If you lose your car keys, first make sure the car is locked and secure, then search thoroughly and check for a spare. If no key can be found, a mobile auto locksmith can cut and program a brand-new key to your car on-site, usually within about 30 to 90 minutes and from £94.95, far cheaper and faster than a main dealer.
Losing your car keys is stressful, especially if it is your only set. The good news is that it is a very common problem and almost always fixable the same day. Here is exactly what to do, step by step.
1. Do not panic, retrace your steps
Most lost keys turn up close to home. Before anything else, calmly check the usual places: coat and trouser pockets, bags, the front door lock, the ignition and door of the car, bins, and any surfaces where you last had them. If you were out, call the last places you visited to ask if anything has been handed in.
2. Make sure your car is secure
If there is any chance your keys were stolen rather than mislaid, treat it seriously. A lost or stolen key can be used to unlock and, in many cases, start your car. Park it somewhere safe if you can, and consider having the missing keys wiped from the vehicle so they can no longer be used, something a good auto locksmith does as standard when cutting your new key.
3. Do you still have a spare?
If you have a second working key you are in the cheapest position. We can clone or duplicate it into a spare key on-site, from £94.95, so you are never caught out again. If a key is damaged rather than lost, we also handle fob repair and re-shelling.
4. If you have lost every key
Losing your only key sounds like a disaster, but it is routine for a mobile locksmith. Using dealer-level diagnostic equipment we read your immobiliser, generate a brand-new key from scratch and program it to your vehicle on the spot. This is called an all keys lost job, and there is no need to have the car towed anywhere. If your keys are locked inside the car, we can also get you back in with non-destructive car unlocking.
5. Dealer, locksmith or breakdown cover?
You have three options, and they are not equal:
- Main dealer, usually the most expensive and slowest. The car often has to be recovered to them, and you may wait days for an appointment.
- Breakdown cover, great for getting you moving, but most providers cannot cut or program a key and will call an auto locksmith anyway.
- Mobile auto locksmith, comes to you, cuts and codes the key on-site, and is typically 30 to 60 percent cheaper than a dealer.
How much does a replacement car key cost?
It depends on your make, model and key type, but as a guide our from-prices are: a spare or duplicate key from £94.95, a full all keys lost replacement from £179.95, fob repair from £129.95 and programming from £84.95. There is no call-out fee and you only pay on completion. See prices for your make on our vehicles pages.
What you will need
To make a new key we need the vehicle present, your registration and the make, model and year, plus proof that the car is yours, usually a V5C logbook or insurance document with matching photo ID. These checks make sure a key can only ever be cut for the rightful owner.
- Search thoroughly and check for a spare before assuming the worst.
- If keys may be stolen, have them wiped from the car for security.
- A mobile auto locksmith can make a new key on-site, even with none left.
- Expect from £94.95 for a spare, from £179.95 when all keys are lost.
- Have your V5C or insurance and photo ID ready to prove ownership.
Locked out or lost your keys right now? We cover Warrington, Liverpool, Manchester and the wider North West, 6am to 8pm, seven days a week.