Copying a spare car key is simple: there is a working key to copy. When the only key is gone, there is nothing to copy, and a new key has to be made from scratch and introduced to the car.
It is a bigger job than a spare, but it doesn't have to mean a tow to the dealer. Here is what happens.
Step 1: Look one more time, carefully
- Retrace the last place you used the car, and call anywhere you stopped.
- Check coat pockets, bags, and the pockets of whoever drove last.
- Ask everyone in the household.
- Look through the car windows. If the key is inside, this is a lockout, which is a much simpler job.
Step 2: Get your proof of ownership together
Whoever makes the key will need to know the car is yours. Have these ready:
- A photo ID.
- The vehicle registration or the title, in your name.
- If the car isn't in your name, written permission from the owner.
The vehicle identification number helps too. It is on the registration, on the sticker in the driver's door frame, and on the dashboard where it meets the windshield.
Step 3: Call a mobile locksmith before you call a tow truck
In most cases we come to the car where it is parked and make the key there, so there is no need to have it towed to a dealer.
For a few makes and models, a new key can only come from the dealer. Give us the make, model and year when you call and we will say whether yours is one of them.
What happens at the car
- We check your ID and your proof of ownership.
- We cut a new blade to fit the car's locks.
- If the car uses a transponder key, a remote or a smart key, we program the new key to the car so it will start.
- We test the key in the doors and the ignition, and the remote buttons if there are any, before we leave.
If the key might have been stolen
Tell us when you call. On many cars, programming a new key also lets us remove the lost key from the car's memory, so it will no longer start the car even if someone finds it.
Keep in mind that this only stops the engine from starting. The door and trunk locks don't change when a new key is programmed, so the metal blade of the lost key can still open them on most cars. Until the car's locks are changed or rekeyed, don't leave anything valuable inside. When you call, tell us the key may have been stolen and we will explain the options for your car. If the keys were taken along with something that shows your address, think about your house locks too.
Never be here again
The day you get your new key is the best day to have a second one made. Having a spare made now is far simpler than replacing the only key again. Keep the spare somewhere safe at home, or with someone you trust, not hidden on the car.
