24 hours, 7 days
Car key replacement and programming
The price depends on the year, make, and model, and you get it on the phone before we drive to you. The work is done at your vehicle, wherever it is parked, so there is no tow and usually no day without the car.
Starting prices
- Car key made
- from $100
- Key programming
- from $80
Plus a $15 service call fee. Starting prices for the simplest version of the job, so your figure is quoted on the phone. Full price list.
Before you call, have this ready
- The address, or the nearest intersection if you are on a rural route.
- What the door or vehicle is. Year, make, and model for a car.
- Whether anyone is inside, and whether you are somewhere safe.
- Photo identification, and something showing you belong there.
Replacing a car key is two jobs that people tend to think of as one. The metal has to match the lock, which is cutting, and the chip has to be accepted by the vehicle, which is programming. A key that is only cut will open the door and turn the ignition without starting the engine, which is why a hardware-store copy of a modern key is a disappointment waiting to happen.
We carry blanks and programming equipment for most makes from the early 2000s onward, and we do both parts at the vehicle. For a vehicle with no working key left, the key is originated from the vehicle itself, which takes longer and needs proof of ownership, but is still a roadside job rather than a dealership one.
What is included
What you actually get
Transponder keys
Cut to the lock and programmed to the immobiliser, so the engine starts rather than cranking and cutting out.
Remote fobs
Supplied and programmed, with the blade cut where the fob has one. Central locking, boot release, and panic buttons paired as part of the job.
Proximity and push-to-start keys
The keyless entry smart keys on most newer vehicles, programmed at the car for the makes we can access.
All keys lost origination
A first key made for a vehicle with nothing left to copy, decoded from the vehicle rather than from an existing key.
Spare keys
The version of this job worth booking in advance, because a spare cut while you still have a working key is materially cheaper than an emergency origination.
Old keys deleted
Where the vehicle supports it, a lost key can be removed from the immobiliser so it will no longer start the car. Worth doing if a key was stolen rather than mislaid.
When you need this
The situations this covers
The last key has been lost or stolen
If it was stolen along with anything showing where the car is kept, ask about deleting the old key from the vehicle as well as cutting a new one.
The key still works but the remote does not
Often a reprogram or a battery contact rather than a new fob, and worth checking before buying a replacement.
The dealership has quoted a tow
Most of the time the vehicle does not need to move. Get our number for the same work at the roadside before booking a flatbed.
You are down to one key
One key is a single point of failure on a car you rely on. A spare is one of the few jobs that is genuinely cheaper before you need it.
You have bought a used car with one key
You do not know who else has one. A spare plus deleting unknown keys, where the vehicle allows it, closes that off.
Where we do this
Car key replacement across the region
Times are typical drives from the Ancaster base in normal traffic.
Straight answers
Questions people ask before they call
How much is a replacement car key in Hamilton?
It depends almost entirely on the vehicle. A basic transponder key is a different job from a proximity key on a newer model. Give us the year, make, and model on the phone and you get the figure before anyone drives anywhere.
Do I need to tow my car to you?
No. The work is done at your vehicle, at home, at work, or in a parking lot. That is the main reason this is usually cheaper through a mobile locksmith than through a dealership.
Can you program a key I bought online?
Sometimes. Aftermarket quality varies a great deal and some cheap fobs cannot be programmed at all. We will try where the part is sound, but we cannot warrant a part we did not supply, and we will say so before starting.
How long does it take?
A spare key alongside an existing one is often twenty to thirty minutes. An all-keys-lost origination takes longer because the key has to be decoded from the vehicle first.
What proof do you need that the car is mine?
Photo identification plus an ownership document, insurance slip, or lease or rental agreement in your name. We check every time, without exception.
Can you stop a stolen key from starting my car?
On many vehicles, yes. The immobiliser can be reprogrammed so previously paired keys are no longer accepted. Whether it is possible depends on the make and model, and we will tell you before you commit to the job.
Reviews
What people said afterwards
Very professional and prompt. It’s frustrating having to get a locksmith but when someone recommended them, I never knew I would get such expertise in my area. They came in and my nightmare was gone in few minutes. I highly recommend them for locksmith services.
Raul did a very good job. Reasonably priced. Very professional. Highly recommended
Quick and efficient! Tried their best to keep the cost low for their services
Published word for word, including the typos. The rest are on Google.
Talk to a technician, not a call centre
The person who answers is the person arranging the van. You get the price before anyone drives, and it is confirmed at your door before work starts.
Related
Other things we are called for
Automotive Locksmith
Vehicle doors opened at the roadside, keys snapped in the ignition extracted, and transponder keys and fobs cut and programmed on site.
24/7 Emergency Locksmith
A technician is dispatched the moment you call, at any hour. Nights, weekends, and holidays are the same call and the same rate structure.
Lockout Service
We open the door without drilling it wherever the lock allows, then check the cylinder still turns cleanly before we leave.
Book a technician
Not an emergency? Leave your number
Rekeying, a lock change, a master key system, or a smart lock going on the front door. Send the details and a technician calls you back with a price and a time.
Locked out right now?
Do not use the form. The phone is answered 24 hours, 7 days, and a call gets a van moving in minutes.
(647) 559-3413