and row, or the lot name, so the vehicle is found straight away.
You need all keys lost service
With no key left to copy, a new key is made from the vehicle itself and then programmed to the immobilizer. This is a longer job than a simple duplicate, and it needs proof of ownership without exception.
- Have the year, make, and model ready.
- Have your registration or title and a matching photo ID.
- Say whether the vehicle is drivable and where exactly it is parked.
You most likely need key programming or a key diagnosis
A key that turns but will not start the engine usually means the immobilizer is not recognizing it. That is a programming or transponder problem rather than a cut key problem.
- Say whether a security or immobilizer light is showing on the dash.
- Bring any spare key to the appointment, because it makes the diagnosis faster.
You may need a fob battery, reprogramming, or a replacement fob
Buttons that stopped responding are very often a dead coin cell battery rather than a failed fob. That is worth ruling out before anything is replaced.
- Say whether the fob does nothing at all or only works very close to the vehicle.
- Mention if the vehicle has been standing unused, because that changes the likely cause.
You need a spare or duplicate key
This is the cheapest time to solve a key problem, because a working key already exists to copy from. Once every key is gone the job becomes considerably more involved.
- Bring the working key so it can be copied and programmed.
- Have the year, make, and model ready.
You need broken key help and probably a replacement key
A key that snapped or wore down needs a new key made. If part of it is stuck in the lock or the ignition, say so clearly, because that changes what is involved.
- Say whether part of the key is still stuck in the lock or the ignition.
- Do not force the remaining piece, it can make the job harder.
You need a home or apartment lockout
The aim is entry without damaging your door or your lock. Proof that you live there is required before any door is opened.
- Have ID plus something linking you to the address, such as a lease or addressed mail.
- Say which door is locked and whether the deadbolt is thrown.
You should rekey your locks so the lost keys stop working
Lost keys are a security problem, not just an access problem. Rekeying keeps your existing hardware and makes every lost key stop working.
- Count your exterior cylinders, because price scales with cylinders and not doors.
- Decide whether you want everything on one key.
You should rekey the locks in your new home
You cannot know how many keys were handed out before you arrived. Rekeying is the standard first move in a new home and it is usually cheaper than replacing hardware.
- Include the garage entry door and any side or basement doors.
- Ask about bringing every exterior door onto one key.
You most likely need a lock change
When hardware is worn, damaged, or obsolete, replacing it is often the better value than repairing it. If the lock is still sound, rekeying may be all you need.
- Note the brand on the lock face if you can see one.
- Say whether the door itself sticks, because that can be the real problem.
Or send this as a service request
Would rather just talk to someone?
Skip the questions. A call sorts it in a minute.
- CT registered locksmithRegistration LCK.0000486
- Insured locksmithWork done by an insured business
- Upfront quote and ETABefore anyone is dispatched
- Pay after the workOnly once the job is done
- Family ownedLocal and accountable
- Damage free entryOur standard method
Finding the right key for your vehicle
The key a vehicle needs is decided by three things: the manufacturer, the model year, and the trim. Manufacturers changed key technology repeatedly, so the same model name can use a plain mechanical key, a chipped transponder key, a remote head key, or a proximity smart key depending on when it was built. Some manufacturers restrict key generation to the dealer on newer vehicles.
- Model year first. It matters more than the model name for deciding which key applies.
- Trim second. A base trim and a top trim of the same year often use different key hardware.
- Dealer limits are published. Each page states where a dealer is likely required for that brand.
All 42 manufacturers
Sorted alphabetically. Each page covers that brand's key systems, its priority models, and its honest limits.
A
B
C
D
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
P
R
S
T
V
Manufacturer table, sortable
Sort by any column. The status column flags brands that are no longer sold new in the United States, because for those the deciding factor is usually parts availability rather than the programming.
