Car key replacement in Solihull

Dealers are the obvious first call for a lost or broken key, but many need the car brought in and the key ordered from the manufacturer, which can leave you without the car for days. An auto locksmith brings the blanks, the cutting machine and the programming tools to you, and for most cars finishes the job in one visit. Ask whether the price includes cutting, programming and pairing the remote, so the figure you agree is the one you pay.

For keyless and proximity keys, the locksmith first reads the car’s security data through the diagnostic socket, then adds the new key to the car’s memory. While they are connected, ask them to remove any key that has been lost or stolen: on most cars that is quick, and it means the missing key can no longer open or start the car. Some insurers cover lost or stolen keys, so check your policy before paying.

Locksmiths who cover Solihull also tend to work in Olton and Shirley, about 2 miles away and roughly 5 to 10 minutes by road, and in Knowle a little further south-east. Each reply says when they can come, so you choose a time that suits you, whether that is today on the drive or tomorrow at work.

Car crime is relatively low here, with 131 vehicle crimes recorded within a mile of the town centre in the year to August 2026 (data.police.uk), yet a stolen key is still a security problem, not just an inconvenience. If you are down to one key, a spare made while it still works costs far less than replacing the last one.