Does Car Insurance Cover Car Key Replacement?
Yes, car insurance covers car key replacement when the policy includes key cover, which is standard on some comprehensive policies and an optional extra of £10 to £50 a year on others. Key cover pays £500 to £1,500 towards lost or stolen keys, and third party policies rarely include it.
Key Cover Checker
Pick the cover you have.
Key cover is standard on some comprehensive policies and an optional extra on others. Look for a section named keys, key cover or key care in the policy booklet.
Key replacement is rarely included. Check the theft section for the wording on stolen keys.
Key replacement is not included. A replacement key is paid for directly.
Lost and stolen keys are covered up to the limit on the schedule, which runs from £500 to £1,500 on most policies.
Some home contents policies cover car keys as personal possessions. Check the single item limit and the excess.
Search the policy booklet for the word keys, or ask the insurer 1 question, whether the policy pays for a lost car key and up to what limit.
Key lost and car stuck? Call 07830249408 for a price before you open a claim.
What Is Key Replacement Cover in Car Insurance?
Key replacement cover is a section of a car insurance policy that pays for a new car key when the key is lost, stolen or damaged. Key replacement cover pays for the key or the key fob, the programming of the new key to the car and, after a theft, new locks. The limit of key replacement cover runs from £500 to £1,500 a year, and the price as an optional extra is £10 to £50 a year.
Key cover sits in 6 places. The table shows whether each type of insurance includes key replacement.
| Type of cover | Key cover | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive | Standard on some policies, an optional extra on others | Limit of £500 to £1,500 |
| Third party, fire and theft | Rarely included | Check the theft wording |
| Third party only | Not included | Paid for directly |
| Key cover extra | Included | £10 to £50 a year |
| Home contents | Included on some policies | Keys count as personal items |
| Breakdown cover | An optional extra with some providers | No key is cut at the roadside |
Comprehensive car insurance and the key cover extra are the 2 routes that pay for a lost car key most often. The policy wording decides the answer in every row.
Which 6 Policy Details Decide a Key Claim?
Six policy details decide a key claim on car insurance. Find the 6 details in the policy booklet and on the policy schedule before the first call.
- Key cover section. Confirm that the policy has a section for keys, and whether the section is part of the main policy or an optional extra.
- Limit. Read the highest amount the insurer pays for keys and locks in 1 year.
- Excess. Check the excess for a key claim. A key cover extra often carries no excess, and a claim on the main policy carries the full policy excess.
- Lost versus stolen wording. Some policies pay for stolen keys only. A stolen key claim takes a crime reference number from the police.
- Supplier rule. Check whether the insurer sends an approved supplier or accepts a local mobile auto locksmith.
- Invoice rule. Check whether the insurer pays the supplier directly or reimburses you against an invoice.
Proof of ownership is asked for in every case, by the insurer and by the locksmith. The 6 details also decide whether a claim for key replacement is worth making.
How Do You Claim Key Replacement on Insurance?
Claim key replacement on car insurance in 5 steps. The steps apply to a lost key and to a stolen key.
- Report the loss. Call the insurer on the claims number and give the policy number.
- Report a theft. Report stolen keys to the police and note the crime reference number.
- Ask about the supplier. Ask whether an approved supplier is required or whether your own locksmith is accepted.
- Replace the key. Lost car keys are replaced at the car, with the new key cut and programmed where the vehicle stands.
- Send the invoice. Send the invoice to the insurer, with the registration, the key type, the work done and the price.
Ask the locksmith to delete the missing key from the memory of the vehicle when the key was stolen. A deleted key no longer starts the car, which protects the car and the insurance claim. A stranded vehicle is made usable first by a mobile auto locksmith, and the claim follows with the invoice where the policy allows it.
How Much Is Key Replacement Without Insurance?
Key replacement without insurance costs £150 to £400 or more for a lost car key in the UK. A spare key made from a working key costs £80 to £220, and a key fob repair costs £40 to £100. The price depends on the make, the model, the key type and whether a working key is present.
A claim on the main car insurance policy pays only the amount above the excess. A standard key at £150 against an excess of £250 leaves nothing to claim, and the claim still goes on the insurance record. A key cover extra with no excess pays from the first pound up to the limit. Dean confirms the method and the price by phone on 07830 249408 before he travels, so the figure is known before a claim is opened.
Does Car Insurance Cover Key Fob Replacement?
Yes, car insurance covers key fob replacement when the policy includes key cover. Key cover treats a remote key fob, a smart key and a key card as a car key, so a lost or stolen key fob is replaced and programmed up to the policy limit.
Key cover excludes a key fob that fails through wear and tear, a flat battery and an extra key fob added to a working set. A worn button pad or a cracked case is a repair, and a repair is paid for directly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance Key Replacement
What Does Key Cover Exclude?