| Manufacturer | Group | Priority models | United States status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acura | Honda | 2 | Currently sold |
| Alfa Romeo | Stellantis | 1 | Currently sold |
| Audi | Volkswagen Group | 2 | Currently sold |
| BMW | BMW | 3 | Currently sold |
| Buick | General Motors | 2 | Currently sold |
| Cadillac | General Motors | 2 | Currently sold |
| Chevrolet | General Motors | 5 | Currently sold |
| Chrysler | Stellantis | 2 | Currently sold |
| Dodge | Stellantis | 3 | Currently sold |
| Fiat | Stellantis | 1 | Limited range |
| Ford | Ford | 6 | Currently sold |
| Genesis | Hyundai | 1 | Currently sold |
| GMC | General Motors | 3 | Currently sold |
| Honda | Honda | 5 | Currently sold |
| Hummer | General Motors | 1 | No longer sold new |
| Hyundai | Hyundai | 4 | Currently sold |
| Infiniti | Nissan | 2 | Currently sold |
| Jaguar | Jaguar Land Rover | 1 | Currently sold |
| Jeep | Stellantis | 4 | Currently sold |
| Kia | Hyundai | 4 | Currently sold |
| Land Rover | Jaguar Land Rover | 2 | Currently sold |
| Lexus | Toyota | 3 | Currently sold |
| Lincoln | Ford | 2 | Currently sold |
| Maserati | Stellantis | 1 | Currently sold |
| Mazda | Mazda | 3 | Currently sold |
| Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-Benz | 3 | Currently sold |
| Mercury | Ford | 1 | No longer sold new |
| MINI | BMW | 1 | Currently sold |
| Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi | 2 | Currently sold |
| Nissan | Nissan | 4 | Currently sold |
| Pontiac | General Motors | 1 | No longer sold new |
| Porsche | Volkswagen Group | 1 | Currently sold |
| Ram | Stellantis | 2 | Currently sold |
| Saab | Saab | 1 | No longer sold new |
| Saturn | General Motors | 1 | No longer sold new |
| Scion | Toyota | 1 | No longer sold new |
| Subaru | Subaru | 4 | Currently sold |
| Suzuki | Suzuki | 1 | No longer sold new |
| Tesla | Tesla | 2 | Currently sold |
| Toyota | Toyota | 7 | Currently sold |
| Volkswagen | Volkswagen Group | 3 | Currently sold |
| Volvo | Volvo | 2 | Currently sold |
Which of these are you holding?
Most confusion about car keys comes from describing the wrong thing. These five categories cover nearly every vehicle on the road.
| What you are holding | What it is | What replacing it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Plain metal key, no plastic head | Mechanical key, no chip | Cutting only. The simplest and cheapest replacement. |
| Key with a thick plastic head | Transponder key with a chip in the head | Cutting plus programming to the immobilizer. |
| Key that folds into the fob | Remote head or flip key | Cutting, immobilizer programming, and remote pairing. |
| Fob with a blade that slides out | Proximity smart key with an emergency blade | Programming the fob, plus cutting the emergency blade. |
| Fob with no blade at all | Proximity key, push to start vehicle | Programming only, but the security process is usually stricter. |
Not sure which you have?
Send a photo of your key with your request. It removes the guesswork faster than any description, and it means the right part is brought on the first visit.
Have this ready before you request service
Every item below either speeds the job up or decides whether it can be done at all. Having them ready at the start avoids a second trip.
- The year, make, and model of the vehicle.
- Whether you have any working key or fob left.
- The exact location of the vehicle, including a lot, level, or row if it is in a garage.
- Registration or title in your name, plus a photo ID that matches it.
- Whether the vehicle is drivable and whether it is blocked in.
Before you buy a key online
It looks like the cheap option and sometimes it is. These are the three ways it goes wrong.
- Wrong part number. Visually identical fobs can use different internal frequencies and chips.
- Already locked to a vehicle. A used fob may be paired to another car and unable to be reprogrammed.
- Not refundable once cut. A key that has been cut generally cannot go back.
Questions about vehicle coverage
No, and any locksmith site that claims otherwise is not telling you the truth. Some manufacturers restrict key generation to the dealer on newer vehicles, and no independent service can work around that.
Each manufacturer page states plainly where that limit falls for that brand. You find out before you spend anything, which is the whole point of publishing it.
Because key technology changed repeatedly within the same model name. A Toyota Camry from 2005, 2012, and 2020 use three different key systems, and the equipment and process for each is different.
The model year is the single most useful thing you can tell us, closely followed by the trim. Two vehicles of the same year and model can use different key hardware depending on trim.
These 42 manufacturers cover most of the vehicles on the road in this region, but the list is a starting point rather than a boundary. Send the year, make, and model with your request and you get a direct answer about your specific vehicle.
Usually, but not always, and this site will not make a blanket claim about it. The dealer often requires the vehicle to be brought in, which adds a tow when there is no working key. That towing cost is frequently the larger part of the difference.
For some vehicles the dealer is the only option, and in that case the honest answer is to send you there rather than take your money first.
Tell us what you drive
Send the year, make, model, and trim, plus what happened to the key. You find out whether it can be done on site or whether it needs the dealer, before anyone drives out.
Or send a service request online if you cannot call right now.
Call or text with the vehicle or the property, the exact location, and what happened. You get an upfront quote and an arrival estimate before anyone is dispatched, and you pay only after the work is done.
Opening hours
HoursMonday to Friday 6:00am to 9:00pm, Saturday 6:00am to 11:00am
- Monday to Friday 6:00am to 9:00pm
- Saturday 6:00am to 11:00am
- Sunday Closed
Outside these hours, emergency jobs are taken case by case and are not guaranteed. Call to confirm.
Payment: Card, tap to pay, or cash, taken once the work is done.