An auto locksmith can cut and program a new key at your car, even with no key left, usually for less than a dealer and the same day. Have your V5C logbook and ID ready to prove the car is yours.
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What to do, in order
4 steps. Try them in this order; the last one is when to call someone.
Search once more
Coat pockets, bags, the last places you drove to. Ask anywhere you've been to check their lost property.
Find your documents
Any honest locksmith or dealer will ask for the V5C logbook and photo ID before making a key.
Compare a locksmith with the dealer
Dealers often need the car towed in and take days. An auto locksmith comes to the car and is usually cheaper.
Have the old key wiped from the car
When a new key is programmed, ask for the lost one to be removed from the car's memory so it can't start it.
What it costs
How to get a fair price for lost car keys.
Get the price before they set off
- It depends on the car, the key and the time of day, so most local locksmiths don’t publish prices.
- Ask for the full price, call-out included, when you call or message, and only agree once you have it.
- Where a locksmith publishes their own prices, we show them on their card, and on their profile with a link to their page.
Services that fix it
The service for this, and what it can turn out to need.
- Lost car keysAll keys lost: a new one made from scratch, including smart keys with a chip.
- Car key replacementA new key cut and programmed at the car, usually cheaper and faster than a dealer.
- Delete lost keys from the carLost or stolen keys removed from the car’s memory, so they can’t start it.
- Spare car keyA second key cut and added to the immobiliser, so one lost key isn’t a crisis.
Find a verified locksmith near you
Pick your town to see who covers it for lost car keys, and ask them for a price.
Questions
How much is a replacement car key?
It depends on the make, model and key type, and smart and keyless keys cost more. Give the locksmith those details and ask for the full price, programming included, before they come out.
Can they make a key with no original?
Yes. Auto locksmiths cut keys from the lock or the car's key code and program them to the car.
What if I have no spare at all?
An auto locksmith makes a new key from scratch at the car: the blade from the lock or the key code, the chip programmed to the immobiliser. Ask them to delete the lost keys from the car at the same visit, and to make a second key while they are there, so you are not in the same place again.
Does insurance cover lost car keys?
Some car and home insurance policies include key cover, often as an add-on. Check your policy before paying; a claim may affect your no-claims discount, so compare it with the price of the key.
How long does it take to replace lost car keys?
A mobile locksmith usually does it in one visit at the car, longer for smart keys and some makes. A dealer may need the car towed in and the key ordered, which can take days.
Should I report lost car keys to the police?
If they may have been stolen, yes: report it and keep the crime reference for your insurer. Either way, have the missing keys deleted from the car so they can’t start it.
Other problems
- Locked your keys in the car? What to do
- Car key fob not working? Causes and fixes
- Key won’t turn in the ignition? What to try
- Car key snapped or broken? What to do
- Spare car key: how to get one, and the cost
- How much does a replacement car key cost?
- Can a locksmith make a car key?
- Emergency locksmith near me? How to choose