Have a spare car key made before the last one is lost

You have one working car key, or two that live on the same ring. It works, so a spare feels like something for later. Then it is lost, or snaps, or stops working, and you find out what a replacement costs and how long it takes.

Some people say get a spare made before you lose the one you have, because an emergency replacement costs more and is more stressful. Get a spare car key made while you still have a working one. Some people note you need at least one working key in hand to copy or to pair a new one to, and some people warn that with only one left you probably cannot program a new key yourself and will need a dealer or a scan tool, which is expensive. Doing it early also gives you time to compare prices and to choose where to go.

What kind of key you have

The route depends on the key. One person says a 2005 car had no chip key and standard duplicates worked fine, so not every car needs more than cutting. Other people describe chip keys that need programming to the car as well as cutting, and remotes or fobs as a further step. Some people describe laser-cut keys as smooth along the sides, with no ridges, and one person warns that they cannot be made at a standard locksmith.

Some people say you need at least one working key to start, and often two. Some people say certain makes will pair a new key with one working key, and others need two. Your manual or the maker’s handbook is the place to check which yours is.

Who to go to

Some people say a local locksmith is frequently much cheaper than a dealer for cutting and programming, and may come to your home, but that prices vary widely, so compare quotes. Others say a dealer can come out cheaper, because it may waive a fee, or has free access to key codes that a locksmith has to pay for. One person says a locksmith’s equipment is costly, which is why a locksmith is not always cheaper for a newer car. Which is cheaper depends on your make, your model and your area, so this page cannot say. Ring a locksmith and the dealer and ask both.

Do that before you are stuck. One person says many locksmiths found through a quick online search are scams that charge a lot by using subcontractors, and says to call local shops in advance to find a fair one. Another person says scam locksmiths depend on your desperation and on you not knowing the usual fees. When you are standing next to a locked car is the worst time to shop.

Some people say a reputable locksmith asks for your registration and photo ID before it cuts or programs a key, and that a dealer may ask for proof of ownership too. Some people point out that some locksmiths do not ask, and one person sees that as a security worry. Bring both documents either way.

Buying the parts yourself

Some people say blanks, fobs and batteries cost a fraction of the dealer price online or in a hardware store, and a local locksmith can cut or program them. There is another side. Some people warn that online blanks can arrive with the wrong chip type, not program, or fall apart, and one locksmith calls cheap ones poor quality. One person warns that a non-original transponder key for one make may lose its code after a few weeks. If you buy a blank, check with whoever will program it before you pay.

Doing the programming yourself works on some cars. One person says some makes pair a key with a sequence of turns in the car. Some people say many modern cars need a data-port connection, a security code or costly software, and one person says you cannot do it yourself on many cars. Some people say some German makes can only be done by the dealer, and one person warns that a wrongly coded key on one of them can disable the car. Ask before you buy anything for a car like that.

If your key is a battery-powered fob, one person says to check whether the fob simply has a dead battery before you replace it.

Where the spare lives

Many people say keep it somewhere secure and separate from the main key, so one loss does not take both: a drawer at home, for instance. Some people suggest hiding one on the car, in a lock box, for example. One person warns that a chip key left hidden in the car is a security risk. A place at home costs nothing and avoids that risk, with the catch that it only helps if you can reach it. One person says a ride-share to fetch it may beat waiting for a locksmith on both cost and speed.

Some people suggest a flat copy that opens only the doors, and one mechanic suggests a cheap key that opens the doors but does not start the car, as a backup for getting in.

Wear and cover

One person warns that keys wear, and a copy made from a worn key can come out poor. Another person keeps an unused original so that later copies cut accurately. Some people suggest checking whether your car insurance or a roadside membership helps if you are locked out or lose a key. One person says some insurance policies cover a lost or stolen key up to a set amount. Check your own policy.

Who this page is not for

If you have already lost every key, it is too late for a spare. One person says a locksmith with the right equipment can program a key when all the originals are missing, and another says a push-button car whose remote is lost may need to be towed to the dealer. This page cannot say what that costs or which cars it applies to.

If your car is a German make, the route may be the dealer, though a spare is still worth asking about. If you just bought a used car with one key, one person says a dealer typically sells a used car with only the keys that came in on the trade-in, unless it is certified pre-owned, and that a salesperson should tell you before you sign.

If you are locked out right now, many people say roadside help through insurance or a membership is often cheaper and quicker than a locksmith; this page does not cover how to get police to unlock a car.