A car key replacement costs £80 to £220 for a spare key and £150 to £400 or more when every key is lost. The key type and the vehicle set the price. Each price covers the key, the cutting and the programming at the car.
Car Key Replacement Cost Finder
Pick the job.
A spare key from a working key costs £80 to £220, and £80 to £180 for most vehicles.
A lost key for a budget hatchback costs £150 to £220, cut and programmed at the car.
A lost key for a mid range family car costs £180 to £280.
A lost key for a German premium car costs £250 to £400.
A lost key for a prestige car or SUV costs £300 to £500 or more.
A lost key for a commercial van costs £180 to £320.
Not sure of the key type? Call 07830249408 with the registration.
Need a price today? Call 07830249408 in Devon, Dorset or Somerset. I give 1 price for the key, the cutting and the programming before I travel.
The sections below give the car key replacement cost by key type and by vehicle type, the 4 factors that change the price and the price against a main dealer.
A car key replacement costs £80 to £220 for a spare and £150 to £400 or more with every key lost. A transponder key costs £100 to £280. The call out fee is £0.
What Does a Car Key Replacement Cost by Key Type?
A car key replacement costs £80 to £220 by key type for a spare and £100 to £280 for a transponder key. The table below lists the 4 jobs and the price of each.
| Job | What the Price Covers | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Spare key from a working key | The key, the blade cut and the programming | £80 to £220, and £80 to £180 for most vehicles |
| Transponder key | A chipped key, cut and programmed to the immobiliser | £100 to £280 |
| Lost key, every key lost | The car opened, a new key created and the lost key deleted | £150 to £400 or more |
| Programming alone | An existing key paired to the car | £30 to £200 |
A remote key costs £30 to £60 to program, a smart key costs £80 to £150 and a luxury smart key costs £150 to £300.
What Does a Lost Car Key Cost by Vehicle Type?
A lost car key costs £150 to £220 by vehicle type for a budget hatchback and £250 to £400 for a German premium car. The table below lists the 6 vehicle types.
| Vehicle Type | Lost Key Price |
|---|---|
| Budget hatchback | £150 to £220 |
| Mid range family car | £180 to £280 |
| German premium car | £250 to £400 |
| Prestige car or SUV | £300 to £500 or more |
| Commercial van | £180 to £320 |
| Older vehicle, before 2005 | £100 to £180 |
The lost key price is higher than the spare price because no working key is left to copy, so the car is opened first and the key is created from the vehicle.
What Are the 4 Factors That Change a Car Key Replacement Cost?
The 4 factors that change a car key replacement cost are the key type, the vehicle, the number of working keys and the time of day.
- The key type. A blade key costs the least and a luxury smart key costs the most.
- The vehicle. A budget hatchback sits at the low end and a prestige car or SUV sits at the high end.
- The number of working keys. A spare copied from a working key costs less than a key created with every key lost.
- The time of day. Nights, weekends and bank holidays add 20 to 50 percent to the daytime price.
How Does a Car Key Replacement Cost Compare With a Main Dealer?
A car key replacement cost at a main dealer is £250 to £400 or more for a Ford or a Vauxhall and £400 to £700 or more for a BMW, an Audi or a Mercedes.
| Route | Lost Key Price | Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile auto locksmith | £150 to £400 or more, by vehicle type | Made at the car, with arrival in 20 to 60 minutes |
| Main dealer, Ford or Vauxhall | £250 to £400 or more | 5 to 14 days for the key to arrive |
| Main dealer, BMW, Audi or Mercedes | £400 to £700 or more | 5 to 14 days for the key to arrive |
A dealer spare costs £150 to £350. A dealer orders the key and the vehicle goes to the workshop, so a car with no key is recovered there first.
A lost car key replaced at the roadside needs no recovery truck. Lost car key replacement is done at the car across Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
Which Extra Costs Sit Outside a Car Key Replacement Price?
The extra costs that sit outside a car key replacement price are the out of hours rate and, at a dealer, the recovery of the car. DB Car Keys charges a call out fee of £0, and the price covers the key, the cutting and the programming.
Programming is part of every price on this page. Car key programming on its own costs £30 to £200 when the key is already cut.
Which Documents Does a Car Key Replacement Need?
A car key replacement needs proof of ownership, which is the V5C logbook, the insurance documents or a DVLA record, and a photo ID. The ownership check is the standard security step before a vehicle key is made.
What Are the 3 Ways to Pay Less for a Car Key?
The 3 ways to pay less for a car key replacement are a spare made while 1 key works, a visit in working hours and 1 price confirmed before work.
- Make a spare while 1 key works. A spare car key costs £80 to £220, against £150 to £400 or more after every key is lost.
- Book in working hours. A weekday visit in working hours avoids the 20 to 50 percent added at night.
- Confirm 1 price. Ask for 1 figure that covers the key, the cutting and the programming.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Key Replacement Cost
A new car key is £80 to £220 as a spare and £150 to £400 or more with every key lost. Most spare keys cost £80 to £180.
It costs £150 to £400 or more to replace a lost car key, by vehicle type. A budget hatchback costs £150 to £220 and a German premium car costs £250 to £400.
Yes, a locksmith is cheaper than a dealer for a car key on most vehicles. A dealer charges £250 to £400 or more for a Ford or a Vauxhall key and £400 to £700 or more for a BMW, an Audi or a Mercedes key.
Car key programming costs £30 to £200 on its own. The guide to the cost to reprogram a car key lists the price by key type and by make.
Yes, a car key is replaced without the original by cutting the blade to the lock and creating the key from the vehicle. A car key without the original costs £150 to £400 or more.
A car key replacement takes 30 to 60 minutes from arrival for most spare keys. Arrival takes 20 to 60 minutes across Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
Car insurance pays for a replacement car key only when the policy includes key cover. The guide to car insurance key replacement lists the checks before a claim.
A replacement van key is £180 to £320 with every key lost and £80 to £220 as a spare.
Dean answers in plain words
Do I have to bring the car to you?
No. I come to your home, your workplace or the roadside. No towing and no booking in.
How do I get a price?
Call with the make, model and year. The quote is free and you get it before I travel.
Based in Honiton. Working since 2009. Dealer level programming equipment on the van.
Free upfront quote. Available 24 hours a day.