Key cover excludes 4 things on most policies. The 4 exclusions are wear and tear, an extra key added to a working set, an upgraded key or lock, and a stolen key with no crime reference number.
How Much Does Key Cover Cost?
Key cover costs £10 to £50 a year as an optional extra on a car insurance policy. The price depends on the insurer and the limit. A replacement key bought directly is priced in the car locksmith cost guide.
When Is Key Cover Worth the Money?
Key cover is worth the money for a driver with 1 key, a smart key or a prestige car, since 1 lost key costs more than 3 years of the cover. A driver with 2 working keys and a standard key gains less. Spare car keys cost £80 to £220 and remove the emergency in the first place.
Who Replaces a Car Key on an Insurance Claim?
An approved supplier of the insurer, a main dealer or a mobile auto locksmith replaces a car key on an insurance claim. A main dealer orders the key and books the car in. A mobile auto locksmith cuts and programs the key at the car, usually the same day.
How Do I Get Help Now?
Get help now by calling 07830 249408 or by sending a WhatsApp message with your location, registration, make, model and the problem. Dean confirms the next step and gives a clear quote before attending.
Which Vehicle Makes Are Covered?
All major UK vehicle makes are covered, including Ford, Vauxhall, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Peugeot, Citroen, Toyota, Nissan, Renault, Kia, Hyundai, Honda and Land Rover.
Does a Key Claim Affect the No Claims Discount?
A claim on a separate key cover extra usually leaves the no claims discount untouched. A key claim on the main car insurance policy counts as a claim, and the no claims discount is reduced at renewal unless the discount is protected.
Are Car Keys Covered on Home Insurance?
Yes, car keys are covered on some home insurance policies. A home contents policy with personal possessions cover or a keys and locks section pays for a lost or stolen car key up to a single item limit. The home insurance excess applies.
Are Car Keys Covered Under Warranty?
No, a car warranty does not cover a lost or stolen car key. A warranty covers a manufacturing fault in the key during the warranty period. A worn or damaged key fob is a repair, and key fob repairs cover the buttons, the shell and the battery contacts.
Do I Need a Mobile Auto Locksmith for Car Insurance Key Replacement?
No, a mobile auto locksmith is 1 of 3 routes. A mobile auto locksmith is the practical route when the vehicle does not move, the only key is missing or the immobiliser does not recognise the key. A locksmith is able to make a car key without the original at your location across Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
Can DB Car Keys Help With Lost Car Keys?
Yes. DB Car Keys replaces lost car keys as part of its specialist mobile auto locksmith service, and the invoice lists the details an insurer asks for.
Is the Job Done at My Location?
Yes, in most cases. The mobile van carries specialist key cutting, programming and diagnostic equipment, so the work is completed at a home, a workplace, a roadside location or a car park.
Do I Need Proof of Ownership?
Yes, you need proof of ownership for replacement keys and programming work. The proof shows that the vehicle is yours or that you have permission to authorise the work, and the check protects customers and vehicle security.
Can Old Lost Keys Be Deleted?
Yes, old lost keys are deleted from the vehicle memory on many vehicles during the replacement process. Deletion matters most when a key was stolen and not simply misplaced.
Is It Cheaper Than Going to a Main Dealer?
A mobile auto locksmith is often faster and more convenient than a main dealer, since the vehicle does not usually require recovery or a booking days ahead. The exact price depends on the vehicle and the key type.
Does Car Insurance Cover Lost Keys?
Yes, car insurance covers lost keys when the policy includes key cover. Comprehensive policies include key cover as standard or as an optional extra, and third party policies rarely do. The 6 policy details on this page show whether car insurance covers car key replacement in your case.
Send the vehicle make, model, year, registration and location by phone or WhatsApp. Dean confirms the method and gives a clear quote before travel. The key is cut and programmed at the car with AUTEL diagnostic equipment and Xhorse key programming tools, and locking, unlocking, starting and the remote functions are tested before the job is closed.
DB Car Keys covers Devon, Dorset and Somerset, including Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton, Yeovil, Weymouth, Dorchester and Honiton.
Typical key replacement calls include a Ford Transit spare key for a tradesperson, a BMW key programmed after every key was lost, a Renault key card fault and a Land Rover proximity fob replaced on a rural property.
Dean answers in plain words
Do you deal with the insurer for me?
No, that part is yours. I give you a proper invoice with the registration, the key type and the work done, and you send that in.
Do I ring the insurer first or you first?
If the car is stuck somewhere, ring the insurer first and ask one thing, whether you are free to use your own locksmith. Then ring me.
Is it worth claiming for one key?
Often not on the main policy. By the time you have paid the excess, a standard key has cost you the same.
Get the price of the replacement key first. DB Car Keys attends homes, workplaces, roadside locations and car parks across Devon, Dorset and Somerset. Call with your make, model, registration and location for a clear quote.